01/08/1996

Building On Solid Ground is Goal of New Animal Science Head

AUBURN, Ala.- Auburn University's Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences already has a strong foundation, according it's new department head, Werner Bergen, and his goal for the future is to build on that solid ground.

Bergen, who became the department's new head on Nov. 1, came to Auburn from Michigan State University where he has been a member of the faculty for the past 28 years. Coming to Auburn means a change in climate for Bergen, both meteorologically and administratively, but he sees Auburn as a great place to build a powerful academic and research program.

A native of Warstade, Germany, Bergen immigrated to the United States in 1955 with his family. The family operated dairy farms in New York and Pennsylvania during Bergen's youth and he grew up showing Holstein cattle. That experience piqued Bergen's interest in animal and dairy sciences so much so that he majored in dairy science when he started college at Pennsylvania State University in 1960.

In 1962, the Bergen family moved to Ohio to operate another dairy and young Bergen followed, enrolling in The Ohio State University. That same year, Bergen officially became a citizen of the United States. He received a bachelor's degree in dairy science from Ohio State in 1964 and went on to get a master's degree in ruminant nutrition and the Ph.D.in nutritional biochemistry from Ohio State, graduating in 1967.

Upon graduation, Bergen joined the faculty at Michigan State as an assistant professor of animal husbandry with teaching and research responsibilities in ruminant nutrition. He was promoted to associate professor in 1972 and full professor in 1978. While at Michigan State, Bergen was on the forefront of the development of the university's nutrition program, developing classes, expanding graduate education and supporting student organizations and intercollegiate judging teams. During his tenure at Michigan State, Bergen taught more than 7,800 students and was major professor for 20 Ph.D. students and 15 master's students.

Throughout his career, Bergen's research has focused on issues related to ruminant nutrition and the biology of growth and development of meat animals. He has emphasized the basic mechanisms of regulating protein accretion and lipid deposition in his studies and has modified methodology used for rodents and other laboratory animals to study protein synthesis and degradation in swine and cattle. Ultimately, his work has helped refine ways to produce livestock more efficiently.

The winner of numerous awards for his teaching and research efforts, Bergen now is turning to administrative challenges by taking the reins of Auburn's Animal and Dairy Science Department.

According to Bergen, Auburn's current faculty and programs already are strong. His primary efforts will be to further strengthen the program through administrative support.

"We have a very good department, thanks to the leadership of Dr. Ralph Harris and other former department heads," said Bergen. "I want to work hard to help our faculty make even greater strides."

Bergen is beginning with facilities and farm units. He noted that the office and laboratory space currently available to his faculty need improvement and he hopes to upgrade those facilities, including classroom space for students, as quickly as possible. In addition, he hopes to expand the class selections on both the undergraduate and graduate levels and encourage researchers to look into new research topics and techniques.

The department has long been a leader in researching livestock issues through studies carried out through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and Bergen hopes to further expand the research program. One way to do that is to strengthen links with the production and industry side of animal and dairy science, getting commodity and farm groups involved in the department's growth and in suggesting research needs.

"We want to work closely with industry people to meet their needs and provide information that will be valuable to Alabama's livestock producers and also to the meat industry," he said.

Though Bergen admits that coming to Auburn during a time of tight funding could be a challenge, he believes that the faculty can be supported and expanded in years to come, all of which will help Alabama's livestock industry and also Alabama's consumers.

"We have a lot of potential in this department to grow and make great strides," he said. "As an administrator, I want to turn that potential into reality."

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

January 8, 1996