Terry’s research with corn byproducts included wet and dry milling processes used in alcohol and sweetener productions. His UNL research revealed the benefits of feeding wet gluten feed, wet distillers grains and steep liquor in cattle diets rather than drying and shipping these products to US and global markets. Using these wet products impacted cattle feeding by lowering feed costs and improving feed efficiencies.
I first met Dr. Terry Klopfenstein in Lincoln in 1965 where he was a newly graduated Ph.D. from Ohio State University and I was working on a master's degree in animal science. Little did we know then that he would have such an enormous impact on the cattle feeding industry in Nebraska and the Nation.
Calling it his "dream job", Terry has actually held only one position his entire 46 years at UNL, that of ruminant nutrition researcher and teacher. A distinguished Professor of Animal Science, he has advised over 160 MS and PhD students, many whom now hold important positions at universities, major global agribusinesses, consulting firms and government agencies. Since starting the feedlot management internship program, over 100 of his students are now positioned in the commercial feeding industry while others continued to pursue graduate degrees.
Terry has given the livestock industry, especially cattle feeding, outstanding leadership with his innovative, highly productive research programs. As early as the late 1960's, Dr. Klopfenstein obtained a grant from the Distillers Research Council of Louisville, Ky. which was his start to many years of extensive research with distillers' grains and related products.
Research with corn byproducts by Terry and his colleagues has included both wet and dry milling processes used in the production of alcohol and sweeteners. His pioneering research at UNL revealed the feasibility and benefits of feeding wet gluten feed, wet distillers grains and steep liquor in cattle diets rather than drying these products and shipping them to dry feed markets in the US and globally. The successful results of his many trials also stimulated the development of ethanol and high-fructose sweetener industries in Nebraska. The use of these wet products has had a major impact on cattle feeding by lowering the feed costs and improved feed efficiencies. An agricultural economist from UNL found that the added economic benefit of feeding wet corn byproducts grew from about $1 million in 1992 to well over $100 million today. The results of Terry's research efforts have no doubt affected decisions to build new ethanol plants in Nebraska which has led to increased numbers of cattle on feed. Both cattle feeders and the ethanol companies have shared in the economic advantage of feeding the wet material. Dr. Klopfenstein has always seen this as a win-win situation for corn farmers, cattle feeders, and corn millers.
Terry has also championed research with growing cattle in both pasture and dry-lot trials, experiments with various feed additives and implant strategies, collaborated in E Coli 157:H7 intervention experiments plus a host of other ruminant nutrition projects.
Dr. Klopfenstein was honored several years ago with the establishment of the "Terry Klopfenstein Student Excellence Fund", an endowment at the UNL Foundation to provide undergraduate scholarships and graduate stipends to UNL students. Established to honor Terry's teaching and research accomplishments and contributions to the feedlot industry, the funds $100,000.00 goal was easily accomplished with donations from former students, the feedlot industry, colleagues, and friends. Terry has served his profession as President of the Federation of Animal Sciences, President of the American Society of Animal Sciences as well as President of the Midwest Section of the American Society of Animal Science. He continues to be a member of the aforementioned societies. Nationally and Internationally Dr. Klopfenstein has been awarded The American Society of Animal Science Nutrition Award, The Teaching Award, Fellow Award and the society's most prestigious award, The Morrison Award. He also received the Ohio State College of Food, Ag and Environmental Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award and was inducted into The Ohio State Animal Science Hall of Fame.
Nebraska honors are many and include Nebraska Cattlemen's Ethanol Co-products Research Recognition Award, Nebraska Corn Board's Livestock Industry Award, UNL Walnut Grove Service Award, UNL College of Agriculture Teaching Award, UNL Alumni Association's Excellence in Graduate Education Award, UNL Kermit Wagner Professor of Animal Science, UNL-IANR Team Award for forage systems in the Sandhills team, UNL Gamma Sigma Delta Teaching Award and Research Award plus the UN-IANR Omtvedt Innovation Award.
Born and raised on a farm in northwest Ohio with his brother, Terry and his wife Nancy now reside on a small farm east of Lincoln, where they have an arena for training ponies and he still enjoys tilling the soil. Terry is active in his church where he has taught Sunday school and led youth programs for over 50 years. He has sung in a quartet since 1976, mainly involved with church and nursing home audiences. Terry and Nancy have five children, Tim, Ty, Michelle, Todd, Melissa, and grandchildren.
Dr. Klopfenstein feels that the greatest satisfaction from his UNL labors are his students, what they have accomplished and continue to improve the cattle feeding industry in Nebraska and US.
Terry, it is an honor to present this tribute to you. Your commitment to the University of Nebraska, the Animal Science Department, your students, and the cattle producers of the State of Nebraska is second to none. Congratulations as the Honoree for 2011 to the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement.
