Texas A&M animal science expertise leads at international conference
Department of Animal Science faculty and students recognized by American Society of Animal Science
The 2024 annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, ASAS, was held in Calgary, where the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science faculty and students were recognized with six major awards, led four symposiums and participated in the science presented in about 50 talks and posters.
“The Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science has world-class faculty and students,” said Clay Mathis, Ph.D., head of the Department of Animal Science. “We strive for excellence in research, teaching and extension, and these awards are a testament to this effort. We are proud of each of our American Society of Animal Science award winners, not just for being recognized, but more importantly for the positive influence they have on the industries we serve, the students we train, and the advancement of animal science.”
Tryon Wickersham, Ph.D., professor of animal nutrition and associate head for research in the Department of Animal Science, said year in and year out, the department’s faculty and students put together symposiums, give talks and serve in leadership roles for the American Society of Animal Science and its regional meetings.
“This national meeting is one of the premier animal science meetings of the year, and Texas A&M has one of the largest departments, from a faculty and research expertise standpoint,” Wickersham said. “We are proud that our faculty are in demand and are being recognized for their research, teaching and extension expertise.”
He said the department’s faculty has extensive expertise in cattle, meat, equine and reproductive physiology, and the meeting is the best opportunity to present research findings and display their excellence, as well as that of the graduate students the department attracts from across the globe.
“Many of our graduate students get to present their work and meet members of the scientific community and industry,” Wickersham said. “It is a great way for them to move into careers.”
Thought leaders in key animal science research areas
This year, Department of Animal Science faculty members led the following symposiums:
— Biennial Reproduction Symposium: Understanding how to limit early pregnancy losses in livestock — Ky Pohler, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence. Pohler also presented on or was a part of the research behind four topics relating to livestock pregnancy and loss.
— American Society of Animal Science-National Animal Nutrition Program Symposium: Mathematical modeling and data predictive analytics in animal nutrition — Luis Tedeschi, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow, Chancellor EDGES Fellow, animal nutritionist and professor. Tedeschi presented or participated in the smart modeling science of 10 other presentations at the symposium.
— Co-leading the American Society of Animal Science-Western Section ASAS Beef Species Symposium: New perspectives on trace mineral nutrition to beef cattle — Reinaldo Cooke, Ph.D., Burkhart Endowed Professor for Beef Cattle Research. Cooke also led the Ruminant Nutrition Symposium. In addition to leading the two symposiums, he presented on or was an author on the research of four other presentations at the conference.
Award-winning researchers
Animal Management Award – Andy Herring, Ph.D.
Herring is the John K. Riggs ’41 Beef Cattle Professor in the Department of Animal Science, associate department head and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service leader. He has held a faculty appointment at Texas A&M since 1994, which has combined teaching, research and extension, and has been an ASAS member since 1989.
His award presentation was “The role of non-traditional inheritance patterns among Bos indicus-Bos taurus crosses for global beef value chain considerations.”
Herring teaches classes in beef cattle production and management and conducts applied research on ruminant livestock production systems, with a primary emphasis on genetic influences and interactions affecting beef value chains.
According to Herring’s award nomination, his professional passion is inspiring students and producers to become lifelong learners and consider whole systems thinking in livestock production.
He incorporates classical and current industry issues and research findings into his classes and utilizes a variety of teaching technologies and strategies. He has trained or co-trained 14 doctorate and 43 master students, 80% of whom are directly involved in agricultural industries.
Armstrong Leadership Award – Sushil Paudyal, Ph.D.
Paudyal joined the Department of Animal Science as an assistant professor in 2019. He is the animal science academic quadrathlon team coordinator and was honored with the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Early Career Teaching Award in 2023.
His award presentation was “Implementing student-centered teaching and learning strategies in undergraduate animal science.”
He earned a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science and animal husbandry from Tribhuvan University in Nepal, a master’s degree in animal science from the Department of Agricultural Science at West Texas A&M University and his doctoral degree from the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University, specializing in dairy herd management.
