Dr. Ken Odde - DVM 1982

American Association of Bovine Practitioners 2024

Dr. Ken Odde

Dr. Ken Odde, Pollock, South Dakota, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2024 Alumni Recognition Award presented at the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Conference (AABP) held in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 12, 2024. The award is sponsored by the Kansas State University Veterinary Medical Alumni Association in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Odde, a native of South Dakota, received his bachelor's degree from South Dakota State University in 1973. Following two years in the Army, he then attended Kansas State University where he earned a master's degree in reproductive physiology in 1978, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1982 and a Ph.D. in physiology in 1983.

“As a longtime member of AABP and a proud graduate of Kansas State University, I am deeply honored to receive this award,” Dr. Odde said.

“Dr. Odde’s has dedicated his entire career to the animal science industry,” said Dr. Bonnie Rush, Hodes Family Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “He has been a passionate educator and provided exceptional leadership in industry and academic institutions, including K-State. We are proud to have the opportunity to recognize Dr. Odde among his peers at the AABP conference.”

Dr. Odde served as assistant professor, associate professor and professor at Colorado State University from 1983 to 1994. He taught and conducted research in beef cattle reproduction and health. In 1994, Dr. Odde returned to his home area in South Dakota and joined the technical services team at SmithKline Beecham Animal Health.

Dr. Odde was a member of the technical services team at Pfizer Animal Health following their acquisition of SmithKline Beecham Animal Health. In 2000, he left Pfizer to become vice president of Veterinary Operations at AgSpan and then had his own consulting business. Dr. Odde joined North Dakota State University as professor and head of its Department of Animal & Range Sciences in 2003. Then in 2005, he was professor and director of Beef Systems-Center of Excellence, a public-private partnership designed to grow cattle feeding and processing in North Dakota, as well as research and educational support to the beef industry.

In 2007, Dr. Odde joined Kansas State University's Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, retiring as department head in January 2018. He oversaw undergraduate enrollment grow from 793 students in 2007 to 1,226 students in 2017, as well as an increase in faculty and research productivity in the department. Under his leadership, the department also added $32 million in new and renovated facilities.

Dr. Odde has authored or co-authored more than 250 refereed journal papers, proceedings and abstracts, experiment station publications and technical bulletins. He also has been an invited speaker at scientific, veterinary and producer meetings in more than 30 U.S. states and six foreign countries.

Dr. Odde is a member of several associations, including American Society of Animal Science, American Veterinary Medical Association and American Association of Bovine Practitioners and is a frequent speaker at veterinary and cattle producer meetings. From 2016-2017, he was president of the National Association for the Advancement of Animal Science — an organization that he helped found to increase advocacy for federal funding of research in animal agriculture. From 2000-2002, he served as trustee of the organization. He also served as secretary, president-elect and then president of the Western Section American Society of Animal Science from 1992-1994.

In 2018, Dr. Odde received the Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence from the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City.

Currently, Dr. Odde and his wife, Arlene live in Pollock, South Dakota. He consults for a beef cattle genetics organization and helps his son with their cattle business.