The University of Nebraska (UNL) Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) is a 12,800-acre research ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills. In 1978, Elmer “Pete” and Abbie Gudmundsen gifted the former Rafter C Ranch to the University of Nebraska Foundation. Thus, 2018 was the 40th year of UNL oversight of GSL. To the credit of UNL Administration, GSL development for range livestock research was delegated to a team of Research and Extension Specialists chaired by Dr. Don Clanton. Other members of that original team were Jim Nichols, Range Science; Gene Deutscher, Reproductive Physiologist; Dick Clark, Agricultural Economist; and Ivan Rush, Beef Extension Specialist. This team configured the ranch to investigate production and management questions pertinent to the region

Adams, Don C.

Bruns, Kelly W.

Funston, Rick N., Funston

Klopfenstein, Terry J.

Volesky, Jerry D.

Whittier, Jack C.

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 
2019 
Impacts of 40 Years of the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory on 
Beef Cattle and Range Systems 
Jack C. Whittier 
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, jwhittier2@unl.edu 
Kelly W. Bruns 
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, kelly.bruns@unl.edu 
Rick N. Funston Funston 
University of Nebraska–Lincoln, rick.funston@unl.edu 
Jerry D. Volesky 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jvolesky1@unl.edu 
Terry J. Klopfenstein 
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu 
See next page for additional authors 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr 
 Part of the Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, and the 
Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons 
Whittier, Jack C.; Bruns, Kelly W.; Funston, Rick N. Funston; Volesky, Jerry D.; Klopfenstein, Terry J.; and 
Adams, Don C., "Impacts of 40 Years of the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory on Beef Cattle and Range 
Systems" (2019). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 1042. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/1042 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle 
Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Authors 
Jack C. Whittier, Kelly W. Bruns, Rick N. Funston Funston, Jerry D. Volesky, Terry J. Klopfenstein, and Don 
C. Adams 
This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/
animalscinbcr/1042 
24 · 2019 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
©  The Board Regents of the University of  
Nebraska. All rights reserved.
Jack C Whittier
Kelly W. Bruns
Rick N. Funston
Jerry D. Volesky
Terry K. Klopfenstein
Don C. Adams
The University of Nebraska (UNL) Gud-
mundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) is a 
12,800- acre research ranch in the Nebraska 
Sandhills. In 1978, Elmer “Pete” and Abbie 
Gudmundsen gifted the former Rafter 
C Ranch to the University of Nebraska 
Foundation. Thus, 2018 was the 40th year 
of UNL oversight of GSL. To the credit of 
UNL Administration, GSL development for 
range livestock research was delegated to a 
team of Research and Extension Specialists 
chaired by Dr. Don Clanton. Other mem-
bers of that original team were Jim Nichols, 
Range Science; Gene Deutscher, Reproduc-
tive Physiologist; Dick Clark, Agricultural 
Economist; and Ivan Rush, Beef Extension 
Specialist. This team configured the ranch 
to investigate production and management 
questions pertinent to the region.
Our objective of this paper is to briefly 
describe impact on beef and range man-
agement systems resulting from visionary 
development of a working research ranch in 
the Nebraska Sandhills by the University of 
Nebraska.
One of the most significant accomplish-
ments at GSL has been the development 
and implementation over the years of a 
systems approach to research. An example 
is that early work was primarily conducted 
on components of production. As time 
progressed, it became clear that a systems 
approach from pre- breeding to harvest 
better identifies and describes the overall 
Impacts of 40 Years of the Gudmundsen Sandhills  
Laboratory on Beef Cattle and Range Systems
impact on a ranch. A systems approach 
often changes the interpretation of results 
obtained from research dealing solely with 
segments of production systems.
Examples of the importance of consid-
ering the system, rather than individual 
components separately are the fetal pro-
gramming work, calving date and weaning 
date systems, heifer development and graz-
ing vs feeding harvested hay systems. The 
Nebraska Ranch Practicum is the education 
component to the systems work at GSL.
Some of the conclusions at the time of 
the research have changed as economics 
and deeper understanding of biological 
principles have evolved with time and 
further systems- based investigations. For 
example, market value of Sandhills pasture 
has increased at a greater rate than cost of 
feeding hay in the Sandhills. Therefore, this 
has changed the relationship between graz-
ing and hay feeding in some situations.
Major evolution of impacts on beef and 
range systems from GSL are:
1. Development and implementation 
of a systems approach to research 
while training students in systems 
thinking.
2. Protein, rather than high levels of 
starch, is most always the preferred 
winter supplement for Sandhills 
forages.
3. Production systems using self- 
harvesting by grazing are typically 
most economical in Sandhills cow- 
calf systems.
4. June versus March calving for the 
Nebraska Sandhills beef systems 
best matches rangeland quality and 
quantity.
5. Validation of the NRC models for 
Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle 
in Sandhills systems.
6. Use of distiller’s grains as supple-
ments are used effectively to extend 
range capacity and provide a ben-
eficial nutrient profile for gestating 
cows and yearlings when grazing 
cool- season meadow and upland 
range.
7. Time and type of supplementation 
affect prenatal fetal programming 
to impact changes in BCS, weight, 
carcass traits and cow productivity 
through epigenetic mechanisms.
8. Nebraska Ranch Practicum at GSL 
provides valuable, science- based, sys-
tems approach education to clientele 
in multiple states.
9. Heifer development systems are a 
key component of sustainable beef 
systems in the Nebraska Sandhills.
10. Proper sub- irrigated meadow 
management offers a key component 
to profitable forage management 
systems.
Summary and Implications
Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory 
has been, and will continue to be, a prized 
resource for training students, informing 
producers and exploring beef and range 
production systems. An example of this are 
the 105 articles that report research at GSL 
in Nebraska Beef Reports through 2018. We 
conclude that GSL provides an important 
resource for solving ranching problems in 
beef systems.


