UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- James Holter of Durham, N.H. has been named a 2001 Dairy Science Distinguished Alumnus by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Holter, professor emeritus of animal and nutrition sciences at the University of New Hampshire, was guest of honor at the department of dairy and animal science's 2001 Alumni Weekend Celebration on April 20-21 at University Park.

Renowned for research on how to predict dry matter intake in Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle, Holter developed software for dairy ration balancing. Dry matter intake is fundamentally important in nutrition because it establishes the amount of nutrients available to an animal for health and production.

Holter and his research group developed one of only two dry matter prediction equations for use in the field that have been published and tested for accuracy. He is the only researcher to develop dry matter prediction equations that include animal, dietary and environmental factors. In addition, Holter is the only researcher to develop prediction equations for dry matter intake of Jersey cattle. The recently issued 7th edition of the National Research Council's Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle includes much information from Holter's research, particularly from the last decade.

Holter was raised on his family's farm in Clarion County and graduated from Clarion High School in 1952. He graduated from Penn State with honors in dairy science in 1956.

He received his master's degree in nutrition from the University of Maryland in 1959. After earning his doctorate in dairy nutrition from Penn State in 1963, he began his professorial career at the University of New Hampshire.

Holter and his wife, Vada Marie, have two children -- Melanie and Jonathan.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Carol Ertley at 814-863-3665.

To obtain a photo of James Holter, call Toni Benner at 814-863-2701 or download high-resolution images at the bottom of the page at http://aginfo.psu.edu/News/april01/dairyalums.html.

Contacts:

Kim Dionis KDionis@psu.edu 814-863-2703 814-865-1068 fax