Dr. Philip Jeffrey Berger earned the designation of professor emeritus of animal science at Iowa State University.
AMES, IOWA, December 06, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Philip Jeffrey Berger, PhD, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Berger celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Retired in 2010 after nearly 40 years of service, Dr. Berger earned the designation of professor emeritus of animal science at Iowa State University. Hired as a faculty member in 1972, he later earned the title of full professor at Iowa State University in 1982. He formerly worked as a research and teaching assistant at the Ohio State University in Columbus between 1965 and 1970.
During his five years at Ohio State under the supervision of Dr. Walter R Harvey, Dr. Berger soon became immersed in research using mice as a pilot animal to model genetic response in two genetically correlated traits in a designed selection experiment which was a popular research tool at this time. Four lines demonstrated Hi- Hi, Hi-Lo, Lo-Hi, and Lo-Lo responses in the two traits. Similar genetic relationships and responses to selection were projected to mimic genetic relationships among traits in economically important species of dairy and beef cattle, and pigs. Soon after joining the Animal Breeding and Genetics faculty at Iowa State in 1972, Dr. Berger joined research efforts in collaboration with Drs. A. E. Freeman and R. L. Willham and their graduate students. With funding by the Iowa State University Agriculture Experiment Station and National Association of Animal Breeders Dr. Berger was able to develop a national data base by which mixed model genetic prediction procedures could be applied to evaluate dairy sires across dairy farms in the United States for ease of calving of their daughters. The GOAL at this time was to reduce the risk of farmers needing to assist with difficult births. Stillbirths were added later. He considers the above to be a great accomplishment. Due to the existence of this national data base containing registrations of birth at calving with measurements for calving ease and stillbirths, it became apparent that the incidence of twinning rate in Holstein cattle was immediately available. Dr. Berger was invited to join a collaboration with Dr. Brian Kirpatrick and his graduate students in their molecular genetics laboratory at U. Wisconsin-Madison. By using molecular techniques in combination with pedigree parentage and genetic breeding values for sires and their sons this collaboration led to an in-depth explanation for the mode of inheritance of twinning rate in Holstein cattle. There has since been a series of several publications on this topic.
A longtime developer of mixed model animal prediction programs since 1972, Dr. Berger also excelled as a consultant of computer applications for the animal production division with the Food and Agriculture Organization in 1979. That following year, he found success as a visiting cooperative scientist in Bet Dagan, Israel. Honored to participate at the First Animal Production Conference in San Jose, Calif. in 1981, he later contributed to a technical transfer project to develop a genetic evaluation program for dairy cattle in Tunisia in 1988. In 1994, Dr. Berger embarked upon a sabbatical where he worked and conducted research at the Wageningen University and Research in The Netherlands.
An elected fellow of the American Dairy Science Association, Dr. Berger a longtime member of the American Society of Animal Science, Sigma Xi and Delta Tau Alpha. Included in nearly 30 editions of Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Education and Who's Who in the Midwest, he has also been presented with a J.L. Lush Award for Animal Breeding and Genetics by the American Dairy Science Association. Dr. Berger holds an undergraduate degree from Delaware Valley College as well as a Master's degree and Doctor of Philosophy from the Ohio State University.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Philip Jeffrey Berger, PhD, has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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