Krehbiel named head of UNL animal science department

Clinton Krehbiel, Regents Professor of Animal Science and Dennis and Marta White Endowed Chair at Oklahoma State University, will join the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Jan. 1, 2017, as head of the animal science department. In addition to his faculty responsibilities, Krehbiel is assistant department head of animal science at Oklahoma State University.

“The animal science department serves a part of agriculture that is very important to the economy of Nebraska,” said Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Interim Vice Chancellor Ron Yoder. “I am pleased a leader and scientist with the stature of Dr. Krehbiel will be joining IANR to lead the department.”

“I am honored to be named head of the animal science department at UNL,” Krehbiel said. “With the current leadership and vision at IANR and UNL, I believe the department is in a position to continue operating as one of the strongest worldwide. I look forward to working with faculty, staff and the student body to discover how we can make a significant contribution to the people of Nebraska and the growing population throughout the world.”

The animal science department provides resident instruction, extension programs and research in breeding and genetics, meat science, ruminant and non-ruminant nutrition, physiology, animal well-being, production and management. Species represented in these programs include beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, poultry, swine, sheep, companion animals and laboratory animals. Students who graduate with a degree in animal science go into animal production, veterinary medicine, sales and marketing, research and many other career fields.

Krehbiel has been at Oklahoma State University since 2000, coming through the ranks of assistant, associate, professor and Regents Professor. He is the inaugural holder of the Dennis and Marta White Endowed Chair in Ruminant Nutrition and Health. Krehbiel’s research interests focus on developing methods to reduce costs of production and optimize outputs that enable cattle producers to improve animal health, increase consistency and quality of their end product and become more profitable.

Krehbiel received his bachelor and master’s degrees from Kansas State University. He earned his doctorate from UNL in 1994 and was a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center from March 1995 to July 1996. Prior to his time at Oklahoma State University, Krehbiel was an assistant professor of animal science at New Mexico State University.

Krehbiel succeeds Larry Berger, who retired June 30 after being the department head for six years. Phil Miller, professor of animal science, will continue to be the interim department head until Krehbiel assumes the role.