MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry has named Larry Benyshek as its distinguished alumnus of the year, recognizing a notable career as a researcher, professor, university department head and entrepreneur.

 

Benyshek, who now lives in Junction City, Kan., retired in 2002 as the department head of dairy sciences at the University of Georgia, where he had taught at Georgia since 1976. He had also previously taught at Fort Hays State College, and worked for the North American Limousin Foundation.

 

With a vision for the beef cattle industry, Benyshek led a team of scientists that provided research and genetic evaluation for several major breeds of beef cattle in the U.S., Canada and South America. He eventually created Benyshek and Hough Consulting Services where he now serves as president. He has presented research results in several states and countries and is widely known for spreading the expected progeny difference (EPD) concept.

 

EPDs are an evaluation of an animal’s genetic value, taking into account such factors as potential growth, reproductive ability and carcass value.

 

Raised on a general livestock farm in Republic County, Kansas, near Agenda, Benyshek earned his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State in 1969, and later the masters and doctoral degrees in animal breeding at Virginia Tech.

 

Because of his contributions to beef improvement, Benyshek received the Beef Improvement Federation’s Continuing Service Award in 1986 and the Pioneer Award in 2001. The American Society of Animal Science presented him with the Animal Breeding and Genetics award in 1994.

 

“Larry is a leader in the genetic evaluation of beef cattle,” said Ken Odde, department head for animal sciences and industry at Kansas State. “He played a key role in the development of EPDs and in making EPDs a widely used selection tool in the beef industry.”

 

Benyshek and his wife, Isabella, have five children and two grandchildren.

 

 

Angie Stump Denton
Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry
Communication Coordinator