Daniel William Shike

Daniel William Shike is a Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois. He currently serves as Interim Head of the department. His research focuses on beef cattle production systems, including growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, and grazing management strategies. Shike's work integrates genetic, nutritional, and behavioral aspects of livestock production.

He holds a Ph.D. in Animal Sciences, with professional experience spanning academic research and industry collaboration. His research interests include optimizing beef cattle productivity through genetic selection, feed management, and sustainable grazing practices.

Shike has authored 82 peer-reviewed publications, with recent work emphasizing lean growth genetics, grazing system economics, and vitamin supplementation effects. His research has practical applications in improving livestock production efficiency and profitability.

He received the 2017 NACTA Educator Award recognizing teaching excellence in agricultural education. Shike collaborates with industry partners to translate research findings into actionable agricultural practices.

Key research areas include: Beef cattle genetics, feed efficiency modeling, grazing system optimization, and alternative feed resource utilization. His work often involves multi-disciplinary teams combining animal science, agronomy, and economics perspectives.