Cole receives prestigious honor

Donald Stotts

May 03, 2008 10:47 pm

— Andy Cole, an adjunct faculty member at three Texas universities, has been named an Oklahoma State University Advanced Degree Graduate of Distinction in Animal Science.
“Andy’s research studies have resulted in improved methods of transporting animals and increased the potential profitability of livestock producers,” said Bob Wettemann, OSU Regents professor of animal science. “He is a very productive researcher.”
The lead scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service’s Conservation and Production Research Laboratory in Bushland, Texas, Cole also serves as an adjunct faculty member at West Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University.
He joined the USDA laboratory in 1976, after earning his master’s degree and doctoral degree in animal nutrition from OSU in 1973 and 1975, respectively.
He had previously earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from West Texas State University in 1971.
Cole’s research focused on the feeding and management of feeder calves subjected to marketing and transportation stress during his first 20 years with the lab and was instrumental in establishing the nutrient requirements of stressed calves in the National Research Council’s 1996 Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle.
His research has since focused on decreasing potential adverse effects of cattle feeding operations on the environment.
A popular and renowned speaker, Cole has given more than 70 invited presentations to producer groups and scientists.
He has authored or coauthored more then 250 scientific publications and has served as principal- or co-investigator on research grants totaling more than $2 million. A charter diplomat of the American College of Animal Nutrition, Cole has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Animal Science and Professional Animal Scientist publications.
In 2005, he was presented the Animal Science Management Award by the American Society of Animal Science. The department of agricultural sciences at West Texas A&M University honored Cole with its Graduate of Distinction Award in 2007.
Cole has called Texas home for most of his life. He grew up on a grain and livestock farm near Pampa. He graduated from Pampa High School in 1967.