of the American Dairy Science Association® PDF

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Awards Program
of the American Dairy Science Association®
The annual Awards Program of the American Dairy
Science Association was held virtually on July 13, 2021.
Graduate Student Division leaders Emily Lindner and
Lautaro Rostoll Cangiano read the citations. The as...

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J. Dairy Sci. 104:13023–13038 © 2021 American Dairy Science Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. and Fass Inc. All rights reserved.

Awards Program of the American Dairy Science Association® The annual Awards Program of the American Dairy Science Association was held virtually on July 13, 2021. Graduate Student Division leaders Emily Lindner and Lautaro Rostoll Cangiano read the citations. The association greatly appreciates the continued generosity and support of the donors in presenting the annual ® awards to ADSA members. Eliab Estrada-Cortés 2021 Alltech Inc. Graduate Student Paper Publication Award

The development of chemistries to allow molecules to pass through the rumen without microbial degradation is revolutionizing dairy cattle nutrition. Among the opportunities created by these technologies are those associated with feeding the methyl donor choline. Choline plays important roles in DNA methylation and phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and serves as a precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Feeding rumen-protected choline (RPC) has been reported to improve milk production and increase fertility of dairy cattle. Thus, there might be important practical benefits of including RPC in dairy cattle rations. As a doctoral student, Eliab Estrada-Cortés engaged in discussions with Marcos Zenobi, a fellow graduate student at the University of Florida who had observed in his research fertility benefits of feeding RPC to transition cows. Estrada-Cortés asked himself whether choline might be exerting effects on fertility by acting directly on the preimplantation embryo. To test this hypothesis, he developed skills in production of bovine embryos in vitro and used that model to conduct a series of four experiments to assess changes in function of the preimplantation embryo caused by supplementation with choline. He identified concentration-dependent actions of choline on competence of the embryo to develop to the blastocyst stage, expression of specific genes important for embryonic development, and DNA methylation. Results from his paper clearly show that choline has a biological role in the preimplantation embryo that might have positive consequences.

This paper served as the basis for other experiments conducted by Estrada-Cortés that demonstrated that provision of choline to embryos produced in vitro changed the development program of the embryo in a manner that had positive effects on postnatal phenotype (increased weaning weight). Thus, the work reported in Journal of Dairy Science resulted in additional research that yielded important biological conclusions (i.e., providing a source of methyl groups can change the developmental program of the embryo) and practical applications (i.e., supplementation of the preimplantation embryo with choline can program postnatal phenotype in a beneficial manner). The data from Estrada-Cortés were the basis for additional funding on this topic from Balchem and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The accomplishments described above were due to the talents of Estrada-Cortés as a researcher. Most notably, he combined curiosity and insight, incredible work ethic, and the ability to conduct research across a variety of research platforms, including the bench (in vitro fertilization, molecular biology) and the barn (oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer). He is an outstanding young scientist. Alexander N. Hristov 2021 American Feed Industry Association Award

Alexander N. Hristov is a distinguished professor of dairy nutrition in the Department of Animal Science at The Pennsylvania State University and is a member of several professional societies as well as the Feed Composition Committee of the National Animal Nutrition Program. He has a BS from the Higher Institute of Zooengineering and Veterinary Medicine (Stara Zagora, Bulgaria) and a PhD in animal nutrition from the Bulgarian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He started his career as a research scientist at the Institute of Animal Sciences (Kostinbrod, Bulgaria) and has worked at the USDA Agricultural Research Service Dairy Forage Research Center (Madison, WI) and the Ag Canada Research Center (Lethbridge, AB, Canada). Hristov was on the faculty of the Department

