J. Richard Pursley

J. Richard Pursley serves as a Professor in the Department of Animal Science within Michigan State University's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, where he bridges research and extension to advance dairy cattle reproductive efficiency.

His academic credentials include:

• BS from Kansas State University
• MS from Kansas State University
• PhD from University of Wisconsin, Madison

Dr. Pursley's research pioneers synchronization of ovulation strategies, fertility enhancement in lactating dairy cows, and embryo production optimization for donor cows. His extension programming delivers practical reproductive management solutions to dairy producers, emphasizing economic resilience during industry challenges. This work integrates physiological, economic, and operational dimensions of modern dairy farming.

Publication trends reveal a strategic shift toward economically integrated reproductive frameworks, with recent work (2025) decoding biological mechanisms for reproductive success in high-yield lactating cows while earlier research (2018) established cost-effective management protocols during economic volatility.

His distinguished contributions were recognized with the NAAB Research Award in 2018.

• NAAB 2018 Research Award

Dr. Pursley leads funded initiatives including MSU's 2020 dairy cattle health research grants and 2018 M-AAA projects in Animal Science, translating scientific findings into actionable extension programming for dairy operations nationwide.

His work operates within MSU's Department of Animal Science infrastructure, collaborating with extension educators and industry partners to implement evidence-based reproductive management systems across dairy farms.