Karl Kerns, an assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State University, is part of a multidisciplinary team honored with the 2026 Excellence in Multistate Research Award by agInnovation for their efforts in improving reproductive performance in cattle and sheep. The project, titled W4112: Reproductive Performance in Domestic Ruminants, is backed by U.S. Department of Agriculture Hatch funding and aims to tackle reproductive inefficiencies that significantly impact U.S. livestock profitability.
This initiative involves experts from various land-grant institutions, highlighting the importance of collaboration to address the challenges facing the beef, dairy, and sheep industries, which collectively contribute around $243 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Even minor improvements in reproduction could lead to substantial economic benefits for farmers, estimated at over $1 billion each year.
Kerns focuses on aspects of male reproduction, adding depth to the project as it explores applications beyond livestock, including potential human health insights. The awards ceremony took place on September 24 in Grand Junction, Colorado, and included $15,000 to further their ongoing research objectives.
