Animal Sciences

Dakota Grellner and her husband, Ethan.

April 22, 2025

Mizzou alumna Dakota Grellner returns to her alma mater as the new Mizzou Livestock Judging Coach

Grellner, B.S. ’18 Animal Sciences, was a member of the 2018 judging team and is eager to restart the program.
image of ear tag app data

April 21, 2025

Cattle in the cloud: Wearable tech revolutionizes ranching

Researchers at the University of Missouri’s Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center (SW-REEC) are bringing 21st-century technology to the pasture. By outfitting beef cattle with smart ear tags, researchers hope they can help producers pinpoint the ideal time for breeding — blending traditional livestock know-how with cutting-edge innovation.
Former Gov. Michael Parson speaks at the event celebrating the groundbreaking of the building in his name. Other speakers included (left to right): CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Christopher Daubert; University of Missouri President Mun Choi; Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture Chris Chinn; UM System Curator Chair Todd Graves; Gov. Mike Kehoe; and Director of the Mizzou Division of Animal Sciences Bryon Wiegand.

April 18, 2025

University of Missouri breaks ground on The Michael L. Parson Meat Science Education and Training Laboratory, announces additional gift for project

Today, the University of Missouri broke ground on The Michael L. Parson Meat Science Education and Training Laboratory. 
Amy Petry portrait

April 17, 2025

Amy Petry receives 2025 Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award

Amy Petry, assistant professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, received the 2025 Early Career Teacher Award at CAFNR’s Celebration of Excellence April 17.
Riley Sullivan receives award

April 17, 2025

Riley M. Sullivan has received the 2025 CAFNR William R. Lamberson Distinguished Thesis Award as part of Celebration of Excellence

Riley M. Sullivan has received the 2025 CAFNR William R. Lamberson Distinguished Thesis Award for her groundbreaking research on maternal recognition of pregnancy in pigs. She received her M.S. in Reproductive Physiology in 2024.   Riley Sullivan Her thesis, “Functional Analysis of Pregnancy in the Pig: The Two Essential Conceptus Maternal Recognition Signals for Preventing Luteolysis,” redefines a 50-year-old model by demonstrating the essential and combined role of conceptus-derived estrogen and prostaglandins in maintaining pregnancy.  Under the mentorship of Rodney Geisert, professor emeritus in the Division of Animal Sciences, Sullivan used advanced CRISPR gene-editing to develop a triple knockout model targeting…
Four students pose with a plaque.

March 14, 2025

Students see success at Midwest American Society of Animal Science Meeting

Animal sciences students attended the Midwest American Society of Animal Science Meeting March 9-12 in Omaha, Nebraska. At the meeting, the Academic Quadrathlon Team secured their fourth consecutive first-place finish. The team includes seniors Kaylee Spencer (Griggsville, Ill.), Shannon Draper (Sedalia, Colo.), Grace Lloyd (Ellington, Mo.), and Ben Byrd (Troy, Mo.), who participated in the two-day event consisting of lab practical stations for a variety of species, oral presentations to industry professionals and scholars, a written exam, and a quiz bowl. Two students also earned honors in the research presentation contest. Angela McClaskey, a senior from Kansas City, Mo., won…
Asia Smith with dog.

Feb. 25, 2025

From study participant to co-author, animal sciences student Asia Smith has explored multiple disciplines on the road to her future

A chance encounter with research has led Smith to paper authorship and cross-disciplinary lessons as she pursues veterinary school.

Feb. 13, 2025

Discovering a clue to what causes reproductive complications

Ahmed Balboula Our cells constantly receive DNA damage from factors such as ultraviolet rays, irradiations, toxins and chemicals. For women, that can lead to poor egg quality, which in turn can cause infertility, miscarriage, birth defects or genetic disorders. Researchers at the University of Missouri are now working to better understand a process that can help repair that damage. In a recent study, a team led by Ahmed Balboula, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) and researcher at the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, is studying a process known as autophagy. The…
Meat Science Lab Rendering.

Feb. 12, 2025

University of Missouri Board of Curators honors former Gov. Mike Parson with naming of new meat sciences lab

The facility will offer additional education and workforce development opportunities to contribute to one of Missouri’s largest industries.
The crowd at F&T Livestock in Palmyra for the Dec. 14, 2024, Show-Me-Select heifer sale. Photo by Brenda Schreck.

Jan. 16, 2025

Final fall 2024 Show-Me-Select sale sets record

Palmyra’s Show-Me-Select Heifer sale set a local record with $1.16 million in sales, highlighting MU Extension's impactful heifer replacement program.