Paudyal’s research interests focus on using herd and animal-level data for decision-making in dairy farms. His research utilizes innovative technologies to optimize cattle production, health and well-being.
Bouffault International Animal Agriculture Award – Reinaldo Cooke, Ph.D.
Cooke serves as the Burkhart Endowed Professor for Beef Cattle Research in the department. He was recognized for establishing an academic program to develop and disseminate management systems that improve production efficiency in U.S. and international beef systems. His award presentation was “Pregnancy losses in Bos indicus-influenced cowherds.”
He has made meritorious scientific contributions to beef production via teaching, research and outreach engagement in developing and developed countries, according to his nomination.
Cooke has published more than 200 journal articles and secured $9 million in funding, where 70 articles and $4 million were directly resultant from his international activities. He also has mentored and taught numerous international students via traditional and online programs and has given more than 100 invited presentations in international meetings across the globe.
Cooke has served as section editor for Journal of Animal Science since 2014 and received numerous awards from the American Society of Animal Science and U.S. universities recognizing his academic contributions to advance beef production nationally and internationally.
L.E. Casida Award for Excellence in Graduate Education in Reproductive Physiology Award – Gary Williams, Ph.D.
Williams is a Regents Fellow, AgriLife Research Senior Faculty Fellow and Professor Emeritus, who was headquartered at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research station at Beeville before his retirement. His award presentation was “Goals, methods and philosophy of graduate mentoring in reproductive physiology.”
Williams is nationally and internationally recognized for his research in bovine reproduction, his nomination stated. His research included the neuroendocrinology and physiology of suckling-mediated anovulation, the role of dietary fat intake/metabolism in regulating postpartum ovarian physiology, and the development of Bee Synch for synchronization of ovulation of Bos indicus-influenced cattle.
Moreover, his laboratory has been the recognized authority on neuroendocrine signaling pathways controlling the nutritional programming of puberty in the beef heifer and the role of leptin. Williams’ research has also made significant contributions to the neuroendocrinology of seasonal reproduction in the mare and methodologies for its control.
He has successfully mentored 44 master’s and doctoral students and postdoctoral trainees.
Morrison Award – Ronald Randel, Ph.D.
Randel is an AgriLife Research Senior Faculty Fellow, Professor Emeritus and physiologist who was located at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton before retirement. He is a world-renowned authority on beef cattle reproductive physiology and endocrinology.
After a brief time at Kansas State University, Randel served four years in the Navy before earning his bachelor’s in animal science at Washington State and his doctorate in animal physiology at Purdue.
Prior to coming to Texas A&M, Randel worked as a research scientist at the U.S. Range Livestock Experiment Station in Miles City, Montana. In 1974, he accepted an associate professorship at Texas A&M AgriLife center at Overton.
Randel has been a Fullbright Fellow and has previously received the ASAS Physiology and Endocrinology Award and the Casida Award.
Award-winning students
ASAS Young Scholar Award – Keara O’Reilly
O’Reilly is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Animal Science. She completed her bachelor’s in animal science and master’s in animal nutrition at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Keara continued with her studies at Texas A&M, where she recently completed her doctorate in animal science, focusing on ruminant nutrition.
O’Reilly played an active role in teaching during her doctoral studies and received the Vice Chancellor’s and the Department of Animal Science awards for Graduate Student Teaching.
Her doctoral research focused on investigating the physiological mechanisms that influence feed efficiency in cattle. During her research, she presented abstracts at multiple animal science meetings and has been involved in various research projects.
According to her nomination, O’Reilly would like to remain in academics where she can teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students and conduct research that contributes to sustainable livestock production.
Student poster winners
The following students and posters were recognized:
— Brittany Paris — “Clodronate does not impact bone optical density or lameness in juvenile, exercised Quarter Horses” — first – Ph.D. II Student Poster Contest.
— Adrianna DiSilvestro – “Inflammatory cytokine concentrations and gene expression in mature and aging sedentary horses” – second – M.S. I Student Poster Competition.
