Introducing Dr. Megan Van Emon – Montana State Extension Beef Specialist

Introducing Dr. Megan Van Emon – Montana State Extension Beef Specialist

Dr. Megan Van Emon began as the MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist located at the USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, MT on August 1.

Megan grew up on a small farm in northeast Indiana, where they raised pigs and dairy steers. She was a 10-year 4-H member and showed rabbits, goats, and beef. She studied Animal Science at Purdue University and graduated with her BS in 2006. Megan continued her education at Purdue with Dr. Scott Lake, studying ruminant nutrition and graduating with her MS in 2008. Her research topic was the optimization of protein quality of dried distillers grains with solubles for ruminants.

Megan moved to Hettinger, ND in May of 2009 to begin her Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition with Drs. Chris Schauer and Kim Vonnahme. Using sheep as a model for cattle, her research focus was supplementing metabolizable protein to ewes during late gestation and determining the effects on the offspring.

While in Hettinger, she also conducted research in weaning strategies with Angus calves and ram fertility. In May of 2013 Megan graduated from North Dakota State University with her Ph.D. After graduating from NDSU, she moved to Iowa State University as a Post-Doctoral Associate with Drs. Stephanie Hansen and Dan Loy in beef feedlot nutrition. Megan’s main research focus at ISU was to determine the effects of feeding algae meal to beef steers on digestibility, preference, and performance.

Megan says, “I’m excited to be here in Miles City and I’m looking forward to getting around the state to discuss the opportunities available here in Montana. Please call, email, text, and stop by.”

Megan’s Contact Information: Megan Van Emon; Office: 406-874-8286; Cell: 701-928-1096; Fax: 406-874-8289; Email: [email protected].