Fifth-generation rancher Eric Bailey recently joined the University of Missouri Extension as state beef nutrition specialist.

He chose 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. He plans to meet beef farmers and leaders across the state.

A native of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, Bailey’s great-great-grandfather homesteaded about seven miles from where Bailey grew up. The Bailey family ranched on 65,000 acres that gets 12 inches of rain per year. Cows graze 365 days a year and need 55 acres per cow.

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

Prior to 2000, his grandfather was Singleton’s  general manager.

“I don’t know anything but agriculture and beef cattle,” Bailey said.

He received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from West Texas A&M in 2007. From Kansas State University, he earned a master’s in animal science in 2010 and a doctorate in 2013. His emphasis was beef cattle nutrition.

At KSU, he was a graduate research assistant for five years. There, he was named the Larry H. Corah Outstanding Ph.D. student in 2013.

Bailey joined West Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Sciences in 2013 as Endowed Chair of Cow-Calf Nutrition.

He belongs to the American Society of Animal Science and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

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

In his spare time, Bailey trains quarter horses and enjoys golf. He plans to be a passionate supporter of Mizzou football and basketball.

He lives in Columbia with two horses, a stock dog and a companion dog.

Reach Bailey at baileyeric@missouri.edu or 573-884-7873.