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AWARDS PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN DAIRY SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

of Animal and Veterinary Science at the University of Idaho from 1999 to 2008 and has been at Penn State since 2008. Hristov’s main research interests are in the areas of protein and amino acid nutrition of dairy cattle and mitigation of nutrient losses and gaseous emissions from dairy operations. His research with lowprotein diets brought attention to histidine as a limiting amino acid in lactating dairy cows fed typical North American diets and highlighted opportunities for decreasing ammonia emissions from manure. The research on enteric methane mitigation generated data revealing the potential of a novel inhibitor as a viable greenhouse mitigation practice for the dairy sector. A collaborative USDA–Penn State project led by Hristov developed the first large-scale mobile manure phosphorus extraction system (MAPHEX) capable of removing up to 98% of phosphorus from dairy manure. As past chair and current cochair of the Network on Feed and Nutrition in Relation to Greenhouse Gas Emissions (an activity of the Livestock Research Group within the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases), Hristov led multinational projects aimed at developing region-specific databases for prediction and mitigation of enteric methane and nitrogen emissions from ruminants. These projects delivered global and regional databases of individual dairy, beef, and small ruminant methane and nitrogen data and a series of key publications in high-impact journals. He coauthored a 2018 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report on anthropogenic methane emissions in the United States, led a multi-institutional task force to develop a report on the effects of climate change on livestock in the northeastern United States, and was the lead author on the agriculture chapter of the second State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR-2). Hristov is past division editor of the Ruminant Nutrition section of the Journal of Animal Science and past associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Animal Science and currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Dairy Science and as associate editor for the Journal of Agricultural Science (Cambridge). He is currently on the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change. Hristov initiated and led the development of the world’s first dairy massive open online course, with a current enrollment of more than 34,000. He has given more than 70 invited presentations and published more than 190 books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed journal articles, with more than 12,300 citations and an all-time Google Scholar H-index of 63 and i10-index of 145. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 104 No. 12, 2021

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Corwin Nelson 2021 Cargill Animal Nutrition Young Scientist Award

Corwin Nelson is an associate professor of physiology in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida. He grew up working with cows on his family’s dairy and beef farm in Minnesota. He initially attended the Farm and Industry Short Course at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and eventually went on to complete his BS in biochemistry at the University of Minnesota–Duluth. He completed his PhD in biochemistry at Iowa State University under the supervision of John Lippolis and Donald Beitz. Nelson is the leading scientist of his generation in the field of vitamin D nutrition and physiology of cattle. His work on vitamin D has been instrumental in elucidating novel actions of vitamin D signaling in dairy cows in regard to mastitis and transition cow health. His research on vitamin D started when he was a PhD student. His dissertation research conducted at the USDA National Animal Disease Center focused on the fledgling field of vitamin D and immunity. For his postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Biochemistry, he focused on the role of vitamin D in prevention and treatment of multiple sclerosis. He has been at the University of Florida since 2013, focusing on elucidating actions of vitamin D signaling in the bovine immune system along with practical applications of vitamin D nutrition for beef and dairy cattle. Notable outcomes of his research are the novel discoveries that vitamin D signaling induces β-defensin and antioxidant responses in cattle. Those discoveries are key for elucidating how vitamin D works and identifying suitable biomarkers for use in nutrition experiments. He has documented the practices and outcomes of vitamin D supplementation for beef and dairy cattle and tested the effects of supplementing beef and dairy calves with vitamins A, D, and E. More recently, Nelson and collaborators have investigated the effects of dietary 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25D3) on immunity, mineral status, and performance of cattle. This work has been instrumental in gaining approval for using dietary 25D3 in cattle and introducing the product to dairy farms in the United States. Nelson has trained or is currently training 4 PhD students, 6 MS students, and 28 undergraduates and research interns. Along with teaching graduate courses on endocrinology and vitamin nutrition, he has developed an undergraduate course focused on sustainability of cattle production. The course provides undergraduate students an experiential learning environment where

AWARDS PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN DAIRY SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

they learn about issues regarding sustainability by participating in activities on the farm and touring local beef and dairy farms. He and his colleagues at the University of Florida are part of a team providing training and advice to dairy farmers, instructors, and veterinarians in Sri Lanka. He also has provided training on mastitis and milk quality to Botswana dairy farmers. Through each of these activities, Nelson strives to advance the dairy industry by educating students and stakeholders in the dairy industry. Marcia Endres 2021 DeLaval Dairy Extension Award

