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April 17, 2013 12:48 pm ET

Six legendary cattle veterinarians have been nominated for the 2013 Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame, which celebrates the rich traditions of production veterinary medicine by honoring exceptional individuals who have made lasting contributions to the veterinary profession. From the development of herd health protocols and management strategies to maintaining leadership roles in teaching and research, these nominees have helped shape the industry throughout their distinguished careers.

The Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame is sponsored by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC),Bovine Veterinarian,Merck Animal Health and Osborn Barr, an agricultural marketing and communications company.

“Selected by their peers, each of the nominees represents a legacy of excellence, dedication and accomplishment that make them truly worthy of Hall of Fame recognition,” says Mark Spire, D.V.M., technical services manager for Merck Animal Health. “During their extraordinary careers, they have played key roles in establishing standards of cattle care and developing health protocols that have had a remarkable impact on our industry.”

Voting is currently underway and concludes Aug. 5. AVC and AABP members may vote for one beef and one dairy nominee. AVC members may vote during the organization’s spring and summer conferences or online at www.avc-beef.org/halloffame. AABP members may vote online at www.aabp.org/halloffame.

The third annual Hall of Fame inductees will be honored Saturday, Sept. 21, at the AABP Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wis. 

2013 Beef Nominees

• Robert Bohlender, D.V.M., has practiced for more than 50 years in North Platte, Neb., and is considered a pioneer in the beef cattle industry. He developed the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program and also is recognized for having developed numerous health management strategies that have benefited the cow-calf and feedyard industries.
• Robert Pierson, D.V.M., developed the Colorado State University Student Feedlot Program, which is focused on the study of feedlot health, and encouraged the development of vaccination programs used by feedlot owners to treat and control bovine respiratory disease. He is retired and lives in Ft. Collins, Colo.,
• Don Williams, D.V.M., developed the first national preconditioning program and was instrumental in developing large-scale cattle health programs, training initiatives for feedyard personnel and science-based animal health management protocols. He is retired and lives in Guymon, Okla.

2013 Dairy Nominees

• David Morrow III, D.V.M., Ph.D., spent a lifetime committed to dairy cattle health and reproductive physiology, and earned numerous  accolades for his teaching and research at Michigan State University. He was honored as the World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year in 1997. Dr. Morrow passed away in 2005.
• H. Fred Troutt, D.V.M., Ph.D., established herd health programs for cattle and swine at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, where he taught large-animal medicine and pathology. He also was founder of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Dr. Trout passed away in 2010.  
• Elmer Woelffer, D.V.M., is considered by many to be the father of bovine reproductive programs. He received numerous awards, including the AABP Award for Excellence in Dairy Preventive Medicine. Dr. Woelffer remained a private practitioner in Oconomowoc, Wis., until his death in 1995.

About Merck Animal Health

Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain.
 Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com.

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Media Contacts:
Stephanie Meyers, 816-410-5162, stephanie.meyers@osbornbarr.com
Kelly Goss, 913-422-6846, kelly.goss@merck.com

Editor’s note – complete nominee biographies are as follows:

Beef nominee biographies

Robert Bohlender, D.V.M., was born in Boulder, Colo., earned his veterinary medical degree at Colorado State University and has been a practicing veterinarian for more than 50 years in North Platte, Neb. Having developed the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program, Dr. Bohlender is considered a pioneer in the beef cattle industry. He also helped generate numerous health management strategies for the cow-calf and feedyard industries as a result of his participation in research projects and field trials, which included genetic defects, bovine respiratory disease, calf scours, anaplasmosis and vibrio. Dr. Bohlender was active in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, serving on the BQA Task Force and the Animal Disease Research Priority Committee. He also served on the national advisory board for the National Animal Health Monitoring System.

Robert Pierson, D.V.M., was born in California, earned his veterinary medical degree from Iowa State University and worked in both private practice and public service as a deputy state veterinarian in Wyoming. Later in his career, Dr. Pierson was an animal science professor at Colorado State University (CSU) where he developed the CSU Student Feedlot Program, an academic initiative focused on the study of feedlot health. Many of today’s feedyard consultants are graduates of his program. His passion for diagnostics and feedlot respiratory disease management encouraged the development of vaccination programs used by feedlot owners to treat and control BRD. He authored more than 40 peer-reviewed articles, many that profiled the results of the first in-depth study of feedyard diseases in North America. Dr. Pierson was a member of AABP, the American Association of Swine Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Pierson retired in 1984 and lives in Fort Collins, Colo.

Don Williams, D.V.M., is a Texas native and received his veterinary medical degree from Texas A&M University. After 18 years in private practice in Texas and Oklahoma, he became the first company veterinarian for Hitch Enterprises in Guymon, Okla. He later moved into feedyard management for Henry C. Hitch Feedlot. Dr. Williams developed the first national preconditioning program and was instrumental in developing large-scale cattle health programs, training initiatives for feedyard personnel and science-based animal health management protocols. He helped introduce the first Charolais cattle to the United States and Canada, is a founding member of AVC and served on the organizing board of AABP. Dr. Williams also served as president of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association, AABP and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. Dr. Williams is retired and lives in Guymon, Okla.

Dairy nominee biographies

David Morrow III, D.V.M., Ph.D., was born in Sinking Valley, Pa., and has spent a lifetime committed to dairy cattle health and reproductive physiology. He received his veterinary medical and doctorate degrees from Cornell University and served as a professor at Michigan State University (MSU) in the Department of Large Animal Surgery and Medicine. At MSU, he received accolades for his teaching and research and was recognized as an honorary alumnus in 1993. Dr. Morrow was a charter member of the American College of Theriogenologists and is well-remembered for his textbook, “Current Therapyin Theriogenology.” He was honored as the World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year in 1997 and served on the board of the Holstein Foundation for 15 years. Dr. Morrow passed away in 2005. 

H. Fred Troutt, D.V.M., Ph.D., a Pennsylvania native, earned his bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and a veterinary medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. After practicing mixed-animal medicine for several years, he continued his education at Purdue University and the University of Missouri, receiving master’s and doctorate degrees, respectively. Dr. Troutt served on the faculty at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine where he taught large-animal medicine and pathology and established herd health programs for cattle and swine. Later in his career, Dr. Troutt held leadership positions at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He was a diplomate for the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, founder of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and served as a consultant for the World Bank. He received the Dairy Preventive Medicine Award from AABP in 1987. Dr. Troutt passed away in 2010.

Elmer Woelffer, D.V.M., grew up on a family farm in rural Wisconsin and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his veterinary medical degree from Cornell University. After graduation, he worked as a farm manager and veterinarian for H.P. Hood & Sons and Pabst Farms. He then entered private practice, retaining Pabst Farms as a client. He remained a private practitioner in Oconomowoc, Wis., until his death in 1995. Many consider Dr. Woelffer the father of bovine reproductive programs by integrating sound scientific principles into reproductive programs. He was a member of the AVMA Executive Board and Professional Liability Trust. He received numerous awards, including the AABP Award for Excellence in Dairy Preventive Medicine and the Amstutz-Williams Award. He also was an honorary lifetime member of the AABP.