A major expansion of Manitoba’s Brookdale Research Farm near Brandon is set to boost forage and cattle research after Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) committed the use of land valued at about $1 million to Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI).
The added property, known as the Odanah Pasture, will increase the size of the Brookdale site by 42% and create new opportunities for field-scale research and demonstrations aimed at improving beef cattle production and forage management, according to a Ducks Unlimited release Monday.
Located in the Rural Municipality of Minto-Odanah, the 467-acre parcel was acquired by DUC in 2020 and includes mostly grassland along with 123 wetland basins. After restoring wetlands and uplands on the property, DUC saw an opportunity to support expanded agricultural research through a long-term partnership with MBFI, the release said.
“It’s a blank canvas, ready for us to approach projects in new ways,” said MBFI General Manager Mary-Jane Orr. “This land provides the opportunity to ask questions on a commercial scale. The benefit will be more representative of the context of beef operations, which ultimately means better research to help producers.”
Early planning has focused on maintaining the site’s large-scale character, studying the shift from tame hay production to high-capacity rotational grazing, and tracking the economics of grazing systems. For 2026, the organization is developing a producer case study that will examine virtual fencing and grazing system economics at scale.
The expansion will also strengthen efforts to measure and validate beneficial management practices in landscapes where cattle production, grassland health, and biodiversity are closely linked.
MBFI, founded in 2014, now manages nearly 2,000 acres for research and demonstrations, with more than half of that land owned by DUC.
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