Meet Blythe Schultz, our latest addition to Farm Journal’s PORK’s Up & Coming Leaders feature. We are showcasing some of the fresh, new voices of the pork industry who combine innovative thought and work ethic with scientific savvy and a passion to make a difference.
Age: 29
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Texas A&M University; MSc in Animal Biosciences, Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh; currently pursuing PhD at Iowa State University
Hometown: Santa Fe, Texas
Q. How did you become interested in pursuing a career in the swine industry?
A. My road to the swine industry was a winding one. There are not a lot of pigs in Texas, so my undergraduate work did not include much related to swine or the swine industry. Through my master’s research, I became interested in genetics and biotechnology. My interests were pointed toward some of the research being conducted at Iowa State by the director of my master’s program. Because my interest was in genetics, switching species was fairly easy. I have learned a lot about the swine industry and husbandry while at Iowa State, and have thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interacting with people from all different aspects of the industry.
Q. Did you take part in undergraduate research experiences?
A. I worked in a poultry nutrition lab at Texas A&M. It was a great experience that included extensive time working both in the barn and in the lab. Helping out with a number of different projects, as well as taking the reins on a couple of my own, cemented my plan of pursuing graduate school.
Q. Tell us about your current research.
A. My interest in research has always been based on the goal of improving global food security. I firmly believe livestock play a crucial role in global food security by providing a healthy, nutrient-dense product for consumers, and that emerging biotechnologies have the potential to continue the production improvements we have seen in the swine industry for many decades. My work in Dr. Jason Ross’ lab is primarily focused on a gene-edited pig model in which we altered one of the negative feedback mechanisms in the growth hormone axis. Our early data demonstrated that male pigs that carried our modification performed better than their littermates through the end of the nursery phase. Research is ongoing to determine the effects through market weight. I have also done work related to female reproductive physiology and the effects of heat stress.
Q. What is your generation’s greatest challenge?
A. I think one of the biggest challenges facing the swine industry (and agriculture as a whole) is the distance between the consumer and food production. Many people, including myself, are two or three or four generations removed from the farm, and this can lead to a variety of misunderstandings about food production. These misunderstandings underpin many of the challenges faced by the industry including a generalized fear around biotechnology and other methods for improving production.
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