Wilmer Pacheco - profile information

Short Bio

Dr. Wilmer J. Pacheco is originally from Honduras and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from the Pan-American School of Agriculture (Zamorano) in 2005. Following graduation, he joined Murphy Brown, LLC, as part of a feed mill manager training program, where he oversaw the production of approximately 10,000 tons of pelleted feed per week. This early industry experience shaped his long-term focus on the integration of feed manufacturing and animal nutrition. In 2009, Dr. Pacheco was awarded a competitive scholarship to pursue graduate studies at North Carolina State University’s Department of Poultry Science. He earned both a Master of Science in Poultry Science and a Ph.D. in Physiology and Nutrition, developing expertise in digestive physiology, nutrient utilization, and feed processing. Dr. Pacheco currently serves as Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Poultry Science at Auburn University. His research program focuses on the interrelationships between feed processing and nutrition and their combined effects on broiler performance, feed efficiency, pellet quality, and production economics. His work bridges fundamental physiology with applied feed mill management to generate science-based, industry-relevant solutions. He is the lead or co-author of 54 peer-reviewed scientific publications and more than 100 industry articles, primarily published in Feedstuffs, one of the leading animal agriculture news sources in the United States. Dr. Pacheco has delivered more than 300 invited presentations in 27 countries and has served as chair or committee member on 38 graduate student committees. He has also mentored 31 visiting scholars representing 12 countries. In collaboration with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), Dr. Pacheco has developed and delivered both online and in-person training programs in feed manufacturing and poultry production. These programs have benefited nearly 20,000 professionals across more than 20 countries in Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, contributing to global workforce development and improved feed production efficiency.