Brandon Smith

EDUCATION

• Ph.D. in Agronomy, Texas A&M University (2017)
• M.S. in Animal Science, University of Arkansas (2014)
• B.S. in Animal Sciences, Auburn University (2012)
• B.S., in Agronomy & Soils, Auburn University (2012)

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Dr. Brandon Smith was born and raised in Slocomb, AL, on his family’s small cow-calf operation. After his dedicated involvement in the FFA Organization, Smith enrolled Auburn University in 2007 to study animal sciences. Smith earned dual B.S. degrees in Animal Sciences (2012) and Agronomy and Soils (2012) from Auburn University. He went on to receive his M.S. (2014) in Animal Science with an emphasis in ruminant nutrition from the University of Arkansas and his Ph.D. (2017) in Agronomy with an emphasis in forages from Texas A&M University. Following graduation, Smith began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. Smith’s appointment at Tarleton was primarily in teaching, though his research program began investigations into identification and characterization of novel feedstuffs for livestock production. Smith joined the faculty at Auburn University as an Assistant Professor of Ruminant Nutrition in Forage Systems in August 2021. His research focuses on the ruminal digestive physiology and kinetics of under southeastern forage systems. This effort is in support of sustainable grazing strategies for management of southeastern beef cattle production systems.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Assistant Professor of Ruminant Nutrition in Forage Systems, Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University (2021-present)
• Assistant Professor of Animal Science, Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Technology, Tarleton State University (2017-2021)
• Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University (2014-2017)
• Graduate Assistant, Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas (2012-2014)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• American Forage and Grassland Council
• American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists
• American Society of Agronomy
• American Society of Animal Science
• American Statistical Association
• Crop Science Society of America
• North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture

HONORS & AWARDS

• Distinguished Young Educator, Non-Land Grant Agriculture and Renewable Resource Universities, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (2021)
• Educator Award, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (2021)
• Outstanding Early Career Animal Scientist: Education, Southern Section, American Society of Animal Science (2021)
• Outstanding Junior Faculty (college- and university-level), Tarleton State University (2020)
• Outstanding Junior Faculty (college-level), College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tarleton State University (2019)
• Emerging Scholar, Southern Section, American Society of Animal Science (2017)
• Future Leader in Science, American Society of Agronomy (2017)
• Special Achievement Award for Graduate Student Teaching, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University (2016)
• Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Graduate Student Research, Texas A&M AgriLife (2016)
• Outstanding Master of Science Student, Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas (2014)

Dr. Smith’s research focuses on ruminal digestive efficiency in southeastern forage systems. This includes a primary interest in forage cell wall carbohydrate composition, but also on energy loss through greenhouse gas production, the kinetics of digestion and passage, and the role of supplemental feedstuffs in modulating rumen dynamics.

• ANSC 3420 — Applied Animal Feeding and Nutrition
• ANSC 7400 — Ruminant Nutrition
• CSES 5500/6500 — Forage Production and Utilization

DR. SMITH’S GOOGLE SCHOLAR PROFILE