Faculty
Daniel Thomson, MS,
PhD, DVM
Jones Professor of Production
Medicine and Epidemiology/ Professor/ Director of Beef Cattle Institute
Phone: 785-532-4254
Email: dthomson@vet.k-state.edu
Professional Training:
- Bachelor of Science: Iowa State University
- Masters of Science: South Dakota State University
- PhD: Texas Tech University
- DVM: Iowa State University
Teaching:
- Advanced Feedlot Production Management (4th year)
- Clinical Nutrition (3rd year)
- Contemporary Issues in Veterinary Medicine (1st, 2nd, 3rd years)
- Feedlot Health Systems (Graduate/Undergraduate)
- Fundamentals of Feedlot Management (2nd year)
- Diagnostic Methods in Feedlot Management (3rd year)
Research:
Dr. Thomson's research program has received more than $33 million in extramural grants, including $13.7 million to him as the principal investigator. He has worked with major advisory boards and committees for such industry groups as McDonald’s, the Food Marketing Institute, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, American Farm Bureau, American Association of Bovine Practitioners and more. His expertise has been reported in many major media outlets, including CBS News, USA Today, New York Times and Los Angeles Times.
- Beef cattle health and well-being
- Receiving cattle management, health and nutrition
- Pre-harvest food safety in beef cattle productions
- Spanish/English communication for safety and training in the feedlot
Clinical:
Dan Thomson is a third-generation bovine veterinarian and is an internationally recognized expert and leader in beef cattle production and health management. As director of the university's Beef Cattle Institute, http://www.beefcattleinstitute.org/, Thomson believes treating cattle humanely is not only right, it's also good for producers' bottom line. The institute sponsors a biennial International Beef Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare. Thomson is the former chair of the OIE Beef Cattle Production and Animal Welfare Committee, an international animal health group that develops beef cattle production and welfare standards worldwide. A K-State faculty member since 2004, Thomson teaches courses in cow/calf, stocker and feed yard production medicine welfare and nutrition. He has published 50 peer-reviewed papers, four book chapters and 186 abstracts. He has given more than 460 invited talks around the world on his research and experience in beef cattle welfare. Thomson is host of "DocTalk with Dr. Dan Thomson," a weekly, 30-minute program on RFD-TV, where he and his guests discuss important issues related to livestock welfare and management. Prior to joining K-State, Thomson was director of animal health and well-being for Cactus Feeders in Amarillo, Texas, and was an associate veterinarian with Veterinary Research and Consulting Services in Greeley, Colo. He earned a bachelor's in animal science and his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Iowa State University, a master's in ruminant nutrition from South Dakota State University and a doctorate in ruminate nutrition from Texas Tech University.