The beef program offers a wide variety of enterprise opportunities for students. Enterprises embody Cal Poly's "learn by doing" philosophy by allowing students to gain real world experience managing livestock operations. The Cal Poly Foundation owns all of Cal Poly's livestock and leases animals to enterprise students. The Foundation shares any gains earned by the enterprise with student participants, this allows students to "earn while learning" while also protecting them from adverse risks by absorbing any losses. Students learn responsibility and are afforded the opportunity to apply principles learned in classes. Enterprises also provide the forum for more intensive learning in areas of students' interests. Participation in an enterprise allows students the opportunity to gain units in ASCI 290/490. To participate in any of the beef enterprises, students should complete ASCI 221, introduction to beef production, prior to the commencement of the desired enterprise.
 Students on the Bull Test Enterprise are in charge of managing the bulls that are consigned to the annual Bull Test. Each year, approximately 300 bulls are consigned to Cal Poly's Bull Test in May and the top 50 percent of these bulls are sold at the Annual Bull Test Sale in October. Students on the enterprise are in charge of managing and caring for the bulls. This includes, daily health checks, marketing of the bulls, record keeping, sale preparation, field day and trade show organization, performance record keeping and facilities maintenance. In addition to the general responsibilities, Bull Test hires two student managers to run the day-to-day operations of the enterprise and one student secretary to coordinate record keeping. Bull Test is a good enterprise for students to gain experience with Cal Poly's Beef Program. For information contact Mike Hall or Joel Judge.
Back to top
 Students on the Heifer Calving Enterprise are given responsibility over calving all of Cal Poly's heifers. Students divide the responsibility of checking the heifers every three hours and assisting in calving when dystocia cases occur. Students are also in charge of the record keeping for all calves, which includes weight records and identification. This enterprise provides students an excellent opportunity to gain experience with calving. This skill is beneficial to students with goals of entering beef production and veterinary school. Heifers are calved from late August through early October. The Heifer Calving Enterprise is a more advanced enterprise in which students wishing to participate should have prior experience in other beef cattle enterprises and should have completed ASCI 221. This enterprise is an excellent opportunity for pre-veterinary students to gain experience in parturition. For information contact Joel Judge.
Back to top
Students on the A.I. Enterprise artificially inseminate all Cal Poly purebred cattle and the commercial heifers. Students are in charge of feeding, heat detection, and synchronization of approximately 200 head of cattle. This intensive enterprise requires a commitment from November through December and successful completion of DSCI 330. For information contact Mike Hall.
Back to top
 The Escuela Enterprise allows students the opportunity to gain experience managing a commercial cattle operation for an entire production cycle. Students begin by developing a budget and then must make management decisions in relation to feeding, breeding, marketing, and range management in accordance with the budget. The Escuela Enterprise is the culminating enterprise of a student's participation in the beef program and is reserved for juniors and seniors. In addition to class status, students should have completed both ASCI 221 and ASCI 311. It is also recommended that students have completed DSCI 330 and ASCI 329 and participated in the Heifer Calving Enterprise. To participate on the Escuela Enterprise students must commit to participate from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. For information contact Joel Judge.
Back to top
 The
Bull Reproductive Soundness Enterprise tests the reproductive
soundness of all bulls entered in the Cal Poly Bull Test. Students
(10 to 20) gain experience in reproductive soundness examinations,
to include internal and external palpation of male reproductive
organs, evaluation of sperm and semen, and treatment of any infected
animals. Students need to have completed VS 223 before they are
eligible to participate. In addition it is advantageous if students
have completed ASCI 351. The enterprise takes place the first two
weeks of September, but signups are in April and May as the
enterprise will be over before school starts in September. For
information contact Bill Plummer.
Back to top
 Students on the Stocker Enterprise gain experience managing a stocker operation. Each February approximately 500 stocker cattle are shipped from Hawaii to the Swanton Pacific Ranch. Students are responsible for coordinating health care, the feeding program, and other tasks necessary for managing a stocker herd. Students are required to travel to the Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport, about 10 miles north of Santa Cruz, to perform duties during the duration of the enterprise, lasting from January through July. For information contact Jonathon Beckett.
2010 Swanton Pacific Ranch
Stocker Enterprise Application
Back to top
 In the past Cal Poly has held a number of feedlot research trials. When this occurs students are given the opportunity to participate in the research, as needed. Responsibilities include feeding, data collection, feed refusal, processing cattle and health management. Students are exposed to methodologies in experimental design, data collection and management and statistical analyses and interpretation. This enterprise offers students preparing for a graduate degree an excellent opportunity to increase their understanding of research methods. The project is offered intermittently with variable durations and time commitments. For information contact Jonathon Beckett.
Back to top
Students on the Halter Breaking Enterprise are responsible for halter breaking cattle to be sold as 4-H and FFA project animals. Students gain experience working closely with cattle and fellow students while completing a goal. This is an entry-level enterprise that allows students to gain experience handling cattle in preparation for more advanced enterprises. The project generally lasts for the duration of spring quarter. For information contact Joel Judge or Mike Hall.
Back to top
|
