2011 Bruce Cottington Award
Dr. Jim Linn
Minnesota Milk Producers Association recognized Dr. Jim Linn as the 2011 recipient of the Bruce Cottington Friend of Dairy Award during the Midwest Dairy Expo on November 29 in St. Cloud, Minn.
Dr. James Linn is a nationally known dairy expert who served as the Head of the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota from June 2007 until his retirement in September 2011. He earned his Ph.D. in dairy cattle nutrition from the University of Minnesota in 1978, and was on the faculty at Iowa State University as Extension Dairy Specialist from 1978 to 1979 before returning to Minnesota as an Extension Dairy Nutritionist with research, teaching and extension responsibilities.
He specialized in dairy cattle nutrition and focused his research on forage quality, calf nutrition, direct fed microbials, feed intake and feed efficiency. He served as faculty supervisor for the animal facilities on the St. Paul Campus, which includes a dairy herd of 140 Holstein cows.
Dr. Linn has been active in the American Dairy Science Association, having served on the Board of Directors as well as President, and he chaired the Production Division Council. He also served as Overall Program Chair for the 2002 joint meeting of American Dairy Science Association, American Society of Animal Science, and the Canadian Society of Animal Science.
Dr. Linn was a member of the 2001 National Research Council (NRC) committee for dairy nutrition that authored the “NRC Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle” and served on the NRC committee that reviewed “Minerals and Toxic Substances in Diets and Water for Animals.” He was named Outstanding Graduate Faculty Member of the Department of Animal Science, and he advised 10 MS and 5 PhD students during his tenure at the U of M.
Dr. Linn has authored and co-authored over 600 publications and popular press articles covering numerous calf, heifer and cow nutrition topics. He has given over 500 talks on dairy nutrition in Minnesota alone and has been invited to speak at numerous national and international seminars and meetings.
“But, as you all know,” said Pat Lunemann, President of Minnesota Milk Producers Association, “Jim is not a person of accolades and accomplishments. He is all about the people he served – dairy farmers. His true dedication of service to Minnesota dairy farmers is without reproach.”