The Orr Agricultural Research & Demonstration Center in western Illinois exemplifies the power of persistence. Since 1979, residents of Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Pike, Schuyler, and Scott counties have leaned on the Orr Center’s research to inform their farming decisions. The farm includes 13 unique soil types, each relevant to the 11 counties the Orr Center serves.

The Orr Beef Research Center herd resides on a 206-acre managed-intensive grazed pasture with winter cow feeding facilities. Orr Center researchers focus on improving beef production in western Illinois through research on beef cattle nutrition, management, reproduction, genetics, and grazing.

We share resources and research updates that pertain to beef cattle management, nutrition, reproduction, marketing, and other topics.

University of Illinois scientists from the Department of Animal Sciences and the Department of Crop Sciences in the College of ACES conduct research on site. 

History

The Orr Agricultural Research & Demonstration Center was originally established in 1978 as a 278-acre agronomy center near Perry, Ill., in Pike County. Of the 278 acres, 95 acres were suitable for agronomic plot work, with the remainder devoted to permanent grassland and forest. The University of Illinois acquired 191 additional acres adjacent to the original tract and has developed an Animal Sciences component, resulting in the reassignment of some acreage between the two units. Currently, the center has 120 acres of usable agronomic plot land.