Lamb, Graham Director and Professor

Dr. Lamb's internationally recognized, independent research program has thrived from his leadership in developing strong relationships and collaborations and nurturing multiple collaborative teams with colleagues within the University of Minnesota, University of Florida, Texas A&M university, other states, and internationally. In addition, developing and maintaining research relationships with livestock producers and industry partners have been critical to the success of his program. His publication record includes refereed manuscripts, proceedings for invited presentation, abstracts, extension reports, and popular press which frequently are the result of multi-collaborative projects that he initiated and completed. Therefore, his research program can be defined by three primary focus areas: 1) To develop reliable, efficient, and economic artificial insemination protocols; 2) To evaluate the practical use of applied reproductive technologies; 3) To develop and maintain collaborative relationships and research that focuses on factors affecting reproduction in cattle, especially focusing on the relationship between nutrition and reproduction.



During the past 30 years Dr. Lamb has focused much of his research on developing a reliable fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI) protocol for beef cows and heifers and more recently systems that include sexed semen. Many publications during his career have resulted in the widespread use of the protocols developed by Dr. Lamb and his colleagues, with greater than 50% of all cows inseminated artificially in the United States utilizing one of the protocols developed by a team led by Dr. Lamb. Today approximately 2 million cows and heifers are exposed to TAI, resulting in $98 million increase in value of weaned calf value per cow.



In addition to his applied research, Dr. Lamb also feels the need to delve into more basic areas of science that may not be immediately practical but may have larger impacts in the future. His work in the area of embryo transfer, embryo splitting, embryo sexing, and in vitro fertilization all serve this goal. However, he has not lost sight of the importance of collaborations in the areas of nutrition, nutritional physiology, and management all of which have resulted in publications in major journals. A majority of his external funding to support his programs focuses on the inter-relationships of nutrition and reproduction.



The impact of Dr. Lamb's research program is far reaching resulting in changes to reproductive management in the US as well as other countries where he has been asked to teach, provide management information or conduct research, such as Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Uruguay, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. His work has truly had an international impact.