URBANA – Hans H. Stein, University of Illinois associate professor of animal nutrition, received the 2010 American Feed Industry Association Award in Non-Ruminant Nutrition Research Monday at the American Society of Animal Sciences national meeting in Denver.
 
Stein’s laboratory focuses on digestive physiology research. His research team has extensive experience in measuring energy and nutrient digestibility in feed ingredients fed to pigs.
 
“In a relatively brief career at South Dakota State University and since 2006 at the University of Illinois, Hans Stein has established himself as the leading international authority on evaluation of feed ingredients for swine,” said Neal Merchen, head of the U of I Department of Animal Sciences. “His work has been creative, original, and of the highest relevance to swine producers throughout the country. Stein upholds a long legacy of excellence in swine nutrition in the Department of Animal Sciences.”
 
Stein’s research and resulting recommendations on the use of distillers co-products is the gold standard for information for swine producers on that timely topic, Merchen said.
 
Stein has mentored five post doctoral fellows and 21 graduate students. His research group has published 67 peer-reviewed journal articles, four book chapters, 123 research abstracts, 32 conference proceedings, and 36 bulletins and Extension publications.
 
Grant Petersen, a Ph.D. student in Stein’s laboratory, said, “Dr. Stein has been very active in promoting his students to future employers. His connections in the industry and throughout academia are extensive. All of his students are encouraged to go to academic meetings, not only for the presentations, but especially for the networking.”
 
Stein has been an invited guest speaker numerous times in the United States and abroad. He has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Animal Science and participates on several research review panels. He is a member of the National Research Council committee that is writing the 11th edition of Nutrient Requirements of Swine. In addition, he is serving as the interim executive director at the National Soybean Research Laboratory in Urbana.
 
Scott Baker, a master’s student in Stein’s laboratory, said Stein never misses an opportunity to positively influence the lives around him.

In 2009, Stein received the Pork Information Partner Award from the Illinois Pork Producers Association, and in 2006 he received the Research Award from the South Dakota chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta.
 
Stein was raised on a small livestock farm. He received a master’s degree from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen, Denmark, and a Ph.D. in non-ruminant nutrition at the U of I. Previously he held positions in the feed industry and at South Dakota State University.  

“This award is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of my former and current students, postdocs, and research assistants,” Stein said. “I couldn’t have achieved this recognition without the support of my family and colleagues.”

Published: July 12, 2010
News Source: Hans H. Stein, hstein@illinois.edu, 217-333-0013
News Writer: Jennifer Shike, jshike@illinois.edu, 217-244-0888