HAYS, Kan. -- Years ago, Kansas State University researcher John Brethour, chose to focus his life's work on finding ways to produce good beef efficiently. And focus he did.
"John's command and understanding of the interrelationships among the science, business, and economics of the beef cattle industry are unique," said Pat Coyne of Brethour's 47-year career as a beef cattle scientist at the university's Agricultural Research Center in Hays, Kan.
Brethour retired June 3, 2005.
"John has devoted his entire career to advancing the science of beef cattle production and helping the cattle industry of Kansas remain viable and competitive. Many of his accomplishments have put this research center and KSU on the map nationally and internationally," said Coyne, who is the head of the Western Kansas Agricultural Research Centers, including the Hays center.
Brethour's "crowning achievement" is his work using ultrasound to examinemuscle tissue in beef cattle and applying the results to precision feeding of beef cattle, Coyne said. The computer software, for which he holds U.S. patents, and the interpretive techniques he developed to establish optimum number of days cattle should be on feed to reach a specific carcass quality grade have set the standard for this technology.
Proof of the researcher's impact on the U.S. beef industry comes from the industry itself. Brethour used ultrasound technology to manage and select six steers that placed first in the 1999 Western Stock Show carcass contest in Denver. He was awarded first price ($100,000) in the national 2002 Best of the Breed contest sponsored by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Not only did he win first place, but the top eight entries out of 140 used the ultrasound technology that he developed.
The technology again proved successful, when at the 2004 Beef Empire Days in Garden City, Kan., it was used to select animals that went on to win Grand Champion Heifer and Grand and Reserve Champion Steer.
At Brethour's direction, all prize money and royalties derived from the contest awards and patents have been reinvested in K-State's Hays beef research programs.
"The potential economic benefit to the (beef) industry from John's ultrasound research is massive," Coyne said. "Several studies have documented that precision feeding, based on the ultrasound work, increases feedlot profits $15 to $20 per head, while improving beef quality. There were 28 million fed cattle slaughtered in the U.S. in 2003, so the potential benefit of this technology is over $500 million annually."
Adoption of the technology is growing. Today, 14 commercial feedlots use it routinely and 50 veterinarians and consultants provide it on a fee basis, resulting in about 10,000 cattle scanned per week.
In 2004 Brethour was named by Beef Magazine as one of 40 individuals who has made notable contributions to the beef industry.
"John is one of those rare individuals who never lost the zeal for learning and never developed resistance to change," Coyne said. "His enthusiasm for new ideas is just as intense today as when he finished graduate school."
That willingness to learn, coupled with superior intellect, are key to his success and continuing contributions, even at the age of 71, when most people have long since retired, Coyne said.