Ralco Nutrition, Inc.

Jon Knochenmus

Brian Knochenmus

Dr. Hedges holds a Ph. D. in Animal Science and a Masters degree in Animal Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Delaware.

Dr. Hedges has 30 years of experience in swine feeding. Dr. Hedges is a leader in practical digestible amino acid formulation for swine; he developed a feeding model based on lean gain, feed intake and the sex of the hog. At Ralco, Dr. Hedges is responsible for matters relating to swine nutrition programs plus technical sales and helping train our sales people in areas of swine nutrition. His specialty is net energy, digestible amino acids and enzymes.

Dr. Hedges joined Ralco in 2004.

Dr. Knott holds a Ph.D. and Masters of Science degree in Animal Science (Swine Nutrition) from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, emphasizing Animal Production, from North Dakota State University.

Dr. Knott previously worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Minnesota. At Ralco, Dr. Knott is involved in providing technical nutritional support to domestic and Asian business, sales support, diet formulation, and product development. His area of expertise is in functional proteins and utilization of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles. He is involved in the transfer of technical nutrition and technology into practical field application.

Dr. Knott has worked at Ralco since 2004.

Dr. Fent holds a Ph.D. in Animal Science (Swine Nutrition) from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Masters of Science (Swine Nutrition) and Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) degrees from Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Fent previously worked as a Research Specialist at the University of Missouri-Columbia. At Ralco, Dr. Fent is involved with technical support of the sales staff, diet formulation, and direction of monogastric research projects. His subject area of expertise is in utilization of phytase, available phosphorus requirements, and crystalline amino acid use in swine diets.

Dr. Fent came to Ralco in the summer of 2005.

Dr. Evelsizer received his DVM from Iowa State University. He has been in veterinary practice in Fairmont, MN for more than 25 years, specializing in swine production medicine. He completed graduate classes in swine production medicine at the University of Minnesota and has hands-on experience in swine enterprise management and ownership. Dr. Evelsizer is a member of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. His expertise is in animal health with a specialty in swine.

Dr. Evelsizer joined Ralco in late 2007.

Dr. Mellencamp holds a B.S. in Microbiology from The Ohio State University and M.S. and Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Miami University. She was an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine prior to working at PIC in the area of genetic improvements in swine health.

Dr. Mellencamp brings over 20 years of research experience in livestock immunology and health to Ralco. She leads rigorous, high-quality research and development of products and product combinations that improve immunity, welfare and productivity of livestock.

Dr. Mellencamp joined Ralco in the summer of 2007.

Mr. Vignes holds a Masters of Science in Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin, a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from North Dakota State University, and an AAS in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Mr. Vignes is the president and owner of Advanced Birthright Nutrition, Inc. He developed Advanced Birthright Nutrition Baby Pig Milk, which is known as the best baby pig milk replacer in the United States. Mr. Vignes has given Ralco exclusive rights to market his products. He assists Ralco in selling Advanced Birthright Nutrition Products and training sales people. Mr. Vignes is also the creator of the Genesis Diet, which was the first successful high milk, high nutrient dense diet in the swine industry. His specialty is milk replacer formulation.

Dr. Del Davis holds a Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from the University of Tennessee and a BS in Animal Husbandry from Abilene Christian University. His experience comes from years as a university professor and assistant professor, seven years as an Area Livestock Specialist with Texas A&M University, four years as Dean of the Range Animal Science Center at Sul Ross State University, and 20 years as a nutritionist/product consultant for Ralco Nutrition, Inc.

Based in Winters, Texas, Dr. Davis came to Ralco in 1989.

Dr. Hill holds a Ph.D. and Masters degree from Oklahoma State University specializing in Feedlot and Receiving Cattle nutrition. He has eight years of industry experience in consulting, ration formulation, as well as research and product development. His focus at Ralco is to provide support to sales and lead development of Ruminant Nutrition.

Dr. Hill joined the staff of Ralco in 2005.

Ms. Widmer adds her ability to conduct detailed swine nutrition research, and her extensive knowledge of swine nutrition to Ralco’s Swine Technical Service.

Ms. Widmer’s experience is a combination of hands-on knowledge gained from years of work at her family’s sow farm near New Prague, Minnesota, and an outstanding Animal Science education at South Dakota State University, Brookings. She earned her B.S. in Animal Science and went on to recently complete her M.S. in Animal Science at the university. She worked as both a teaching assistant and graduate research assistant at SDSU. Her specialty is Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles.

Ms. Widmer joined Ralco in September of 2007.

Ralco Nutrition Inc. is pleased to have Dr. Blaine Hansen join our Swine Technical Group. Dr. Hansen earned a BS in Animal Science and his Ph.D. in Swine Nutrition at the University of Nebraska. He received his MS in Swine Nutrition from Texas A&M.

Dr. Hansen comes to Ralco with over 20 years experience in Animal Science and Nutrition, including three years experience in international technical service and four years as a monogastric nutritionist with Central Soya Company in Decatur, Indiana; seven years with Browns of Carolina Inc. Services; and, most recently with the MSC Company.

Dr. Hansen’s primary passion is in sow nutrition and he also has great interest in nutrition for the nursery. His role at Ralco Nutrition, Inc. is to provide technical expertise in support of the account management teams. Dr. Hansen is based out of Story City, Iowa where he lives with his wife. They have two grown children.

Dr. Hansen joined Ralco Nutrition, Inc. in 2008.

Dr. Purvis holds a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky, and M.S. from the University of Missouri at Columbia. Dr. Purvis earned his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University with an emphasis on Ruminant Nutrition.

For a decade, Dr. Purvis served on the faculty at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Purvis conducted research in the areas of heifer development, cow/calf nutrition, stocker cattle nutrition and grazing management.

Dr. Purvis joined Ralco in 2008 and serves as the director of ruminant research.

Mr. Olson graduated from Bridgewater College in 1979 with a degree in Farm Management. He started in the feed business in 1984 working with Genesis. Mr. Olson managed the Nutrition Service division of the South Central Veterinary clinic in Wells, Minnesota from 1988 until joining Ralco Nutrition, Inc. in 2005 where he plays a vital role in our Swine Nutrition Program.

Dr. Richard Lamb, Chemical Engineer, joined Ralco in 2008. Dr. Lamb plays a pivotal role in product research and development and also in quality control. Dr. Lamb is instrumental in guaranteeing product safety and production efficiency.

Dr. Liptrap holds a Ph.D. in swine nutrition and physiology from Michigan State. He received his B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky where he also served as a member of the faculty for more than 23 years as a swine extension specialist. During his tenure at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Liptrap developed a practical and coordinated interdisciplinary approach to problem solving, which included veterinarians, engineers, swine economists and swine nutritionists. His focus was on finding efficiencies.

Dr. Liptrap will be focusing his efforts primarily on the eastern portion of the U.S., working mainly in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

Rachel is based in Marshall, Minn., and will work closely with Dr. Jeff Knott and Shelly Widmer M.S. of the Swine Technical Sales team. Rachel will provide customer service by helping with formulation, production issues and overall nutritional recommendations. She will also provide technical support to the mill when needed. Rachel will have a part time role in research conducted by Ralco Nutrition however her main focus will be servicing customers.

Rachel holds a B.S. degree in Animal Science and Masters Degree in Swine Nutrition from Ohio State University. Rachel studied with Dr. Don Mahan, and her thesis work focused on organic trace minerals (selenium, copper, zinc, manganese and iron) in swine diets.