The University of Missouri Extension has hired Eric Bailey as its new state beef nutrition specialist.

A fifth-generation rancher from New Mexico, Bailey says he came to Mizzou for “its desire to innovate and be leaders in the next generation of beef producers.” He will work with specialists on beef cattle nutrition and plans to meet beef farmers and leaders across the state. “I don’t know anything but agriculture and beef cattle,” Bailey says.

Bailey intends to research strategies to reduce input costs for cow-calf operations through improved grazing management and use of purchased and raised feedstuffs.

Eric Bailey, MU Extension state beef nutrition specialist (Rob Kallenbach)

Here are six things to help you know a little more about MU Extension's new state beef nutrition specialist.

1. Bailey grew up about 7 miles from where his great-great-grandfather homesteaded near Santa Rosa, N.M.

2. His family ranched on 65,000 acres that only receive 12 inches of rain per year.

3. Cows on the ranch graze 365 days, and each cow needs 55 acres.

4. His father recently retired as foreman of Singleton Ranches, one of the country’s top ranches in size and number of cows. It covers more than a million acres in New Mexico and California.

5. Bailey received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from West Texas A&M University in 2007. He attended graduate school at Kansas State University, where he was named Larry H. Corah Outstanding doctoral student in 2013. His emphasis was beef cattle nutrition. After earning his doctorate, Bailey returned to his alma mater, joining the West Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Sciences in 2013 as Endowed Chair of Cow-Calf Nutrition.

6. In his spare time, Bailey trains quarter horses and plays golf. He plans to be an ardent supporter of Mizzou football and basketball.

Cattle producers can reach out to Bailey by email at [email protected] or phone at 573-884-7873.

Source: University of Missouri Extension