Dr. Beitz's research activities include the etiology and prevention of ketosis in dairy cows, role of animal-derived foods and other dietary ingredients and a cholesterol reductase-containing microbe on cholesterol homeostasis in animals and humans, and nutritional and genetic control of milk and meat animal composition. Dr. Beitz's research program is related to the biochemistry and physiology of nutrition and is conducted partly as a joint effort with other animal nutritionists.

Study of the etiology and prevention of fatty liver and ketosis is a major emphasis of D.C. Beitz's research program. The technology to use glucagon to treat and prevent fatty liver and ketosis in peripartal dairy cattle is being developed.

A second major project is the use of dietary vitamin D and its metabolites as a method to improve the tenderness of meats. Moreover, the cellular mechanisms by which such effects occur are being studied.

A third major project is designed to evaluate the role of specific regulators of fat deposition in beef cattle and of milk fat synthesis by dairy cattle. Nutritional and genetic impacts on milk and meat composition with emphasis on fatty acids and the subsequent eating qualities of dairy and meat products are being evaluated.

A fourth major project is the technology to use cholesterol reductase and reductase-containing microbes to prepare low cholesterol foods and to decrease blood cholesterol is being developed. Role of bile acids and lecithins on absorption of lipids is being studied.

A fifth ongoing project is an evaluation of ghrelin and other gastrointestinal hormones on growth of cattle and human obesity.

Dr. Beitz currently has collaborative projects with scientists at the National Animal Disease Center on nutritional immunology, mammary gland development and persistence of lactation, and etiology and prevention of Johnes disease.

Wertz, A.E., T.J. Knight, A. Trenkle, R. Sonon, R.L. Horst, E.J. Huff-Lonergan, and D.C. Beitz, 2004. Feeding 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to improve beef tenderness. J. Anim. Sci. 82:1410-1418.

Bob, G., J.W. Young, and D.C. Beitz. 2004. Invited review: Pathology, itiology, prevention, and treatment of fatty liver in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 87:3105-3124.

Foote, M.R., R.L. Horst, E.J. Huff-Lonergan, A.H. Trenkle, F.C. Parrish, Jr., and D.C. Beitz. 2004. The use of vitamin D3 and its metabolites to improve beef tenderness. J. Anim. Sci. 82:242-249.

Bobe, G., A.E. Freeman, G.L. Lindberg, and D.C. Beitz. 2004. The influence of milk protein phenotypes on fatty acid composition of milk from Holstein cows. Milchwissenschaft 50:3-6.

Parrish, F.C. Jr., B.R. Wiegand, D.C. Beitz, D.U. Ahn, M. Du, and A.H. Trenkle. 2003. Use of dietary CLA to improve composition and quality of animal-derived foods. Adv. Conj. Linoleic Acid Res. 2:189-217.

Bobe, G., B.N. Ametaj, J.W. Young, and D.C. Beitz. 2003. Potential treatment of fatty liver with 14-day subcutaneous injections of glucagon. J. Dairy Sci. 86:3138-3147.

Bobe, G., E.G. Hammond, A.E. Freeman, G.L. Lindberg, and D.C. Beitz. 2003. Texture of butter from cows with different fatty acid compositions. J. Dairy Sci. 86:3122-3127.

Bobe, G., B. N. Ametaj, J. W. Young, and D.C. Beitz. 2003. Effects of exogenous glucagon on lipids in lipoproteins and liver of lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 86:2895-2903.

Bobe, G., R.N. Sonon, B.N. Ametaj, J.W. Young, and D.C. Beitz. 2003. Metabolic responses of lactating cows to single and multiple subcutaneous injections of glucagon. J. Dairy Sci. 86:2072-2081.

Ametaj, B.N., G. Bobe, Y. Lu, J.W. Young, and D.C. Beitz. 2003. Effect of sample preparation, length of time, and sample size on quantification of total lipids from bovine liver. J. Agr. Food Chem. 51:2105-2110.

A complete list of Dr. Beitz's publications and professional accomplishments may be found in his CV, available in full as an Acrobat pdf document, via the link below. CV of Donald C. Beitz