Dakota Farmer

NDSU hires new sheep specialist

Travis Hoffman has background in meat sciences and quality assurance.

July 13, 2016

1 Min Read

Travis Hoffman is the North Dakota State University Extension Service’s new sheep specialist. He holds a joint appointment as sheep specialist for University of Minnesota Extension.

Hoffman had been an instructor in meat sciences in the Department of Animal Sciences at South Dakota State University since September 2015. Prior to that, he was the Colorado beef quality assurance coordinator, a joint appointment for Colorado State University and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Livestock Association and Colorado Beef Council, for seven and a half years.

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Hoffman grew up on a diversified livestock operation near Rockham, S.D. His family raises registered Corriedale sheep, along with commercial feeder cattle.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science, with a science emphasis, from SDSU in Brookings in 2003, a master’s degree in 2008 and a doctorate in 2015 in animal science, with a meat science emphasis, from Colorado State University. Hoffman’s Ph.D. research was part of the 2015 National Lamb Quality Audit and focused on retail and food service components of attributes that specifically define and quantify consumers’ willingness to pay for lamb quality in the U.S. marketplace. He has taught several sheep-related courses and authored or co-authored numerous articles on sheep industry topics.

“We are very excited that Travis has joined our faculty at NDSU,” says Greg Lardy, head of NDSU’s Animal Sciences Department. “His background and knowledge in meat science will provide opportunities for building strong Extension programs. Travis’ enthusiasm for the sheep industry is contagious.”

Source: NDSU Extension Service

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