1. Professor Emeritus
Email Addressm_benson@wsu.edu

Biography

Nutritional Management of Ruminants. My primary area of research emphasis is in applied nutritional management of sheep and beef cattle. Providing nutrients to efficiently support the productive functions of growth, gestation and lactation are essential for sustainable livestock enterprises. Effective nutritional management requires an understanding of the amount of nutrients required to support the optimal level of performance and the ability of chosen dietary ingredients to provide the required nutrients. Nutritional management strategies that capitalize on nutrient utilization efficiency, use of non-traditional by-product or co-product feedstuffs and the genetic influence on the efficiency of growth and lactation are examples of the types of research conducted.

Specific Research Areas:
  • Variation in feed intake, feed efficiency and growth among Suffolk ram lambs.
  • Nutritional requirements of lactating ewes;  establishment of a reliable and accurate means of defining milk production in the ewe;  definition of the lactation curves and nutrient intakes of ewes rearing single or twin born lambs;  effect of nutritional management on milk production;  effect of pre-pubertal nutritional management on subsequent lactation performance of ewes.
  • Growth and development of lambs for optimum performance, carcass quality and economic viability of lamb production.
Selected Publications:
  1. Cardellino, R.A. and M.E. Benson.  2002.  Lactation curves of commercial ewes rearing lambs.  J. Anim. Sci.  80:23-27.
  2. Schlegel, M.L., C.J. Wachenheim, M.E. Benson, J.R. Black, W.J. Moline, H.D. Ritchie, G.D. Schwab and S.R. Rust.  2000.  Grazing methods and stocking rates for direct-seeded alfalfa pastures:  I.  Plant productivity and animal performance.  J. Anim. Sci. 78:2192-2201.
  3. Schlegel, M.L., C.J. Wachenheim, M.E. Benson, N.K. Ames and S.R. Rust.  2000.  Grazing methods and stocking rates for direct-seeded alfalfa pastures:  II.  Pasture quality and diet selection.  J. Anim. Sci. 78:2202-2208.
  4. Benson, M.E., M.J. Henry and R.A. Cardellino.  1999.  Comparison of weigh-suckle-weigh and machine milking for measuring ewe milk production.  J. Anim. Sci.  77:2330-2335.