College of Agricultural Sciences

Ahola Rejoins CSU as Newest Faculty Member

“I returned to Colorado State University primarily because I wanted to teach and interact with students about beef cattle,” explains Dr. Jason Ahola, the newly named Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences focusing on the area of Beef Management Systems. “This is a great opportunity for me to share my background and experiences with students and to provide leadership in the training of students in beef cattle productions.”

Dr. Ahola, originally from northeastern Connecticut, joined the Department in August. “My position is mostly teaching, which is fairly unusual for new University positions these days,” said Ahola. He oversees the capstone ANEQ 478 Beef Systems class for seniors, teaches two courses related to seedstock merchandising and marketing, and will engage with other industry courses like Family Ranching and Feedyard Management. The importance of hands-on experience in his teaching remains a priority for Ahola, who is working to bring more experiential learning courses to the Department like a course in calving and calf care.

The position Dr. Ahola now holds was vacated by the highly respected Dr. Tom Fields in October 2008. Ahola earned this assignment because of his extensive experience as Director of Marketing for Red Angus of America in Texas, his time as Director of Sales for Leachman Cattle Company in Montana, and his leadership as the State Beef Extension Specialist with the University of Idaho. Dr. Ahola received his Masters Degree under the guidance and expertise of Dr. Fields while in the CSU Beef Industry Leadership Program. In 2004, Ahola earned his Ph.D. also from CSU under the direction of Drs. Terry Engle, Patrick Burns, and Fields.

Ruminant Nutrition is Dr. Ahola’s primary area of research. He will continue the research efforts that he started in Idaho, including research into:

• The selection for feed efficiency of beef cattle and potential implications on end-product quality or reproduction,
• Market cow quality and value, including Beef Quality Assurance-related factors that affect market cow sale prices as well as methods of adding value to them before harvest
• Range cow nutrition and supplementation, including use of low-cost and low-quality forages and strategic protein supplementation and trace mineral supplementation in order to be low-cost
• Strategies to improve fertility and reproductive performance of cows including synchronization, artificial insemination, and management.

“CSU is surrounded by a tremendous number of brilliant, unique and well-known beef industry leaders, which students can benefit from greatly,” comments Ahola, while explaining how he hopes to increase the amount of interaction between areas of expertise so students can train in more than one discipline area. “Ultimately, thanks to faculty in each of these discipline areas that are nationally renowned and engaged with the beef industry, I think CSU’s animal science department is in a unique position to attract, educate and train great students for the beef industry.”

In addition to his teaching and research duties, Ahola will also serve as a mentor and the faculty advisor for the highly respected CSU Seedstock Merchandising Team. Students on this team closely interact with the Agricultural Research Development and Education Center (ARDEC) Seedstock cowherd while learning about the seedstock industry. The culmination of their efforts is displayed at the NWSS, at their annual bull sale, and at other events.

“I highly respect the Animal Sciences faculty at CSU and appreciate the support that CSU receives from the beef industry,” says Ahola as he reflects on the goals and opportunities ahead for him and his students. “I can work with great faculty to train students for a great industry.”

Any notes of welcome and well-wishes or to learn more about supporting Dr. Ahola in his research and seedstock mentoring, can be sent directly to Dr. Ahola at Jason.ahola@colostate.edu or by phone at 970-491-3312.