North Dakota State University

Dr. Neil Dyer is a native of Bismarck, North Dakota.  He received a B.S. in zoology from NDSU, and his D.V.M. and M.S. in veterinary pathology from Iowa State University.  He is currently the Director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at NDSU. The VDL serves animal owners and producers in the upper Midwest with a wide variety of health concerns. Dyer teaches courses within the Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences as well, and advises numerous students who are interested in veterinary medicine as a career.

Dr. Eric Berg obtained his B.S. degrees in Animal & Range Science and Agricultural Education from North Dakota State University in 1988 and a M.S. degree from NDSU in 1991.  He attended Purdue University to obtain a Ph.D. in Meat Science.  Dr. Berg joined the Animal Science faculty at the University of Missouri in August of 1998 where he held a research/teaching appointment.  He was the faculty supervisor for the Mizzou Livestock and Meats Judging.  Dr. Berg joined the faculty of Animal Sciences at NDSU November of 2006 where he will continue research efforts focused on evaluation of genetic, nutrition, and environmental factors as they impact meat-animal production efficiency, health, carcass composition, and meat quality.

Dr. Frank Pinkerton received a B.S. degree from Oklahoma State University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas A & M.  He retired as the State Goat Specialist from Langston University in December of ’93 and has since been a Private Consultant in Goat Management and Marketing, meat goat herd manager, and goat breeding advisor to a numerous producers throughout the state.  Pinkerton currently writes for Goat Rancher Magazine doing monthly question/answer column and stand-alone articles on topics as assigned.

Dr. David Buchanan is a native of Minnesota and received his education at North Dakota State University and the University of Nebraska. He was at Oklahoma State University for 27 years where he taught and did research pertaining to genetic improvement of livestock. During that time he also served a term as Chair of the OSU Faculty Council and was the President of the American Society of Animal Science. He has received numerous awards for teaching including USDA Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in Teaching Regional Award, American Society of Animal Science Distinguished Teacher Award and the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Southern Regional Outstanding Teacher Award. He joined the faculty of North Dakota State University in 2007.

Dr. Susan McClanahan is a 1996 graduate of the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.  While at UC Davis, Dr. McClanahan had the opportunity to work extensively with Dr. Joan Rowe, an expert in sheep and goats. After graduation, Dr. McClanahan completed a large animal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine before joining a large animal ambulatory practice.   Upon her return to the University of Minnesota in 2002, she has specialized in small ruminants with a special interest in preventive health strategies.  Dr. McClanahan also has a Master of Public Health, with an emphasis in disease transmission and biosecurity.  She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

Dr. Kasey Carlin is a native of Maddock, North Dakota.  She received a B.S. in Animal Science from NDSU, a M.S. in Animal Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Ph.D. in Meat Science from Iowa State University.  She is currently an assistant professor of meat science and muscle biology in the Animal Science Dept at NDSU.  She teaches Meat Science classes and conducts research examining conditions affecting postmortem muscle metabolism influencing meat quality and examining changes in muscle growth and development during fetal growth due to maternal conditions.

Dr. Larry Holler specializes in diagnostic pathology at SDSU.  He received B.S. and D.V.M. degrees from Kansas State University, and later received his Ph.D. from Washington State University.  Holler’s professional emphasis’ include reproductive pathology, reproductive wastage of livestock, mastitis, small ruminant production and related diseases, and genetic diseases of animals.  He is also the coordinator of cases involving reproductive wastage and mastitis, and currently serves as the University Veterinarian and on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Ms. Chelsey Saevre received her B.S. degree in Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls.  She is currently pursuing her M.S. degree in Sheep Reproduction at NDSU while managing the university’s sheep unit on an interim basis.  She has been involved in the sheep industry for more than 15 years and has provided a variety of youth sheep programs through the Midwest.  Although the majority of Saevre’s small ruminant experience has been with sheep, her enthusiasm for the meat goat industry is growing rapidly.

Mr. Luke Black is currently working towards his B.S. degree in Animal Science at NDSU.  Luke and his family have been involved in the meat goat industry for many years.  His enthusiasm for meat goats is evident by his active role in the ND State Fair Meat Goat Show and his involvement at a number of sales and other youth programs throughout the state.

Mrs. Brenda Postels works as an Extension Educator for the University of Minnesota Extension – Wright County.  She takes a special interest in providing quality educational material and workshops to meat goat producers around the state and beyond.  Brenda has her own herd of approximately 60 commercial meat goat does.

Mr. Adam Fedders has been raising and showing goats since 2003. He and his family moved from California to Iowa in November of 2005.  He has participated in a number of shows, including putting on the first ever open boer goat show in Sioux Center, called The Never Boering Show, which started in 2005.  Adam and his wife Robbin are the owners of Just Kiddin’ Boer Goats, located 2 ½ miles west of Sioux Center.  They raise 60 head of brood does, ranging from registered full blood does and bucks to commercial boer-cross does.  They sell show does and bucks, show wethers, and replacement breeding does and bucks.  They also sell goat meat cut to your specifications.  Adam also serves as the President of the Sioux County Fair Board, Vice President of the Iowa Meat Goat Association, and Goat Superintendent for the Sioux County Youth Fair.  He also judges a few county shows every year.

Dr. Joe Klein operates White Veterinary Service located in White, SD.  He is going to present information on General Health, Welfare, and Ethics for raising goats.  He started a goat herd with 2 mutt goats to eat weeds behind some horses.   He now keeps a handful of Saanen does and a small herd of Boer/boer cross does.

Dr. Rob Maddock is a North Dakota native from Maddock North Dakota.  He received his BS and MS degrees from NDSU, and his PhD from Texas A&M.  Rob is a meat scientist at NDSU, coordinates the meat judging team, teaches meat processing and HACCP, and conducts research on adding value to carcasses.