Marcia Endres is a dairy science professor and extension specialist at the University of Minnesota. Her extension and applied research program focuses on dairy cattle management, welfare, and behavior and precision dairy technology, such as robotic milking. She strives to deliver information on current issues in the dairy sector and proactively adapts her program as hot topics change over time. Her work has led to changes in how dairy producers house and manage their cattle not only in Minnesota but throughout the United States and the world. Endres has been the dairy extension program team leader at the University of Minnesota since October 2002. Her extension program focuses on delivery of various events and products in collaboration with other members of the extension dairy team. Endres’s applied research program on dairy cattle management, welfare, and technology complements her extension work. Her research team has collected data from approximately 400 commercial dairy farms in the Upper Midwest, which gives her and her students exposure to real-world data. An example of Endres’s proactive approach to her applied research program is her team being the first in the United States (if not the world) to conduct research on compost bedded pack barns, a topic suggested by a dairy producer. Research by Endres’s team and others in the United States and around the world has shown improved cow comfort for cows housed in these systems and led many producers to switch to this type of housing. The adoption of compost barns has grown substantially in recent years in countries such as Brazil, among others, which has improved the lives of both cows and farmers. Another example of her pioneering applied research includes a study on recycled manure solids for bedding freestalls, which led to many inquiries from dairy proJournal of Dairy Science Vol. 104 No. 12, 2021

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ducers and industry professionals, and her work in the mid to late 2000s on lameness prevalence and its risk factors in Minnesota herds, which has been referenced in the scientific literature more than 200 times. Even more impactful from an extension perspective, many producers in the Midwest updated their facilities based on results from this research. Endres’s more recent and current extension and research addresses robotic milking systems and automated milk feeders in addition to collaborative work on individual cow sensors. Her team’s research on these topics has had an impact around the United States and the world. Her team hosted the first-ever US Precision Dairy Conference in June 2013. Endres was the Overall Planning Committee chair for this event, which had approximately 540 attendees from 25 countries, 26 US states, and 4 Canadian provinces. A Precision Dairy Conference has been held every two years since that time under Endres’s leadership. Endres also serves as chair of the International Precision Dairy Farming Association based in the Netherlands and is involved with planning international events. Endres’s research and extension program has made a significant impact in the dairy sector, nationally and internationally, especially on dairy cattle welfare, compost bedded pack barns, and dairy automation technologies. Jillian Bohlen 2021 Hoard’s Dairyman Youth Development Award

Jillian Bohlen, associate professor at the University of Georgia and state dairy extension specialist, was recently quoted as saying, “It only takes one impactful experience to have a lifelong contributor to or advocate for agriculture. I realize that the more opportunities I provide, the more likely that one experience happens.” This statement truly defines her work over the past 15 years to promote young people having positive experiences within agriculture and, most specifically, the dairy industry. Annually, she coordinates or facilitates 10 different events to expand the horizon of youth in her state with an interest in dairy cattle. She serves as coordinator for the state’s 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl and 4-H Dairy Judging competitions as well as organizes the state’s Commercial Dairy Heifer Project, which has more than 200 youth participants every year. She also serves as superintendent to the State Livestock Show and Georgia National Fair Commercial Dairy Heifer Show. Beyond competitive events, she coordinates the delegations for both the

AWARDS PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN DAIRY SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

