Jason Ross, Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center and Lloyd Anderson Endowed Professor in Physiology will serve a four-year appointment as the associate chair for industry engagement in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University.

“Dr. Jason Ross has provided so much industry engagement for the Iowa swine industry through his leadership as the Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center.  We are very proud to bring him on board to help our department provide industry engagement to all stakeholders involved in animal agriculture,” said Dr. Dan Thomson, professor and chair of the Department of Animal Science.

Three animal science students completed a dairy feed efficiency genetics internship this summer at Iowa State University. This internship was completed under the guidance of James Koltes, assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science specializing in dairy genetics. Students had the opportunity to work in both a research laboratory setting and gain hands-on experience at the Iowa State University dairy farm.

The Iowa State University Sheep Teaching Farm recently sold several Hampshire rams through two different National Sheep Improvement Program sales events. The National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP), launched at Iowa State University in the 1980’s, provides important genetic information to producers in the form of estimated breeding values (EBVs) for a multitude of traits. Sheep producers use EBVs to make educated breeding decisions that help create a more consistent product and more profitable industry.

The Iowa State 4H/FFA Meat Judging Contest returned to a face-to-face event on Saturday, August 28, 2021. Nearly 75 meat judgers, agricultural education instructors, and 4-H leaders, and volunteers filled the Iowa State University Meat Lab for a contest that included beef, pork, and lamb carcasses, as well as beef, pork, and lamb wholesale and/or retail cuts.

In the FFA division, the South O’Brien FFA Chapter in Paullina, was named the champion team. Coached by Mr. Eric Kumm, members included Kyan Kruse, Hudson Oolman, Leo Sells, and Claire Wagner. They will represent Iowa at the National FFA Competition this fall in Indianapolis, IN.

The 74^th RMC was held August 15-17, 2021 in Reno, Nevada. Iowa State University will host the 75^th RMC June 12-15, 2022 in Des Moines Iowa. Check out our invitation video and hear reflections on the 25th and 50th RMC held at Iowa State University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeZ1bxNBCQc

The following Iowa State students were recognized at the 74th RMC for these achievements and awards:

Logan Johnson

Robert Cassens Ph.D. Scholar Award 2^nd place Masters Student Research Poster Competition 8^th place Individual Graduate Student Division Processed Meats Competition

Grace Jakes

Animal Science Department is hosting the 2021 State 4-H and FFA Meat and Livestock Evaluation Competitions

August 28 will bring over 300 youth from across Iowa to campus for the 4-H and FFA meat and livestock judging contests.   The meat evaluation event is hosted by the ISU meat laboratory under the direction of Dr. Olsen and the ISU meat judging team.  Participants will evaluate beef, pork and lamb carcasses and cuts, identify retail cuts and provide oral reasons. 

The livestock judging event is lead by Dr. Chris Cassasdy and the ISU livestock judging team and is held at the Hansen Center. Participants will evaluate beef cattle, goats, sheep and hogs and present oral reasons. The champion senior teams in both events will represent Iowa at the national 4-H and FFA competitions later this fall.