Remembering Roy Wallace
FORT COLLINS, COLO. (Dec. 2, 2008) — “Roy Wallace was a visionary, a thinker, a teacher, a scientist, a mentor, a cattleman, and a friend. He loved the cattle business, but more importantly, he loved the people that he had the opportunity to work with,” said Jim Lauderdale. Lauderdale paid tribute to the late Roy Wallace at the 2008 Robert E. Taylor Memorial Symposium: Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle.
Wallace died in January 2008 while attending the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colo. Wallace graduated from the Ohio State University in 1967. He was one of an original group of cattlemen who helped form the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF), a group that has molded genetic evaluations into what they are today. In 2004 Wallace was recognized as one of BEEF magazine’s Top 40 who made a difference in the cattle industry.
Wallace’s selection of bulls with genetics for lighter birth weights allowed breeders to use proven calving-ease bulls, which have been very influential in improving the carcass component of beef cattle. He worked extensively in finding better ways to get beef cows bred artificially to genetically superior bulls. Wallace has helped to develop several effective artificial insemination (AI) synchronization tools, including Select Synch and CIDR-Select.
Lauderdale, a good friend of Wallace, said Wallace rather enjoyed when fellow cattlemen would call to ask his advice. He said Wallace would always reply, “My advice ain’t worth much, but it’s cheap.”
“The influence of Roy on the beef cattle industry spans more than 40 years,” Lauderdale said. “He spent his entire working life in the pursuit of producing better beef cattle through improved genetics.
Gatherings such as this were very special to Roy,” Lauderdale continued. “Throughout his career, Wallace was dedicated to finding better ways to get beef cows bred artificially to genetically superior bulls.”
Lauderdale said that Wallace enjoyed meetings such as this to make new friends, catch up with old and learn a thing or two. “He left a big footprint on the beef industry, and in particular, AI and synchronization,” Lauderdale said. “He truly made a difference.”
– by Tosha Powell
Click here to listen to the presentation (972 KB mp3).
The Robert E. Taylor Memorial Symposium is conducted by Colorado State University every other year to provide current, research-based information for improving profitability in the beef cattle industry. The ARSBC program was developed by the Beef Cattle Reproduction Task Force to improve understanding and application of reproductive technologies, including AI, estrus synchronization and factors affecting male fertility. In 2008, CSU and the Task Force collaborated to provide the Dec. 2-3 symposium in Fort Collins. To listen to Lauderdale’s presentation, view the accompanying PowerPoint or view other presentations from the symposium, visit the newsroom at www.appliedreprostrategies.com.
Editor’s Note: This article is available as a news release to redistribute per an agreement between the symposium hosts and Angus Productions Inc. Click here to submit a request for a high-resolution photo of the speaker. For additional information visit the newsroom of www.appliedreprostrategies.com.
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