John Killefer | College of Agricultural Sciences

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Professor
john.killefer [at] oregonstate.edu

Withycombe Hall

2921 SW Campus Way

2921 SW Campus Way

Corvallis, OR 97331

The overall goal of the Killefer laboratory is to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating muscle growth and physiology at both the embryonic and postnatal stages of development, to assess the impact of these processes on muscle function, and ultimately to apply this knowledge to develop higher-quality production animals and meat products.

At OSU

Affiliated with:

Animal & Rangeland Sciences

Career Links:

Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences

Professional Accomplishments

Employment:

2000-2002 - Nutritional Biochemistry, Growth Physiology Associate Professor, WVU; Executive member of the Genetics/Developmental Biology program

1994-2000 - Nutritional Biochemistry, Physiology, Assistant Professor, WVU; Coordinator of the Undergraduate Biochemistry Program

Education:

Ph.D. Animal Science, Oregon State University, 1990

B.A. Biology, Hastings College, 1984

2009-2011 - Meat Science and Muscle Biology Professor, UIUC

2002-2009 - Meat Science and Muscle Biology Associate Professor, UIUC

My Awards

Honors and Awards:

Graduate Student Research Award, Amer. Inst. of Nutr. (Procter and Gamble), 1989.

Award of Excellence, Research presentation. 1996. National Poultry Science Association Meeting.

Recipient of the Outstanding Professor, College of Agriculture and Forestry. 1998.

Outstanding Researcher Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. 1999.

Highlighted Researcher for WVU Research: President’s State of the University Address. 2000.

West Virginia University Faculty Senator, 2001-2002.

ACOP/ESCOP Leadership Development Program (Class 10, 2000-2001).

NRICGP Grants Review Panel. 2002.

ACES Global Academy Fellow. 2007 – 2011

USDA/TSTAR Grant Review Panel. 2009.

Associate Editor, Journal of Animal Science. 2009 – 2013.

Food Systems Leadership Institute Fellow (2013-2015).

Total Grant Support: Exceeds six million dollars from federal, state, and private sources.

My Publications

2016

Journal Article

A. Lowder, Parker, N. B., Kennedy, M., Keys, D., C. DeWitt, M., and Killefer, J., “Cull hazelnuts as a lipid source in hog finishing rations: Effects on pork shelf-life and fatty acid composition”, Meat Science, vol. 112, p. 146, 2016.

2013

Journal Article

J. W. Lee, Kil, D. Y., Keever, B. D., Killefer, J., McKeith, F. K., Sulabo, R. C., and Stein, H. H., “Carcass fat quality of pigs is not improved by adding corn germ, beef tallow, palm kernel oil, or glycerol to finishing diets containing distillers dried grains with solubles”, Journal of Animal Science, vol. 91, no. 5, pp. 2426 - 2437, 2013.

2012

Journal Article

D. D. Boler, Shreck, A. L., Faulkner, D. B., Killefer, J., McKeith, F. K., HOMM, J. W., and Scanga, J. A., “Effect of ractopamine hydrochloride (Optaflexx) dose on live animal performance, carcass characteristics and tenderness in early weaned beef steers”, Meat Science, vol. 92, no. 4, pp. 458 - 463, 2012.

D. D. Boler, Fernandez-Duenas, D. M., Kutzler, L. W., Zhao, J., Harrell, R. J., Campion, D. R., McKeith, F. K., Killefer, J., and Dilger, A. C., “Effects of oxidized corn oil and a synthetic antioxidant blend on performance, oxidative status of tissues, and fresh meat quality in finishing barrows”, Journal of Animal Science, vol. 90, no. 13, pp. 5159 - 5169, 2012.

C. M. Souza, Boler, D. D., Clark, D. L., Kutzler, L. W., Holmer, S. F., Summerfield, J. W., Cannon, J. E., Smit, N. R., McKeith, F. K., and Killefer, J., “Varying the Temperature of the Liquid Used for High-Pressure Processing of Prerigor Pork: Effects on Fresh Pork Quality, Myofibrillar Protein Solubility, and Frankfurter Textural Properties”, Journal of Food Science, vol. 7721893226285567364384175448128778, no. 1, pp. S54 - S61, 2012.

2011

Journal Article

L. W. Kutzler, Holmer, S. F., Boler, D. D., Carr, S. N., Ritter, M. J., Parks, C. W., McKeith, F. K., and Killefer, J., “Comparison of varying doses and durations of ractopamine hydrochloride on late-finishing pig carcass characteristics and meat quality”, Journal of Animal Science, vol. 89, no. 7, pp. 2176 - 2188, 2011.

M. A. Tavarez, Boler, D. D., Bess, K. N., Zhao, J., Yan, F., Dilger, A. C., McKeith, F. K., and Killefer, J., “Effect of antioxidant inclusion and oil quality on broiler performance, meat quality, and lipid oxidation”, Poultry Science, vol. 90, no. 4, pp. 922 - 930, 2011.

D. D. Boler, Kutzler, L. W., Meeuwse, D. M., King, V. L., Campion, D. R., McKeith, F. K., and Killefer, J., “Effects of increasing lysine on carcass composition and cutting yields of immunologically castrated male pigs”, Journal of Animal Science, vol. 89, no. 7, pp. 2189 - 2199, 2011.

C. M. Souza, Boler, D. D., Clark, D. L., Kutzler, L. W., Holmer, S. F., Summerfield, J. W., Cannon, J. E., Smit, N. R., McKeith, F. K., and Killefer, J., “The effects of high pressure processing on pork quality, palatability, and further processed products”, Meat Science, vol. 87, no. 4, pp. 419 - 427, 2011.

2010

Journal Article

S. M. Scramlin, Platter, W. J., Gomez, R. A., Choat, W. T., McKeith, F. K., and Killefer, J., “Comparative effects of ractopamine hydrochloride and zilpaterol hydrochloride on growth performance, carcass traits, and longissimus tenderness of finishing steers”, Journal of Animal Science, vol. 88, no. 5, pp. 1823 - 1829, 2010.