Francis Fluharty

Dr. Francis Fluharty serves as the Department Head of Animal & Dairy Science at the University of Georgia. Previously, he spent 35 years at The Ohio State University (OSU), where he managed research feedlots, earned graduate degrees, and coordinated the Ohio Beef Industry Center. His work focuses on ruminant nutrition, particularly energy and protein intake effects on growth, fat deposition, and carcass composition in cattle.

Education:

• B.S., The Ohio State University
• M.S., The Ohio State University
• Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Research Interests: Dr. Fluharty investigates nutritional requirements of stressed cattle, rumen function, and branded beef programs like Ohio Signature Beef™. His work spans international collaborations in feedlot nutrition, forage systems, and economic development in the U.S., South America, and Europe.

Key Contributions:

• Oversaw $7.6M in grants, linking agriculture to consumers via multidisciplinary research.
• Developed feedlot management schools educating 950+ producers.
• Authored 220+ publications on ruminant nutrition and carcass quality.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Ohio Beef Industry Center and Sakura Wagyu Farms, focusing on diet formulations and production protocols.