Patrick French, PhD, PAS
Patrick French, PAS, is a native of Kentucky, where he grew up on a diversified farm. He received BS degrees in accounting and animal sciences and later an MS of animal science in 1996. In 1999, French received a PhD from Virginia Tech and accepted a teaching and research position at Oregon State University. During his seven-year career at Oregon State, he taught classes in nutrition and dairy production, advised students and student clubs, and conducted research related to transition cow nutrition and perennial grass forage quality. He served as major advisor to two PhD and four MS students. In 2006, French accepted the position of manager of ruminant nutrition and research with Southern States Cooperative Inc., which is a farmer-owned cooperative based in Richmond, Virginia. In his new role at Southern States, he provides technical field support in Southern States’ marketing area, including formulation and product development, and serves on several boards at Cooperative Research Farms. In addition to ARPAS, he is a member of the American Dairy Science Association and the American Society of Animal Science, and he serves as a judge for the Southeast Dairy Challenge student competition.
Dana J. Tomlinson, PhD, PAS, Dipl ACAS
Dana J. Tomlinson was raised on a dairy in northeast Ohio with registered Guernsey cattle and Suffolk sheep. He received a BS in dairy science from The Ohio State University and advanced degrees in dairy nutrition and management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg (1990). His primary area of research was replacement dairy heifer growth, body composition, and the effect of carbohydrates and rumen undegradable protein on growth and composition.
Tomlinson has been with Zinpro since 2000. His current responsibilities include research and nutritional services, which involves providing technical support to the North and Central American, Canadian, and South African sales teams, customers, and prospects. His research responsibilities include conducting Zinpro Corporation sponsored research on trace mineral nutrition with dairy cattle and companion animals. The emphasis is on the role of trace mineral nutrition on performance and immune competence, as well as management, housing, and the environment on production, health, reproduction, and profitability of dairy cattle. He has also evaluated trace mineral effects on skin integrity, hair and fur quality, growth, and immune function in companion and fur-bearing animals. Tomlinson has been a frequent speaker at international dairy conferences in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and South Africa, focusing on trace mineral function, dairy cattle lameness, reproductive performance, and housing.
Tomlinson previously worked for Purina Mills, Inc. (1990–1999) as the dairy nutrition and management consultant in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. This position involved dairy product development at six manufacturing plants, ration formulation, development of marketing materials, regulatory and pricing control, and technical support for salespeople and customers.