Department of Animal Science

Faculty

	Donald C. Beitz Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture Iowa State University 313K Kildee Hall Ames, IA 50011-3150 Phone: 515-294-5626 Fax: 515-294-6445 Email: dcbeitz@iastate.edu
Education Doctor of Philosophy, Michigan State University: 1967 Master of Science, University of Illinois: 1963 Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois: 1962
Awards 2008: Distance Education Award (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) 2007: Pfizer Animal Health Physiology Award (American Dairy Sciences Association) 2006: Fellow (American Society for Nutrition) 2005: Dannon Institute Mentorship Award (American Society of Nutritional Sciences) 2005: Robert W. Parks Honors Program Award (Honors Student Board) 2004: Award for Excellence in Honors Teaching (ISU University Honors Committee) 2004: Team Award (ISU College of Agriculture) 2003: William P. Switzer Award (ISU College of Veterinary Medicine) 2002: Research Award (College of Agriculture) 2001: Fellow (American Dairy Science Association) 2001: Fellow (American Society of Animal Science) 2001: Professor of the Year (ISU College of Agriculture)
Instruction Dr. Beitz's teaching responsibilities include a seminar in animal nutrition, physiological chemistry, an agricultural biotechnology colloquium, and general biochemistry.
Research Dr. Beitz's research activities include the etiology and prevention of ketosis in dairy cows, role of animal-derived foods, 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 animal and human nutritionists. Study of the etiology and prevention of fatty liver and ketosis is a major emphasis of 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 project involves studies of using a probiotic to prevent and treat Johne’s disease. 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. Role of oxidative stress in fat deposition of animals is being studied. A fourth major project is the technology to use a cholesterol reductase-containing microbe to decrease blood cholesterol. Role of bile acids and lecithins on absorption of lipids is being studied. A fifth project is a study of dietary and chemical control of production of greenhouse gases (e.g., CH₄ and H₂S) by livestock. Dr. Beitz currently has collaborative projects with scientists at the National Animal Disease Center on nutritional immunology and etiology and prevention of Johne’s disease.
Professional Affiliations American Dairy Science Association American Society of Animal Science American Meat Science Association American Society for Nutrition American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Comparative Nutrition Society Council of Agricultural Science and Technology
Selected Publications Bobe, G., J.A. Minick Bormann, G.L. Lindberg, A.E. Freeman, and D.C. Beitz. 2008. Short Communication: Estimates of genetic variation of milk fatty acids in U.S. Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 91:1209-1213. E.L. Karcher, D.O. Bayles, J.P. Bannantine, D.C. Beitz, and J.R. Stabel. 2008. Osteopontin: a novel cytokine involved in the regulation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in periparturient dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 91:3079-3091. E.L. Karcher, D.C. Beitz, and J.R. Stabel. 2008. Modulation of cytokine gene expression and secretion during the periparturient period in dairy cows naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Vet. Immunol. Imunopathol. 123:277-288. Osman, M.A., P.S. Allen, N.A. Mehyar, G. Bobe, J.F. Coetzee, K.J. Koehler, and D.C. Beitz. 2008. Acute metabolic responses of postpartal dairy cows to subcutaneous glucagon injections, oral glycerol, or both. J. Dairy Sci. 91:3311-3322. Huang, Y., J.P. Schoonmaker, S.L. Oren, A. Trenkle, and D.C. Beitz. 2008. Calcium salts of CLA improve availability of dietary CLA. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2008.07.010. Bobe, G., A.R. Hippen, P. She, Gl.L. Lindberg, J.W. Young, and D.C. Beitz. 2009. Effects of glucagon infusions on protein and amino acid composition of milk from dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 92:130-138. Huang, Y., J.P. Schoonmaker, S.L. Oren, A. Trenkle, and D.C. Beitz. 2009. Calcium salts of CLA improve availability of dietary CLA. Livestock Sci. 122:1-7. Bobe, G., J.C. Velez, D.C. Beitz, and S.S. Donkin. 2009. Glucagon increases mRNA concentrations of ureagenic and gluconeogenic enzymes in early-lactation dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 92:5092-5099. Zhang, S., T.J. Knight, K.J. Stalder, R.N. Goodwin, S.M. Lonergan, and D.C. Beitz. 2009. Effects of breed, sex, and halothane genotype on fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols and phospholipids in pork longissimus muscle. J. Anim. Breed. Genetics. 126:259-268. Mao, G., G.A. Kraus, I. Kim, M.E. spurlock, T.B. Bailey, Q. Zhang, and D.C. Beitz. 2010. A mitrochondria-targeted vitamin E derivative decreases hepatic oxicative stress and inhibits fat depostiion in mice. J. Nutr. 140: 1425-1431. Zhang. S., T.J. Knight, J.M. Reecy, T. L. Wheeler, S.D. Shackelford, L.V. Cundiff, and D.C. Beitz. 2010. Associations of polymorhisms in the promoter I of bovine acetyl-CoA carboxylase-α gene with beef fatty acid composition. Anim. Gen. 41:417-420. Nelson, C.D., T.A. Reinhardt, T.C. Thacer, D.C. Beitz, and J.D. Lippolis. 2010. Modulation of the bovine innate immune response by production of 1α, 25-dihydgroxyisamin D₃ in bovine monocytes. J. Dairy Sci. 93: 1041-1049. Nonnecke, B.J., M.R. Foote, B.L. Miller, D.C. Beitz, and R.L. Horst. 2010. Short communication: Fat soluble vitamin and mineral status of milk replacer-fed dairy calves: Effect of growth rate during the preruminant period. J. Dairy Sci 93:2684-2690. 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
Other Links Nutritional Physiology Group 2001 ADSA and ASAS Fellows Reception Healthful Milk Nutritional Sciences Council