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Animal Sciences Department

Animal Sciences Department

Dr. John Arthington

Department Chair

Dr. Arthington is a veteran beef cattle scientist serving research, extension, and administrative responsibilities with UF since 1998. Prior to joining the Department of Animal Sciences as Chair in 2019, he served 14 years as the Director of the Range Cattle Research and Education Center in Ona, FL.

Academic Positions Since Final Degree:

  • 2019-Present; Professor and Chair, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)
  • 2009-2019; Professor and Director, Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)
  • Professor (2009), Associate Professor (2003), and Assistant Professor (1998), Range Cattle Research and Education Center and Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, IFAS, Ona, FL.
  • 1995 to 1998; Technical Research Scientist, American Protein Corporation, Ames, IA.
  • 1991 to 1995; Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Animal Sciences and Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
  • Research

    Faculty appointment divided among the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. Research and Education programs focus on, (1) the trace mineral nutrition of grazing beef cattle with a specific emphasis on management system aimed at ensuring adequate Cu and Se nutrition of the peri-weaned calf, and (2) relationships among production stress and subsequent immune competence, well-being and productivity of beef cattle. These models have specifically focused on inflammatory reactions and stress tolerances to normal cattle management practices including weaning, commingling, and transportation.

Headshot of John Arthington

Contact

Bldg 499, Shealy Drive
PO Box 110910
Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone: (352) 294-6940 
Fax: (352) 392-5595
jarth@ufl.edu

  • Education

    Education:

    • 1995; Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, Department of Animal Sciences and Department of Anatomy and Physiology; Immunology, Ph.D
      • Dissertation Title: Effects of Dietary Copper, Chromium, and Vitamin E on Measures of Stress and Immune Competence in Growing Cattle
    • 1993; Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, Department of Animal Sciences; Nutrition & Physiology, M. S.
      • Thesis Title: The Role of Copper in Bovine Nutrition: Effect on Copper Containing Enzyme Levels and Immune Function
    • 1991; Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, Animal Science, B. S.
  • Publications

  • Professional Memberships, University Leadership, Service to the Profession, and Recognition

    Professional Memberships

    • American Society of Animal Science
    • American Dairy Science Association
    • American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists
    • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
    • Florida Cattlemen’s Association
    • Florida Farm Bureau Federation

    University Service (Special Assignments and Leadership Training)

    • Temporary Assignment with UF/IFAS Office of the Senior Vice President (2017 - 2019);
      • Appointed by the IFAS Senior VP for a 1-year special administrative assignment with a focus on two specific responsibilities;
      • (1) Director of Industry Relations: Focused on relationships and communication between IFAS Administration and leadership throughout the major agricultural commodity groups in Florida.
      • (2) Interim-COO of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF). The CRDF is a Direct Support Organization of the University of Florida and serves as a funding agency for producer check-off, state, and federal research funds aimed at combating citrus greening. The COO is the principle staff leadership position in the Foundation reporting to both a Board of Directors and the IFAS Senior VP.
    • Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI; 2011 and 2012)
      • A program of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) with support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, FSLI provides leadership development to upper-level leaders in higher education, government, and industry to prepare them to meet the leadership challenges and opportunities of the future.
    • Recently Appointed Administrators Workshop, University of Nebraska – Lincoln (2008)
      • Designed through leadership from the University of Nebraska, Purdue University, and Kansas State University, this workshop focuses on the development of leadership skills in newly appointed-appointed, unit-level academic administrators (Department Chairs, Center Directors, etc.).
    • Institute for Academic Leadership, Florida State University, Tallahassee (2006 and 2007)
      • Established in 1978 through a Kellogg Foundation grant, “The purpose of this workshop is to support the development of the chair as an academic leader with the department and within the institution as a whole. The workshop is designed to stimulate discussion and enable interaction between chairs in the state university system.”
    • Lead IFAS Cohort V, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (2007). Beginning in 2016, I served as co-leader of Lead IFAS along with Drs. Ed Osborn and Brian Myers (Former and current Chair, Agriculture Communication and Education Department).
      • Lead IFAS is an inter-institutional leadership program developed to culture and enhance the leadership capacity of IFAS faculty.

    Service to the Profession

    • Southern Advisory Committee (SAC-2) Secretary (2019 – 2020)
      • USDA Multi-State Coordinating Committee
      • Animal Sciences Department Chairs/Heads
    • Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA-16; 2020)
      • Triennial International Conference
      • Member, Animal Section Organizational Committee
    • Nomination Committee Chair (2019)
      • American Society of Animal Science – Southern Section
    • Executive Board, American Society of Animal Science – Southern Section
      • President (2016)
      • Vice-President (2015)
      • Secretary (2014)
      • Secretary-Elect (2013)
    • Invited Reviewer (2016)
      • National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2016)
      • Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, 8th rev. ed.
      • Washington, DC: The National Academies
    • Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA-14; 2014)
      • Triennial International Conference
      • Chair, Animal Section Organizational Committee
      • Member, Host Committee
    • American Society of Animal Science
      • Journal of Animal Science
      • Associate Editor (Animal Production Division), 2008 - 2010
    • Program Committee Member 2008-2009; American Society of Animal Sciences and American Dairy Science Association, Joint Forages and Pastures Program
    • Federation of Animal Science Societies
      • Ag Guide Revision Writing Committee, 2007 – 2008
    • Chair (2008) of Pasture and Forges Subcommittee of the American Society of Animal Sciences – Southern Section
    • Chair (2007) of Livestock Extension Subcommittee of the American Society of Animal Sciences – Southern Section
    • Chair of USDA Multi-State Project Re-write Submission 2005. I chaired the re-write and submission of the W-173 project that was successfully accepted and renewed as W-1173
    • American Registry of Professional Animal Scientist
      • Professional Animal Scientist
      • Editorial Board Service, 2004 – 2007
    • Project Chairman of USDA Multi-State Project (W-173); Stress factors of farm animals and their effects on performance (2003-2004).

    Honors and Recognition

    • American Society of Animal Science - Southern Section Awards (graduate student recognition)
      • Graduate Student Oral Presentation Competition
        • 2013; 1st place award of 12 competitors (Philipe Moriel; PhD)
        • 2006; 2nd place award of 15 competitors (Reinaldo Cooke; MS)
        • 2004; 2nd place award of 17 competitors (Joao Vendramini; PhD)
    • American Society of Animal Science - Southern Section (2008); Joe M. Fontenot – Graduate Student Award (Reinaldo Cooke; PhD)
    • Outstanding Extension Specialist from the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents (2005)
    • American Farm Bureau Federation (2005); “Research and education programs in beef and forage production systems in Florida” one of 15 nationally submitted poster presentations selected for display at the 2005 National Convention, Charlotte, NC.