Timothy J. DelCurto
2000 Young Scientist Award
Donor: Cargill-Nutrena Feeds

Timothy J. DelCurto is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Science and serves as Assistant Superintendent of the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Oregon State University. He was born and raised on a third-generation family ranch in northeastern Oregon. Dr. DelCurto received a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Oregon State University in 1984, followed by an M.S. degree from the same department in 1986. His Ph.D. was earned at Kansas State University in 1989. Upon completion of the degree program he accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Animal Science at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns Station, Oregon State University. This position was 100% research with a focus on range/forage beef cattle nutrition. In 1993, Dr. DelCurto transferred to the Union Station location of EOARC and accepted the duties of Assistant Superintendent in charge of the Union location. He also took on a one-year, part-time assignment as Research Coordinator of the Blue Mountains Natural Resources Institute. As Research Coordinator he was charged with identifying research gaps critical to common vision of public land management and addressing issues pertaining to the sustainable management of forests and rangelands of the Blue Mountains region of Oregon. Additionally, his appointment was split 70:30 research and teaching. He began teaching two courses in the Oregon State University Agriculture Program at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1995.

Faculty at research centers in Oregon are expected to address a wide range of research topics that are applicable to their geographic location in the state and that are readily transferable to management. Dr. DelCurto’s research programs have covered a wide range of beef cattle management perspectives including supplementation programs for cattle grazing winter range; methods for incorporating grass straw into the winter rations of cattle, including supplementation and ammoniation; stockpiling forage; ionophores for cattle; cattle dispersion methods to protect riparian zones; the influence of the interaction of breeding date and summer nutrition of elk on elk calf survival; and forage allocation of cattle, mule deer, and elk grazing in common. He has obtained over $1 million in grant funds to support these endeavors. He also teaches Introductory Animal Science and Contemporary Issues in Animal Science on a rotating basis and Beef Cattle Nutrition annually.

He has revitalized the program at the Union Station, which had been without a scientist for a decade. In addition, Extension personnel in eastern Oregon rely on Dr. DelCurto to deliver ongoing programs in beef cattle nutrition and management, even though he has no official extension appointment. He has published 18 refereed journal articles, 1 book chapter, 49 abstracts, and 48 experiment station and extension publications.

Dr. DelCurto is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, American Registry of Animal Scientists, Society for Range Management, American Forage and Grassland Council, and the Society of Sigma Xi. He is also active in the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, is a 4-H Beef Club Leader, and has assisted with the Union and Harney County Fairs.