Dr. Darron L. Smith

Assistant Professor
Agriculture and Technology
T 111
575.562.2363
Darron.Smith@enmu.edu

Academic Background
Ph.D. West Virginia University
B.S. The Pennsylvania University

Scholarly Interests
Animal Reproduction — Clearance of concentrations of progesterone by the liver and associated effects on embryo loss.

Animal Nutrition and Physiology — Feed utilization and growth, pasture systems and economics.

Animal Welfare and Behavior — The development or alteration of common animal management systems to reduce animal distress and increase production.

Selected Publications
Smith, D.L., K.P. Blemings, B.M. Stinefelt, and M.E. Wilson. 2005. Alterations in the Rate of Progesterone Clearance Induced by Insulin, Glucagon, or Insulin to Glucagon Ratio, in the Mouse Hepatocyte. Endocrinology (In Preparation).

Smith, D.L. , and M.E. Wilson. 2005. Effect of estradiol treatment, days 12 and 13 of gestation, on uterine luminal growth factors in the porcine. Biology of Reproduction (In Preparation).

Smith, D.L. , B.A. Costine, and M.E. Wilson. 2005. Effect of the acetate to propionate ratio on clearance of progesterone in the sheep. Journal of Animal Science (In Press).

Koch, J., J. Moritz, D. L. Smith , D Lay, Jr., and M.E. Wilson. 2005. Melengestrol acetate as an effective alternative to induce molting in laying hens II. Effects of MGA induced molt on post-molt egg quality. Poultry Sci (In Press)

Smith, D.L. , D.L. Wiggers, L. L. Wilson, J.W. Comerford, H.W. Harpster, and E.W. Cash. 2003. Postweaning distress, behavior, and growth performance in early and conventionally weaned beef calves. The Professional Animal Scientist 19:23-29.

Biography
Dr. Smith was born in Pennsylvania and grew up on sheep and beef farms. He worked as a cowboy on a ranch in the Rocky Mountains outside of Laramie, Wyoming. From 1987 to 1993 he managed Hawk Country Farm, Inc. This was a 300 acre parcel of gently rolling, well-drained shale soil, located in Kempton, Pennsylvania. Hawk Country Farm was a 300 head sheep farm that also produced 2,250 hogs a year and raised stocker cattle. In 1994, Dr. Smith purchased Hawk Country Farm, Inc. and formed Diamond DL Cattle Company. In addition to the sheep and hogs, he raised 150 brood cows, comprised of 75 purebred Angus, 20 purebred Limousin, and 55 Hereford crossbred cows. He also raised American bison and developed a freezer meat trade as well as providing genetically superior seedstock to livestock producers on the East Coast. In 1996, he returned to Penn State University to finish his degree in Dairy and Animal Science. While at Penn State Dr. Smith taught two courses — Animal Science 100, a general animal agriculture course, and Animal Science 332, artificial insemination of cattle. In addition to his course work and teaching duties, he conducted research trials, evaluated animal comfort, feeding, and transportation. He spent time conducting artificial insemination and estrus synchronization trials as well as studying rumen metabolism and the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) at Colorado State University. He spent three years as the Agriculture Issue Team Leader for Cornell University in New York, but later returned to school at West Virginia University where he completed his Ph.D. in reproductive physiology.