Animal Research Center Beef Unit
Animal Research Center Beef Unit
Research
The Beef Unit is home to a variety of research activities that involve a number of disciplines and span the spectrum from basic to applied research. These facilities provide the opportunity to generate innovative, unbiased research to address beef production and profitability.
Extension
The ARC serves as an educational center for Kentucky's beef producers. Facilities are available for field days as well as focused training and transfer of the latest technologies.
Instruction
It is becoming increasingly important to provide students with hands-on opportunities with animals to increase their understanding and appreciation for real-world applicability of concepts taught in the classroom. The ARC beef cattle herd is used for several courses taught by faculty in the Department of Animal & Food Sciences.
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Contact Us
On site at the UK Beef Unit, or on campus, get the information you need straight from the source. View our contacts.
Virtual Tour
View a virtual tour of the Beef Unit at the Agricultural Resource Center (ARC) in Woodford County.
- A total of 24 individual animal pens
- Forage handling and Mosdal® feeding systems
- Accommodates individual feeding and management for studies where frequent samples and intensive management are needed
- A total of 12 pens, accommodating 5 head of cattle each
- "Magnetic key" Calan feeding system
- The Arrangement allows for studies requiring group management and behavior along with individual animal feeding and intake measurement
- George Mitchell Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory (GMRNL)
- GMRNL A
- GMRNL B
- State-of-the-art surgical suite
- Surgery
- Preparation Room
- Scrub Room
- Surgical Table
- Recovery Room
- Two multi-purpose rooms for metabolism studies on large and small animals
- Rooms
- Pens
- Squeeze Chute Scales
- A total of 24 individual animal pens, in two environmentally controlled rooms, equipped to maximize handling ease for intensive measurements
- Feed storage and handling systems to accommodate any type of feedstuff
- Beef Unit offices, locker rooms, and laboratory space
- 700 acres of pasture
- Currently there are 32 pastures in high-endophyte fescue, each 7.5-acres, for replicated stocker and cow/calf grazing studies
- Mixed grass/clover pastures for additional heifer and cow/calf grazing
- Future development of riparian (creek) pastures, bull development paddocks, cow/calf grazing center
- Computerized feed management/handling system
- Handling System
- Six silos provide approximately 2,200 tons of silage capacity
- Silos
- Load-cell mounted grain bins for automatic metering of concentrates
- Mixer Wagons
- Four feed bays for handling a variety of bulk commodities
- Large and small mixer wagons for feeding various sized rations
- Wagon Loading
- Curved tub and alleyway
- Hydraulic squeeze chute/scales
- Hydraulic Scales
- A total of 24 individual sorting pens
- Load-outs for pots and stock trailers
- A total of 48 pens, accommodating 4-6 head of cattle each
- Pen
- Fence-line feedbunk arrangement
- Feedbunk
- For growing/finishing and heifer development research
- Allows for composting animal waste prior to application to pastures
- Includes leaf-storage building (for adding organic matter to compost)
- Allows for integrated research in beef cattle production and waste management
