Beyond the Feed Bunk: OSU researchers redefine how producers understand cattle stress
Friday, December 19, 2025
Media Contact: Sophia Fahleson | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-7063 | sophia.fahleson@okstate.edu
Cattle gather around the feed bunk, dust rising as feed hits the trough. It is a familiar sight for any producer, but what happens during that daily routine can carry the biggest impact.
Hidden stressors, from transportation to temperature swings, can affect animal health, meat quality and a producer’s bottom line, he added. Understanding what causes stress and how to manage it is the focus of new research at OSU, Dr. David Lalman said.
A team of OSU researchers is tackling the issue head-on through a four-year, $1 million project funded by the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. The multidisciplinary research effort uses artificial intelligence, sensor technology and producer perspectives to better understand how cattle respond to stress and what can be done to manage it.
The project brings together animal and meat scientists, sociologists, engineers and computer scientists. Their goal is to identify cattle at risk of stress and develop practical tools producers can use to reduce its impact, said Ranjith Ramanathan, animal and food sciences professor.
One of the major challenges producers often face is unexplained losses during the finishing phase of production, Lalman said.
“The industry has seen a gradual increase in unexplained death loss in finishing cattle,” Lalman said. “Some believe this is related to how we have selected for faster and more efficient growth. This kind of growth requires so much energy that may come at the expense of immune function and overall resilience.”
Stress not only threatens animal health but can also affect meat quality. In packing plants, carcasses from highly stressed animals are often discounted. Ramanathan is researching the biological changes that occur when cattle experience stress.
“We are collecting samples from cattle that have experienced sudden death to analyze proteins and metabolites,” Ramanathan said. “This helps understand what is happening inside the animal at the molecular level.”
These samples provide insight into the biological pathways involved in stress, Ramanathan said, but the research team is also using new technology to monitor cattle behavior in real time. Sensors and video systems track indicators such as heart rate, steps and body temperature.
“The goal is to see if we can develop tools to identify at-risk animals early on,” Ramanathan said. “These tools could make a big difference for producers in the future.”
By combining molecular data with sensor-based information, the research team is building predictive models using artificial intelligence, Ramanathan said. The models could help producers spot cattle predisposed to stress before major losses can occur, he added.
Still, even the most advanced technology has to be realistic for on-farm use. That is why the project also includes a social science component, Ramanathan said.
The team is collaborating with producers to understand how they view new technologies and what factors influence adoption, said Ashley Railey, sociology assistant professor.
“Producers are very practical in their decision making,” Railey said. “They want to know if the technology will really help them make better decisions, if it is affordable and if it is something they can realistically implement in their operations.”
The cost of adoption is often the most significant factor, she added. Even when research demonstrates benefits, producers want to know the return on investment before they commit, Railey said.
“Producers need to be confident that the technology will pay off in the long run,” Railey said. “Understanding those perspectives is critical to making sure our research can be applied beyond the lab.”
The team’s multidisciplinary approach reflects the complexity of the problem. Cattle stress is not caused by a single event but by a series of environmental, genetic and management factors that build over time. Addressing it requires perspectives from across the spectrum of animal health, science and sociology, Lalman said.
Collaboration among different fields has been one of the most valuable parts of the project so far, Ramanathan said.
“This work requires multiple perspectives,” Ramanathan said. “By working together across disciplines, we can connect what is happening at the cellular level with what producers see every day in their herds.”
The research is ongoing, but early findings suggest genetics play a role in how cattle respond to stress. Monitoring and sampling have also shown potential for identifying early warning signs before visible symptoms appear, he added.
For producers, the implications could be significant. Improved ability to manage stress would not only help animal well-being but also reduce financial losses linked to discounted carcasses and unexplained death loss, Ramanathan said.
The beef industry has always been resilient in the face of challenges, and this project is one more step toward ensuring long-term sustainability, Lalman said.
“Understanding stress is not just about avoiding losses,” Lalman said. “It is about giving producers the tools they need to raise healthy cattle in an efficient, sustainable way.”
The ultimate test of success will be whether producers find the results practical, Railey said.
“Technology has to make sense on the ground,” Railey said. “Our job is to ensure producers’ perspectives are included so the tools we develop can actually be used where it matters.”
As the project continues, the research team remains focused on connecting science to the people it serves, Railey added.
The collaboration has positioned the project to make a lasting contribution to the beef cattle industry, Ramanathan said.
“The goal is not just to study stress for the sake of science,” Ramanathan said. “The goal is to find solutions that help producers, improve animal welfare and strengthen the beef industry as a whole.”
Story by: Allison McNamara | Cowboy Journal