Southeast Dairy Youth Retreat and National 4-H Dairy Conference. In her role as advisor to the University of Georgia (UGA) Dairy Science Club, she organizes the UGA Dairy Show team that competes regionally and oversees their production of the UGA Dairy Science Club Commercial Heifer show that sees more than 170 youth for a wonderful showdown and educational showcase. Further, she serves as the advisor to the UGA ADSA Student Affiliate Division (SAD) delegation and coach to UGA’s Dairy Challenge team. Collectively, she impacts more than 350 youth in the state every year. Her contributions to collegiate development span her time at UGA and previously Clemson, where she has taken student groups to more than 40 professional development events across the United States. She has mentored more than 25 national undergraduate paper presentations at ADSA meetings, with seven of those receiving first place in the paper competitions. Further, Bohlen has mentored two Genevieve Christen Award winners and two students named ADSA-SAD Outstanding Student. While at UGA, she has mentored a student to serve on the ADSA-SAD board every year since 2014; this includes most recently the ADSA-SAD president, the first for UGA since 1973. She has also contributed to this board by serving as ADSA-SAD advisor from 2015 to 2018, and she received the ADSA-SAD Outstanding Advisor Award in 2008. In the past 15 years, she has hosted two regional ADSA-SAD events, two regional dairy challenges, two Southeast Dairy Youth Retreats, and, most recently, the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, which welcomed 240 students representing 43 universities and 29 states and Canadian provinces to Tifton, Georgia. To further extend her classroom, she developed and mentors the Jersey Active Management by Students team, which makes all genetic and day-to-day decisions regarding the Jersey herd at UGA; most recently, a heifer they developed ranked in the top 1.5% of the breed. Finally, Bohlen has received funding in excess of $250,000 to ensure she can provide these opportunities to young people. Scott A. Rankin 2021 International Dairy Foods Association Research Award in Dairy Foods Processing

A native of Loomis, California, Scott A. Rankin serves as professor and chair of the Food Science Department and is the recipient of a William F. Vilas Trust Estate Award at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He holds degrees from Brigham Young University and Oregon State University. He leads industry outreach programs on such topics as milk pasteurization, cleaning and sanitizing, dairy chemistry, and frozen desserts Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 104 No. 12, 2021

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complemented by research activities focused on reaction chemistry. He has secured millions of dollars in funding, published numerous articles, and holds several patents applied to dairy foods. Rankin stewards an outreach program (75% split) involving hundreds of participants focused on the area of dairy foods processing. Current programs for which curricula have been developed and deployed include milk pasteurization, dairy chemistry, cleaning and sanitation, batch and continuous ice cream, and various others. Common comments from attendees at these outreach programs include the following: “The opportunity to have hands-on experience to build confidence as ice cream makers. Dr Rankin was great”; “Dr. Rankin’s knowledge of the chemistry involved with milk was a real strength”; and “[Rankin] was excellent—he is an asset to University of Wisconsin as he can take the academic side of ice cream and apply it to the practice side.” Rankin’s research program (25% split) involves the investigation of various reaction-based phenomena in primarily dairy foods. Rankin maintains a strong record of research productivity, including multiple collaborations across campus colleges and other institutions. More recently, his research team made discoveries involving adenylate homologue chemistries related to dairy plant hygiene and verification processes. An additional area of research for Rankin has focused on the application of Brønsted acid-catalyzed lactose hydrolysis technologies as a means of adding value to acid whey streams. His work has resulted in the development of a novel catalytic approach for the conversion of lactose-rich dairy streams into whey protein, monosaccharides (glucose/galactose syrup), and water and has applications in Greek yogurt, cheese, and membrane processing facilities. Primarily as a result of his research activities, Rankin has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Eckelman Foundation Fellowship, Society of Flavor Chemists Memorial Fellowship, Invention of the Year Finalist, Award of Honor for Outstanding Contribution to Cooperative Extension Service, the ADSA Foundation Scholar award, the ADSA Foundation Food Specialties award, a Vilas Endowment Award, and Brigham Young University Alumni of the Year Achievement Award. Rankin has served as chair of the Food Science department for approximately a decade. During his years, he has led and achieved various administrative tasks, including establishing a highly capable administrative staff, overseeing the productivity of the department’s dairy processing facility (Babcock Dairy) with upward

AWARDS PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN DAIRY SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

of 60 employees, and leading efforts to hire multiple new faculty and staff in the wake of various retirements. He also served...