Cal Poly Beef Overview

The beef program at Cal Poly is the largest program in the Animal Science department. The beef pavilion and facilities situated above parking lots on Via Carta, is the location for many livestock events throughout the year including, FFA state finals, Pig and Lamb camp, and many other programs. Students at Cal Poly have the opportunity to work with cattle in class settings and gain experience with the animals. Later on the knowledge can be transferred to the many enterprise opportunities offered.

One of the most popular (and introductory) enterprises is the annual Bull Test. Bulls are consigned to Cal Poly from throughout the state, cared for by students, and later, the top 50% of the animals are sold in the October sale. Another enterprise linked to Bull Test is the Reproductive Soundness Enterprise. Students interested in the reproductive side of the beef industry, get to evaluate semen quality to determine a bull’s fertility and whether they will be sold at the auction.

Other enterprises include the Artificial Insemination Enterprise, Heifer Calving Enterprise, Feedlot Research Enterprise, and the Halter Breaking Enterprise. Additional enterprises that take students off campus include the Commercial Cow Calf/Escuela Enterprise where students run the Escuela Ranch off highway 1, and the Stock/Swanton Pacific Enterprise which takes place at Cal Poly’s donated ranch land off highway 1 in Davenport.

Approximately 4,000 acres of land are managed by the beef program at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo County. This land is divided among land on campus and includes Parker Barn, Peterson, Serrano, Escuela, Walter, and Chorro Creek Ranch. The 3,200 acres donated in 1987 at the Swanton Ranch are utilized not only by the beef cattle that graze there, but also by many other Cal Poly departments.

For more information on the Western Ranches click here

For pictures click here