U.S.A: Dr. Temple Grandin Honoured by AMSA with Special Recognition Award

Dr. Temple Grandin was awarded the 2011 American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Special Recognition Award on Tuesday, June 21 at the 64th Annual Reciprocal Meat Conference.  The AMSA Special Recognition Award was is sponsored by the American Meat Science Association.

Dr. Grandin is a designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. On her web site, Dr. Temple Grandin describes herself simply as “a designer of livestock handling facilities.” The world knows her as so much more. Hers is the most respected name in the area of animal care and handling. Her research has extended the scientific knowledge base in the areas of animal behaviour, metabolism and meat quality.

She has given all meat scientists a better understanding of how animals perceive their surroundings and the biological basis for improving animal care. Facilities she has designed are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. In North America, almost half of the cattle are handled in a centre track restrainer system that she designed for meat plants.

Dr. Thomas Powell, AMSA Executive Director, said, “The quality of Dr. Grandin’s work and circumstances of her life have thrust her into the public consciousness in a way that has never happened with any other meat scientist. And in that position of influence, she has provided the world a positive model of what it means to be a meat and animal scientist.”

In presenting a Special Recognition Award to Dr. Grandin, the members of the American Meat Science Association express their gratitude to Dr. Grandin for her unique and lasting contributions to the meat science discipline.