Robert J. Van Saun, DVM, MS, PhD
- Extension Veterinarian
- Professor of Veterinary Science
111 Henning Building
University Park, PA 16802
University Park, PA 16802
Email:
rjv10@psu.edu
Work Phone:
814-865-6995
Education:
- Ruminant Nutrition - Ph.D. - 1993 - Department of Animal Science,
- Cornell University
- Large Animal Clinical Sciences - M.S. - 1988 -College of Veterinary Medicine,
- Michigan State University
- Theriogenology, Field Service Section - Residency - 1987 - College of Veterinary Medicine,
- Michigan State University
- Veterinary Medicine - D.V.M. - 1982 - College of Veterinary Medicine,
- Michigan State University
- Zoology - B.S. - 1978- Michigan State University
Extension Interests
- Pregnancy nutrition and its influence on health, production and reproduction
- Metabolic diseases and their prevention
- Nutritional formulation and management of domestic animals – Dairy and Beef Cattle, Small Ruminants (sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas), and Horses
- Nutritional Diagnostics
- Nutrition-Disease-Reproduction Interrelationships
- Preventive Medicine Programs
Research Interests
- Transition cow metabolism and its relationship to metabolic and infectious disease
- Develop new diagnostic techniques for nutritional monitoring – metabolic profiling
- Mineral and vitamin metabolism in pregnant animals
- Modeling of rumen function and animal nutrient requirements
Specialty Certification:
- American College of Theriogenologists, 1987
- American College of Veterinary Nutrition, 1990
Honors and Awards:
- Pfizer Excellence in Research Award, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, 1997
- James and Mildred Oldfield and E.R. Jackman Team Award, OSU College of Agricultural Sciences, Dairy Team Member, 1997
- Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, 1995
- Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society of Agriculture, 1990
- National Society of Phi Zeta, Zeta Chapter, 1981
Professional Organization Memberships:
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association
- American College of Theriogenologists
- American College of Veterinary Nutrition
- American Dairy Science Association
- American Society of Animal Science
- American Association of Bovine Practitioners
- Society for Theriogenology
- American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition
- American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners
- American Association of Extension Veterinarians
Background - Clinical Experience:
- Professor/Extension Veterinarian - Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, July 2006 - Present
- Associate Professor/Extension Veterinarian - Department of Veterinary Science, Penn State University, July 2000 - June 2006
- Assistant Professor/Rural Veterinary Practice Clinician, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, July 1992 - June 2000
- Associate Veterinarian, Friesen Veterinary Services, Carson City, MI, 1991 - 1992
- Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1987 - 1991
- Field Service Resident/Instructor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 1984 - 1987
- Associate Veterinarian, Countryside Veterinary Clinic, Lowville, NY, 1982 - 1984
Publications
Proceedings Papers and Posters
Research
Ongoing Projects
Primary Investigator:
- Levels of Nutritional Minerals in Free Ranging Elk Grazing on Reclaimed Stripmines
- Levels of Nutritional Minerals in Free Ranging Cattle Grazing on Reclaimed Stripmines (Supplement)
Contibuting Investigator:
- The Impact of Diet Particle Size on Sorting, Rumen Fermentation, and Metabolic Disease in Dairy Cattle
- Isolation and Characterization of Bovine class II MHC-Bound Peptides from Cows with High Somatic Cell Counts: A Proteomics-based Approach to Identifying Etiological Agents of Bovine Mastitis
- Improving the Competitiveness of Dairy Production in Northwest Pennsylvania
- Nanobarcodes-based Bioassays for Tracing Consignments of Meat and Bone Meal
Recently Completed Projects
Primary Investigator:
Research Interests:
- Veterinary Extension:
-
- Transition cow metabolism and its relationship to metabolic and infectious disease
- Develop new diagnostic techniques for nutritional monitoring – metabolic profiling
- Mineral and vitamin metabolism in pregnant animals
- Modeling of rumen function and animal nutrient requirements
