Jeffrey L. Firkins

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Jeffrey L. Firkins

Professor

firkins.1@osu.edu

http://go.osu.edu/BurkDehority

614-688-3089

Office:

223 Animal Science Building

Columbus, OH 43210

Professional Information

Degrees & Credentials:

BS 1981 University of Illinois Animal Science

MS 1983 University of Illinois Ruminant Nutrition

PhD 1987 University of Illinois Ruminant Nutrition

Postdoctoral 1987 University of Illinois Dairy Nutrition

Research Area(s):

Dairy

Microbiology

Nutrition

Biography:

Burk Dehority Image Library

Extending Burk Dehority's Perspectives on the Role of Ciliate Protozoa in the Rumen

Jeffrey L. Firkins is a Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences of The Ohio State University. Firkins was raised on a grain and livestock farm in northern Illinois and developed his interest in dairy cattle by working on his uncle’s nearby dairy farm. Following postdoctoral research in dairy nutrition at Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, he was hired as an Assistant Professor of dairy cattle nutrition in the Department of Dairy Sciences (now the Department of Animal Sciences) in 1987 and has moved through the ranks to full Professor in 2000.

Dr. Firkins conducted applied research to answer immediate and long-term concerns of the dairy industry in three main areas: 1) studying the interface between nutrition and microbiology to enhance the conversion of dietary protein into microbial protein (and thereby milk protein) and reduce enteric methane production; 2) studying the interactions of physical, chemical, and microbiological processes related to fiber and starch degradation and passage and biohydrogenation in dairy cattle; and 3) improving the quantitative prediction of protein and carbohydrate digestion and microbial protein production in dairy cattle.

Dr. Firkins has served multiple terms as a journal editor, panelist or manager of USDA competitive grants, and on planning committees for international conferences in gut microbiology and ruminant physiology. He has been a principal investigator or co-PI on over $4 million in grants and has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and 200 invited presentations. He is serving on the committee for the 8^th Edition of the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. Firkins has advised 16 Ph.D. and 13 M.S. students and served on committees of dozens more, including 7 international doctoral candidates. He teaches nutrition classes in Animal Sciences and the interdisciplinary nutrition program at OSU. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, history, gardening, camping, and family activities.

Honors and Awards

College of FAES Senior Faculty Research Award, 2023

Fellow of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), 2020

American Feed Industry Association Dairy Nutrition Research Award, ADSA, 2012

Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award of Merit, 2006

ADSA Applied Dairy Nutrition Award, 2003

OARDC Junior Faculty Research Award, 1999

Memberships/Professional Activities

American Dairy Science Association (ADSA)

Rumen Function Conference, renamed Congress on Gastrointestinal Function, Chicago; Ruminant Nutrition Chair, 1997-2022

International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology international scientific committee, 2008-2024

ADSA 24th Discover Conference (Rumen Microbiology), 2012, co-chair

ADSA 34^th Discover Conference (Amino Acid and Energy Interactions), 2018, co-chair

Numerous departmental, college, and university committees

Works

Selected Book Chapters and Reviews

Firkins, J.L., Z. Yu, T. Park, and J.E. Plank. 2020. Extending Burk Dehority’s perspectives on the role of ciliate protozoa in the rumen. Front. Microbiol. 11:123.

Firkins, J.L., and R.I. Mackie, R.I. 2020. Ruminal protein breakdown and ammonia assimilation. Pages 383-420 in Improving Rumen Function. McSweeney, C.S., and R.I. Mackie, eds. Burleigh Dodds Publishing. Cambridge, U.K.

Firkins, J.L. 2021. Advances in rumen efficiency. Appl. Anim. Sci. 37:388–403.

Erdman, R.A., W.P. Weiss, M.S. Allen, L. Armentano, J.K. Drackley, J.L. Firkins, M.B. Hall, M.D. Hanigan, E. Kebreab, P.J. Kononoff, H. Lapierre, M.J. VandeHaar. 2021. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. Eighth Revised Edition. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The National Academies Press. Washington, D.C.

Firkins, J.L., and K.E. Mitchell. 2023. Rumen modifiers in today’s dairy rations. J. Dairy Sci. 106:3053-3071.

Firkins, J.L. and H. Lapierre. 2023. Advances in understanding protein requirements and utilization in dairy cattle. Pages 43-78 in Advances in Sustainable Dairy Cattle Nutrition. A.N. Hristov, ed. Burleigh Dodds Publishing. Cambridge, U.K.

Selected Journal Articles

Roman-Garcia, Y., B. L. Denton, K. E. Mitchell, C. Lee, M. T. Socha, and J. L. Firkins. 2021a. Conditions stimulating NDF degradation by dosing branched chain volatile fatty acids. I: Comparison with branched chain amino acids and forage source in ruminal batch cultures. J. Dairy Sci. 104: 6739-6755.

Roman-Garcia, Y., K. E. Mitchell, B. L. Denton, C. Lee, M. T. Socha, B. A. Wenner, and J. L. Firkins. 2021b. Conditions stimulating NDF degradation by dosing branched chain volatile fatty acids. II: Relation with solid passage rate and pH on NDF degradation and microbial function in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 104:9853-9867.

Roman-Garcia, Y., K. E. Mitchell, C. Lee, M. T. Socha, T. Park, B. A. Wenner, and J. L. Firkins. 2021c. Conditions stimulating NDF degradation by dosing branched chain volatile fatty acids. III: Relation with solid passage rate and pH on prokaryotic fatty acid profile and community in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 104:9868-9885.

Mitchell, K.E., M.T. Socha, D.H. Kleinschmidt, L.E. Moraes, Y. Roman-Garcia, and J.L. Firkins. 2023. Assessing milk response to different combinations of branched-chain volatile fatty acids and valerate in Jersey cows. J. Dairy Sci. (accepted).

Mitchell, K.E., B.A. Wenner, C. Lee, T. Park, M.T. Socha, D.H. Kleinschmit, and J.L. Firkins. 2023. Supplementing branched-chain volatile fatty acids in dual flow cultures varying in dietary forage and corn oil concentrations. I: Digestibility, microbial protein, and prokaryotic community structure. J. Dairy Sci. (accepted).

Mitchell, K.E., S.L. Kienzle, C. Lee, M.T. Socha, D.H. Kleinschmit, and J.L. Firkins. 2023. Supplementing branched-chain volatile fatty acids in dual flow cultures varying in dietary forage and corn oil concentrations. II: Biohydrogenation and incorporation into bacterial lipids. J. Dairy Sci. (accepted).

Mitchell, K.E., C. Lee, M.T. Socha, D.H. Kleinschmit, and J.L. Firkins. 2023. Supplementing branched-chain volatile fatty acids in dual flow cultures varying in dietary forage and corn oil concentrations. III: Protein metabolism and incorporation into bacterial protein. J. Dairy Sci. (accepted).

Editors Choice: Invited Review: Advances in Rumen Efficiency

Date published:

07/30/2021

Publication type:

Journal article

Our Author(s):

Jeffrey L. Firkins

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Jeffrey L. Firkins

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Selected Journal Articles