Impacts of 40 Years of the Gudmundsen Sandhills
Laboratory on Beef Cattle and Range Systems

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 2019 Impacts of 40 Years of the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory on Beef Cattle and Range Systems Jack C. Whittier University of Nebraska - Lincoln, jwhittier2@unl.edu Kelly W. Bruns University of Nebraska - Lincoln, kelly.bruns@unl.edu Rick N. Funston Funston University of Nebraska–Lincoln, rick.funston@unl.edu Jerry D. Volesky University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jvolesky1@unl.edu Terry J. Klopfenstein University of Nebraska - Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr  Part of the Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, and the Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons Whittier, Jack C.; Bruns, Kelly W.; Funston, Rick N. Funston; Volesky, Jerry D.; Klopfenstein, Terry J.; and Adams, Don C., "Impacts of 40 Years of the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory on Beef Cattle and Range Systems" (2019). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 1042. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/1042 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Authors Jack C. Whittier, Kelly W. Bruns, Rick N. Funston Funston, Jerry D. Volesky, Terry J. Klopfenstein, and Don C. Adams This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/1042 24 · 2019 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report©  The Board Regents of the University of  Nebraska. All rights reserved.Jack C WhittierKelly W. BrunsRick N. FunstonJerry D. VoleskyTerry K. KlopfensteinDon C. AdamsThe University of Nebraska (UNL) Gud-mundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) is a 12,800- acre research ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills. In 1978, Elmer “Pete” and Abbie Gudmundsen gifted the former Rafter C Ranch to the University of Nebraska Foundation. Thus, 2018 was the 40th year of UNL oversight of GSL. To the credit of UNL Administration, GSL development for range livestock research was delegated to a team of Research and Extension Specialists chaired by Dr. Don Clanton. Other mem-bers of that original team were Jim Nichols, Range Science; Gene Deutscher, Reproduc-tive Physiologist; Dick Clark, Agricultural Economist; and Ivan Rush, Beef Extension Specialist. This team configured the ranch to investigate production and management questions pertinent to the region.Our objective of this paper is to briefly describe impact on beef and range man-agement systems resulting from visionary development of a working research ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills by the University of Nebraska.One of the most significant accomplish-ments at GSL has been the development and implementation over the years of a systems approach to research. An example is that early work was primarily conducted on components of production. As time progressed, it became clear that a systems approach from pre- breeding to harvest better identifies and describes the overall Impacts of 40 Years of the Gudmundsen Sandhills  Laboratory on Beef Cattle and Range Systemsimpact on a ranch. A systems approach often changes the interpretation of results obtained from research dealing solely with segments of production systems.Examples of the importance of consid-ering the system, rather than individual components separately are the fetal pro-gramming work, calving date and weaning date systems, heifer development and graz-ing vs feeding harvested hay systems. The Nebraska Ranch Practicum is the education component to the systems work at GSL.Some of the conclusions at the time of the research have changed as economics and deeper understanding of biological principles have evolved with time and further systems- based investigations. For example, market value of Sandhills pasture has increased at a greater rate than cost of feeding hay in the Sandhills. Therefore, this has changed the relationship between graz-ing and hay feeding in some situations.Major evolution of impacts on beef and range systems from GSL are:1. Development and implementation of a systems approach to research while training students in systems thinking.2. Protein, rather than high levels of starch, is most always the preferred winter supplement for Sandhills forages.3. Production systems using self- harvesting by grazing are typically most economical in Sandhills cow- calf systems.4. June versus March calving for the Nebraska Sandhills beef systems best matches rangeland quality and quantity.5. Validation of the NRC models for Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle in Sandhills systems.6. Use of distiller’s grains as supple-ments are used effectively to extend range capacity and provide a ben-eficial nutrient profile for gestating cows and yearlings when grazing cool- season meadow and upland range.7. Time and type of supplementation affect prenatal fetal programming to impact changes in BCS, weight, carcass traits and cow productivity through epigenetic mechanisms.8. Nebraska Ranch Practicum at GSL provides valuable, science- based, sys-tems approach education to clientele in multiple states.9. Heifer development systems are a key component of sustainable beef systems in the Nebraska Sandhills.10. Proper sub- irrigated meadow management offers a key component to profitable forage management systems.Summary and ImplicationsGudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory has been, and will continue to be, a prized resource for training students, informing producers and exploring beef and range production systems. An example of this are the 105 articles that report research at GSL in Nebraska Beef Reports through 2018. We conclude that GSL provides an important resource for solving ranching problems in beef systems.

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Impacts of 40 Years of the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory on Beef Cattle and Range Systems

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