July 25, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Crystal Albers, director of communications, at 816-383-5100 at calbers@angus.media.
PHOTO: Available via prphotos@angus.org.
Angus Names Genetic Research Director
Leading international scientist to join Angus genetics powerhouse in September.
The American Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) welcome Dr. Stephen Miller as the newly named director of genetic research for the cattle industry’s leading genetic evaluation center.
Miller, most recently a principal scientist with AgResearch Ltd., in New Zealand, will join the AGI team Sept. 1 in Saint Joseph, Mo., to lead the organization’s research and development efforts, and to further the innovative evaluation methods for the Association’s weekly National Cattle Evaluation and AGI clients.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome such a high-caliber industry professional to the Angus team,” says Allen Moczygemba, Association CEO. “Dr. Miller is eminently qualified to fill this role for advancing genetic research and technology for Angus breeders and the overall cattle business.”
Miller was raised in Canada, and obtained both his doctorate and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. While completing his Ph.D., he was a visiting scientist at the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit in Australia, specializing in beef cattle. Over the course of his career, Miller has nearly 20 years of experience with beef cattle selection, genomics and technology.
Miller will serve Angus breeders and their customers under the leadership of Dr. Dan Moser, AGI president, and alongside the company’s genetic experts and specialists in the field. He will lead efforts for economic modeling of beef production, develop selection and management tools for both seedstock and commercial cattle producers, and guide research priorities for the Angus breed.
“Dr. Miller is recognized by both academic and industry leaders as an innovative beef geneticist, and has had a tremendous impact on the global beef industry,” Moser says. “His talents and experiences will help AGI continue to provide state-of-the-art genetic evaluation and selection tools to Angus breeders, their commercial customers, and other AGI clients.”
AGI has a longstanding history of leadership for genetic selection capabilities within the beef cattle industry. Since introducing Angus genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs) in 2010, the uptake in genomic technology has been significant. More than 25% of Angus cattle registered during fiscal year 2015 had genomic tests, resulting in more accurate, precise data than ever before.
The AGI team, along with the addition of Dr. Miller, will continue to drive the science of better breeding and serve as an industry leader for the entire beef business. To learn more about AGI, go online to www.angus.org.
ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 25,000 members across the United States and Canada. It provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on the power of Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.
For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association’s programs and services, visit www.angus.org.
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