Sustainable Animal Production Down Under
Alison Van Eenennaam
Animal Science
Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam is a Professor of Cooperative Extension in the field of Animal Genomics and Biotechnology in the Department of Animal Science at University of California, Davis. She received a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne in Australia, and both an MS in Animal Science, and a PhD in Genetics from UC Davis. The mission of her extension program is “to provide research and education on the use of animal genomics and biotechnology in livestock production systems”.
She has given over 700 invited presentations to audiences globally and has appeared on national media including the Dr. Oz Show, Animal Planet, and the December 2014 Intelligence Squared Debate on genetically modifying food. She has served on several national committees including the USDA National Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture, (2005-2009), and was a temporary voting member of the 2010 FDA Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee meeting on the AquAdvantage salmon, the first GE animal to be evaluated for entry into the food supply.
A passionate advocate of science, Dr. Van Eenennaam was the recipient of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) 2010 National Award for Excellence in Extension, American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) 2014 National Extension Award, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) 2014 Borlaug Communication Award, University of California – Davis 2019 James H. Meyer Distinguished Career Achievement Award, and ASAS 2019 Rockefeller Prentice Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics.
A Message to Students and Parents
I was “horse-mad” as a child, and that interest combined with my interest in livestock production, resulted in my pursuit of an agricultural science degree at the University of Melbourne in Australia. There was a requirement to perform farm experience to obtain that degree and I worked various jobs including as a farmhand on a peach orchard, as a “roustabout” in a wool shed, and for a year as a cowhand on a Santa Gertrudis cattle embryo and semen collection facility in Texas. It was there I first learned of UC Davis, and ended up pursing both my graduate degrees there, before starting as a Professor of Cooperative Extension over 20 years ago.
My interests are the application of science and technology to animal agriculture, with a particular emphasis on biotechnology and genetic improvement. I work extensively with livestock producers in the United States and have an appreciation for the differences and similarities between how livestock are run and managed in California as compared to Australia. There are many similarities between these two environments, except California has almost 39 million people and half a million sheep, and Australia has only 26 million people but 75 million sheep! I am also very interested in science communication and outreach and enjoy reaching out to public audiences about the importance of innovation in agriculture."
Russell Hovey
Animal Science
Russ Hovey, also known by his students as "Dr Ozzie", is a Professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis where he teaches a freshman class in Introductory Animal Science, and a senior-level lactation physiology course. He also serves as the Lead Faculty Advisor for the Animal Science major's 1300 undergraduate students. He earned his BS in Agricultural Science from the University of Queensland, Australia, and his PhD from Massey University, New Zealand prior to undertaking postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health.
Dr Hovey takes pride in helping all students become the next generation of scientist, regardless of the future setting they may find themselves in. He is particularly passionate about all aspects of applied agriculture and adopts a learn-by-doing approach focused on hands-on skills and the application of knowledge to a deeper understanding of animal systems. At the same time, he believes the classroom and laboratory should be a fun and stimulating environment that fosters engagement and discovery. He is always emphasizing the real-world application of everything students learn.
A Message to Students and Parents
Having grown up in Australia, I was fortunate to have been exposed to the wide range of animal agriculture that is as diverse as the country itself. My early interests evolved from originally thinking I wanted to become a veterinarian to a lifelong passion for studying how animals are managed, how agriculture is part of a complex biological and global system, and how our future as a global community depends on how we make decisions into the future. I had the opportunity to travel extensively across Australia and to be involved in different agricultural sectors before moving abroad.
Now, as an educator at UC Davis, I am excited to share my home country with the next generation of animal scientist. I have been fortunate to have traveled worldwide and appreciate how international travel truly broadens the horizons for young minds. Having the chance to explore Australia, its animals, its people, and its environment with a group of excited students, and my good colleague Dr Alison Van Eeenaannam, while working alongside our professional connections in Australia, is going to be as much fun as it will be educational!"