Iowa State researcher part of multistate team recognized for work to improve livestock reproduction

AMES, Iowa (September 24, 2026) Karl Kerns, assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State University, is part of an interdisciplinary team recognized this week with agInnovation's national 2026 Excellence in Multistate Research Award for collaborative work to improve reproductive performance in cattle and sheep. 

The multistate project W4112: Reproductive Performance in Domestic Ruminants, supported by U.S. Department of Agriculture Hatch funding, brings together scientists from land-grant research institutions across the country to address reproductive inefficiencies, considered to be the greatest constraint on the profitability of U.S. livestock systems. 

Thriving beef, dairy and sheep industries are vital for a healthy economy, generating about $243 billion in total production value each year and supporting 2.3 million jobs. Early pregnancy loss alone costs U.S. livestock producers up to $3.7 billion each year. Even a 1% improvement in calf or lamb production due to the project’s innovations is estimated to represent over $1 billion annually to U.S. producers and results in steady meat supplies and lower prices for consumers.

Kerns has participated in the multistate project since 2021, soon after he began work at Iowa State. His research primarily focuses on the male side of reproduction in cattle and swine.

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Originally published by Iowa State University in September 2026.