Trail To Beef Excellence: OSU alum advances cattle production in Oklahoma

Trail To Beef Excellence: OSU alum advances cattle production in Oklahoma

Friday, December 19, 2025

Media Contact: Sophia Fahleson | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-7063 | [email protected]

At the age of 7, Mark Shaw, from Canyon, Texas, was perched on the fence with his parents watching a cow C-section be performed by a local veterinarian. Not long after, Shaw decided animal health was his passion.

"I began raising and showing livestock at an early age, which led to a key interest and a passion for judging livestock," said Mark Shaw, a cattle producer and entrepreneur. "I was involved in 4-H and later FFA."

Having been involved with cattle and quarter horses growing up, Shaw said he knew he wanted to focus his education in agriculture. Oklahoma State University was a straightforward decision to further his education.

"As a leader in animal agriculture, a leader in livestock judging and facilitating a leading veterinary school, it was an easy decision for me." Shaw said. "My experience while I was at OSU was phenomenal."

During Shaw's collegiate journey, he was a dedicated member of the OSU Block and Bridle Club and an advisory group led by Robert Totusek, former animal science department head. Shaw was also a member on the 1983 OSU Livestock Judging Team, he said.

While earning his bachelor's degree in animal science, with a concentration in production and agribusiness, Shaw said he started raising cattle and hogs on his own with hopes of a successful career in producing livestock. Industry leaders invested in him and helped him prepare for his future career, Shaw added.

"I was truly surrounded by icons," Shaw said of his mentors at OSU. "They were really instrumental in my life and my career."

In 1984 Shaw graduated from OSU and experienced a major turn in his plan due to a market correction and disease outbreak affecting his cattle business, he said. Shifting gears, he created an alternate plan, Shaw added.

Shaw started his next career with the Upjohn Company, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, he said. His work with Upjohn sparked his career in animal health, he added. With this sales-based position, he was able to travel and be involved with cattle feed-yards and cow-calf operations, he said.

"The red light turned green for me," Shaw said. "I had a great experience there getting my career started."

He took the opportunity to further his involvement with large cattle operations by moving to West Texas, he said. This move led him to join Micro Technologies, an animal health distribution and technology innovation business, a few years later.

Along with Bill Pratt, Micro Technologies founder and fellow OSU alum, Shaw delved deeper into entrepreneurship commercializing more than 30 inventions for animal agriculture. The company secured about 100 patents worldwide, he said. Shaw became the CEO, president and a shareholder of Micro Technologies in 2000, he added.

"We grew the business 10 times over a 12-year period," he said. "We were able to achieve about a 65% market share in large feedlots."

In 2011, MWI Animal Health acquired Micro Technologies and Shaw chose to continue with the business as the CEO and president. During his tenure at MWI, Shaw said he gained many global experiences.

"I spent two years going to Brazil every other week looking at business expansion opportunities," Shaw said. "I was excited about that because Brazil has more cattle than people."

Three years later, MWI sold the company to Cencora, a human and animal pharmaceutical distribution company. Those endeavors were foundational to building businesses and markets, he said. The business garnered close to $5 billion in revenue. Shaw is proud of the advancements all three of the businesses brought to the industry, he added.

After years on the road, Shaw said, he found himself reflecting on his life and career at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. His world slowed down at the time, he said, and he wanted to take steps back into his own path.

"I missed having the entrepreneurial spirit," he said.

He saw an opportunity to invest in IGNITE Veterinary Solutions, a global veterinary learning company founded by Jill Clark, a veterinarian who graduated from the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaw said. At the time Clark's startup was in an early stage and growing, he added.

IGNITE now works with a network of around 10,000 practices and 25,000 subscribers. There is a shortage in the food and companion animal markets that is overwhelming for veterinary teams and their clients, Shaw said. The opportunity to help make a difference through a learning company like IGNITE makes this both a challenging and exciting venture, he added.

"We are focused on providing learning solutions that elevate veterinary teams," he said. "It helps upscale and reskill veterinary staff."

In 2024, IGNITE Veterinary Solutions embarked on a new venture launching IGNITE Studios, Shaw said.

IGNITE Studios is a content creation and creative services business that works with pharmaceutical, nutrition and technology companies to help them grow their brands, incorporating education with marketing. IGNITE videographers and animators with Hollywood experience pair with veterinary and animal health industry experts to create education-based marketing content that makes the complex information simple, he added.

"We help tell their story about either their company or products," Shaw said. "To accelerate their company and their brand."

In addition to his successful career, Shaw's family operates a commercial and show cattle operation, he said. Focusing on genetics, Shaw, his wife and children work as a team to produce high quality livestock, he added.

"As fate would have it," Shaw said, "we won the Fort Worth Stock Show two years ago with one of our steers."

He credits his accomplishments to his family, faith and mentors, he said.

"Determination and faith have been the building blocks," Shaw said.

Recently, OSU has conducted research regarding the purebred cattle on campus generating multiple initiatives, he added. Through his involvement within the Animal Science Alumni Association, he learned about the Beef Center of Excellence.

"To persist and maintain those facilities into the future, there is a need for ongoing investment," Shaw said.

The Beef Center of Excellence became his passion, Shaw said. Oklahoma is ranked second in the nation's cattle production leading to an opportunity for growth, he said.

"Mark was the first person to step up and say he was willing to be on the advisory committee," said Jayson Lusk, OSU Agriculture vice president and dean. "It takes someone to step up and be the first one to move the idea."

When the opportunity arose to invest in the OSU Beef Center of Excellence, Shaw joined the advisory committee. The program focuses on improving beef production in Oklahoma and the United States.

"There aren't many land-grant schools that can foster that proximity within the campus," Shaw said.

The center reflects OSU visionaries' intention to find avenues to expand research, Extension and student leadership activities within the beef cattle industry, Lusk said. OSU faculty, research and Extension experts' current work elevates those efforts to address real-world problems, he said.

With Shaw's extensive knowledge and dedication to advancing innovation for production agriculture, he has created the rapport needed to communicate with producers, said Kevin Hafner, Express Ranches vice president of operations. Shaw and Hafner were teammates on the 1983 OSU Livestock Judging Team.

"He has the utmost character," Hafner said. "He is analytical, thought provoking and forward thinking."

The importance of leading in beef production links back to the direct need of feeding the growing population across the country, Shaw said.

Shaw said he believes in OSU and its efforts. His family's decision to invest in OSU transpired because of his loyalty to the Ferguson College of Agriculture and his recognition of the research, innovation and education occurring, he added.

"It is important to have a purpose and pursue your passion," Shaw said. "Do it in a way to make a difference."

If interested in contributing to the Beef Center of Excellence, contact Jayson Lusk at 405-744-2474 or [email protected].

Story by: Karli Schwerdtfeger | Cowboy Journal