Dr. Dan U. Thomson is a third generation bovine veterinarian from Clearfield, IA. Dr. Thomson received his BS in Animal Science and DVM from Iowa State University. Dr. Thomson completed a MS in Ruminant Nutrition from South Dakota State University and a PhD in Ruminant Nutrition from Texas Tech University.
Dr. Thomson is Professor and Chair of the Department of Animal Science Department at Iowa State University. Dr. Thomson previously held the Jones Professor of Production Medicine and Epidemiology at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He has served as the Global Co-leader for McDonald’s Beef Health and Welfare Committee, sits on the YUM! Animal Welfare Council, chairs the Animal Welfare Committee of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and serves on the Animal Welfare Advisory Board of Tyson Fresh Meats.
Dr. Thomson was an associate veterinarian with Veterinary Research and Consulting Services in Greeley, CO. He then served as the Director of Animal Health and Well-being for Cactus Feeders in Amarillo, TX. Dr. Thomson still practices feedlot medicine in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Texas. Thomson is an owner/partner in PAC veterinary and research services which oversees the veterinary care, health and well-being for 20% of the U.S. cattle on feed.
Dr. Thomson is recognized internationally as a leader in animal welfare, beef cattle production and cattle health management. Dr. Thomson has published 114 peer-reviewed papers and delivered 874 invited talks internationally on his research and field experience on the interactions between production management, environment and nutrition on the health and well-being of beef cattle. Dr. Thomson’s research program has been granted over $35.3 million with $16.0 million of those funds coming with him as the primary investigator. Thomson’s research and outreach has been reported in many media outlets including CBS Evening news, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Meating Place and many others.
Dr. Thomson teaches farm animal production medicine, welfare and nutrition. He received the National Excellence in Teaching Award by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities in 2012 along with the Teaching Excellence award from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2019. In 2015, Thomson was awarded the National BQA Educator award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He is the founder and director of the Executive Veterinary Program for Beef Cattle Practitioners in a partnership with the University of Illinois and teaches in the Feedlot Shortcourse each year produced by the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University
Thomson is the founder and host of Doc Talk, a nationally aired beef cattle health veterinary show on television. He has hosted over 400 episodes of the show in its ninth season that reaches over 45 million homes world-wide.
Dr. Dan is married to his wife Cindy. They have four daughters: Kelly, Katelyn, Tory and Sarah. They enjoy basketball, fishing in Southwest Iowa and traveling together.