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Brethour, pioneering KSU beef scientist, dies at 72By Larry Dreiling Dr. John Brethour, professor emeritus and beef cattle scientist at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center-Hays, died May 29 after a long battle with cancer. Brethour was 72. Brethour's research into ultrasound technology in beef cattle production, computer software development, ruminant nutrition, feed evaluation, storage and processing, livestock systems design, cow-herd management, breed evaluation and reproduction put KSU-ARCH "on the map" nationally and internationally, said Dr. Pat Coyne, the center's former director who remains on staff, said. "John Brethour was truly a scholar and a gentleman who devoted his entire career to advance the science of beef cattle production and help the cattle industry of Kansas remain viable and competitive," Coyne said. Eulogizing Brethour before a packed congregation at the First United Methodist Church in Hays, Coyne described what he called his colleague's crowning achievement, the application of ultrasound technology to precision feeding of beef cattle. "The computer software, for which he holds U.S. patents, and the interpretive techniques he developed to accurately establish optimum days on feed to reach a specific carcass quality grade has outperformed all his competitors by a wide margin," Coyne said. "His off-campus location was perceived by the major funding agencies as more of a risk than the on-campus programs at Iowa State and Cornell, but John had the satisfaction of knowing that his technology beat theirs in every head-to-head contest. He won all the top awards multiple times in national contests for feeding cattle to yield specific carcass quality to the point that some contests discouraged him from entering ever again." In winning those contests, Brethour and his team at KSU-ARCH took home hundreds of thousands of dollars in premiums and cash awards. Coyne noted how every dollar was in turn donated to the KSU Foundation, which enabled the center to retire a 20-year mortgage on its Saline Experimental Range property 10 years early and avoid significant interest costs. "This should help you understand the benevolence and humility of this truly outstanding scientist and human being, that John directed that all prize money and royalties derived from his contest awards and patents be reinvested in the program," Coyne said. Brethour, Coyne continued, was a rare individual who never lost the zeal for learning and never developed resistance to change. "His enthusiasm for new ideas was just as intense to the end as when he finished graduate school. I believe that is one of the keys, along with his superior intellect, to his success and continuing contributions, even at an age when most people have long since retired." Coyne noted a list of Brethour's awards, including a 1997 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the KSU Agricultural Alumni Association, 2006 Regional winner of National Beef Cattlemen's Vision award and 2006 Livestock and Meat Industry Council "Stockman of the Year" award. "About 10 years ago, John was making a presentation on his ultrasound research at a scientific meeting in Washington, D.C. A member of the audience, who was and is an eminent researcher in the field of ultrasound, proclaimed afterwards that John is truly a Renaissance man, a person with interests and expertise that cut across multiple disciplines," Coyne said. "Those of us who knew John well, and counted ourselves among those who have had the privilege of working with him, knew that this title was truly deserved." Survivors include his wife, Carol June Brethour, of the home; a son, John R. Brethour Jr., Ivyland, Pa.; and a brother, William Brethour, Wamego, Kan. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Buchmann. Burial was in May Day Cemetery, May Day, Kan. Memorials are suggested to Hays Medical Center or the Humane Society of the High Plains in care of Cline's Mortuary, 1919 E. 22nd., Hays, KS 67601. Larry Dreiling can be reached by phone at 785-628-1117 or by e-mail at ldreiling@aol.com. B 12 6/18/07 1 Star WK Date: 6/12/07
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