Research Profile: Vern Anderson
“Increased beef production through more cows or improved efficiency will add to the diversity of agriculture in
North Dakota and broaden farm income from a relatively intense cropping enterprise.”
The Researcher
Dr. Anderson is the Beef Research Project Leader at the Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC),
Carrington, ND, and an Adjunct Professor with the NDSU Department of Animal Sciences. He has a BS in
Agricultural Education and MS in Animal Science from SDSU, and a PhD in Ruminant Nutrition from NDSU.
He is credentialed as Professional Animal Scientist (P.A.S.), and has 34 years of beef cow-calf and feedlot
research, plus has conducted some bison research. He is married, with two grown children and four
grandchildren.
The Research
Dr. Anderson conducts research and outreach programs that provide relevant nutrition and management
information to beef producers. His specific goals are to enhance beef cattle production, increase profit for
the producer, and improve quality of life by reducing stress on cattle. To do this, he evaluates methods of
minimizing stress on cattle, including factors such as weather (winter and summer), handling facilities,
nutrition, and health issues. He evaluates crop residues as bedding, and measures the effects on animal
performance, as well as evaluates the wide variety of feeds available in the region. He provides this
information to producers and all interested citizens, thus enhancing North Dakota livestock production.
Why it Matters
The resources are in place in North Dakota for extensive livestock development, but some of the culture for
livestock production in the state has been lost. The practical research and educational activities at the CREC
nurture producers and foster the growth of cow numbers and feedlot enterprises. We provide improved
knowledge of feeds and feeding, appropriate care and management of all classes of beef cattle, more
efficient livestock operations, and improved biological and economic sustainability of integrated
crop/livestock farm and ranch operations.
Student Engagement
The beef research at the CREC often contributes to MS or PhD programs, with advisors on the NDSU
campus who are collaborators in the research protocol. There is currently interaction with students from
three different departments in the NDSU College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources.
Global Impact
In addition to the value provided to the North Dakota livestock industry, there has been state-wide, regional,
national, and global demand for this information generated at the CREC-Livestock Unit. At least 35 different
international groups from around the world have purposefully visited the CREC in the past two years with
interest in livestock production information.
Contact information
Vern Anderson
CREC
Box 219, Carrington, ND 58421
vern.anderson@ndsu.edu