Following an exhaustive national search, Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences has named Dr. Travis Mulliniks as the Glenn & Mildred Harvey Professor of Beef Cattle Management.
With a PhD in Range Nutrition from New Mexico State, Mulliniks brings extensive expertise working with beef cattle research and beef cattle producers, giving the college a renewed focus on beef cattle management for the Corvallis campus.
Over the course of his career, Mulliniks has conducted, directed, collaborated, and participated in research in range livestock nutrition, reproduction, and rangeland ecological management. The author, coauthor, or editor of 188 scientific and technical publications, Mulliniks has presented to regional, national and international audiences and has privately consulted on the implementation of research findings for beef producers and the feed industry.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Mulliniks to Oregon State as we continue to build upon our long-established collaboration with the beef cattle industry as a vital part of Oregon’s agricultural landscape,” said Dr. Staci Simonich, Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. “This is increasingly important as we fulfill the needs outlined in our 2021 Cattle Plan: A Needs Assessment for the Beef and Dairy Industry developed in partnership with statewide cattle industry leaders.”
As the founding college of Oregon State University, the College of Agricultural Sciences has a deep history spanning more than 150 years of connecting the best available science to emerging challenges faced by producers and communities that support our resilient food system. The relationship between academic research and the needs of the industry is a core value of Oregon State’s land grant mission, and one that Dr. Mulliniks has shared over the course of his entire career.
“The focus of my approach is to create trusting relationships with all stakeholders, including producers, allied industry, decision makers (industry and government), youth, rangeland recreationalists, land managers and general public,” Mulliniks said. “Trust is essential for progress.”
According to Dr. Carol Lorenzen, the department head for Animal and Rangeland Sciences at Oregon State, Mulliniks comes at a critical time when the department is investing in its beef cattle research program, including a new working system, upgraded fences, and improved pastures.
“We are thrilled that Mulliniks is joining our growing efforts in cattle research,” Lorenzen said. “Bringing him on board will help us to advance the final element missing to meet modern needs of the industry as we seek to establish a dedicated research barn at the Soap Creek Beef Ranch. This barn will allow researchers to gather and hold cattle for experiments that involve feeding trials, cow-calf evaluation pre- and post-partum, and multiple day blood draws, amongst many other essential elements of our research. With Mulliniks joining, we are hopeful that our efforts to fund these vital programs will be further amplified and the established funding program established by the OSU Foundation will grow.”
Mulliniks started on August 21. For those interested in learning more about new investment opportunities in beef research at Oregon State, contact Amy Crumley, Senior Director of Development, OSU Foundation, Amy.Crumley@osufoundation.org. For more information about the future plans of the Animal and Rangeland Sciences department and the progress of the 2021 Cattle Plan, contact Carol Lorenzen, carol.lorenzen@oregonstate.edu.