8/4/00

Contacts:
Dennis Marple, Animal Science, (515) 294-2160
Brian Meyer, Agriculture Communications, (515) 294-0706

ISU FACULTY RECEIVE NATIONAL HONORS FROM ANIMAL SCIENCE SOCIETY

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University animal scientist A.E. "Gene" Freeman is the recipient of this year's American Society of Animal Science Morrison Award, the highest honor given by the society.

Freeman was one of several Iowa State animal scientists recognized at the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) and American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) annual meetings in Baltimore in late July.

The Morrison Award is given to an animal scientist who has done outstanding research of direct importance to livestock production. The award is named for the late F.B. Morrison, a Cornell University animal scientist.

Freeman, a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture, has conducted dairy breeding research at ISU since 1957. He has worked extensively with industry groups. About 70 percent of dairy cattle are bred artificially, so much of his work has been beneficial to artificial insemination organizations. His research, including new ways to evaluate sires and to predict the productivity and health of dairy cows, have become integrated into industry programs.

Other awards given to ISU faculty at the meetings were:

• Stephen Ford is the recipient of the ASAS Animal Physiology and Endocrinology Award for his research to understand the factors that control blood flow in pregnant animals, especially sows. Ford's research has led to new insights on fetal growth and survival.
• Palmer Holden was named a fellow of ASAS. He also received the Extension Award for exemplary work in the extension livestock program at ISU. Since 1984 Holden has coordinated programs for producers and extension staff related to business plans, spreadsheets and applied research. A swine-nutrition publication developed by Holden has been translated into four languages.
• Ronald Horst received the Dean Foods Award from the ADSA. Horst is a research leader at the USDA's National Animal Disease Center in Ames, and is a collaborating professor at ISU. He has worked for almost 30 years on research into metabolic diseases of livestock. He is an international authority in calcium and vitamin D metabolism and milk fever.
• Dennis Marple was named a fellow of the ASAS. Marple has been the head of ISU's animal science department since 1992. He was previously the head of Auburn University's animal and dairy sciences department. He has taught courses in animal growth and development. He has conducted research on swine growth and meat quality and on shipping fever and fescue toxicity in beef cattle.
• Tim Stahly received the ASAS Animal Industry Service Award for his research in swine nutrition. His research results have guided pork producers to adjust pig diets to environmental conditions, health status and genetic background. Many of the growth and reproductive models available to the swine industry today use information developed by his research.
• Doyle Wilson was awarded the Rockefeller Prentice Memorial Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics from ASAS for his research on using new methods for genetic improvement in beef cattle, sheep and horses. He leads a major beef breeding project at ISU and is responsible for national cattle evaluations for the American Angus Association. Wilson and colleagues have developed ultrasound technologies to evaluate meat quality in live animals.
• Jerry Young was elected a fellow of the ADSA. Young has conducted research for 43 years to answer fundamental questions on ruminant metabolism and nutrition, especially with dairy cows. His work has led to new understanding and potential treatments for ketosis and fatty liver, two metabolic diseases in dairy cows.

News Releases Agriculture in Action Ag Online Communications Skills Home