John P. Underwood
John Underwood has a lengthy record of studying and writing about the dairy production industry. His vision and passion resulted in publication of two books that are of high value to that industry: 1) Sires of Distinction: The M. F. A. Artificial Breeding Association and Its Impact in Missouri and the Nation 1946-1967 and 2) Celebrating 100 Years of Missouri Holsteins.
The books portray the history of two key components of the Missouri and U.S. dairy industries and will continue to be important in future years. They reflect Underwood’s long-term study of cow families and sires as well as the persons responsible for their development. One nominator commented that “While the statistics in the book are interesting, the stories about individual cattle and people are even more so.” Underwood made numerous trips to the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors and to owners of prominent herds to gain information and photographs while researching topics and articles. One nominator emphasized that John Underwood was meticulous in ensuring accuracy of the facts he published.
Underwood’s background shows a wide range of experience and education. He grew up with registered Holstein cattle on a dairy farm in Southwest Missouri. His first job as herdsman for Martin Prairie Farms of Humansville, Missouri resulted in three cows setting annual milk production records in Missouri—one of 39,600 pounds. He then joined the University of Missouri, and while working at Foremost Farm, earned Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Animal Sciences in 1998. He was both a teaching assistant and a laboratory assistant while doing graduate work at MU. In 2003, he earned a PhD in Dairy Cattle Nutrition at the University of Illinois and was active in extension programs.
Underwood worked for MFA Incorporated as a dairy specialist promoting feed sales while servicing customers. He was also sales representative for Renaissance Nutrition in Wisconsin. Herd management was his responsibility with Golden Oaks Dairy in Wauconda, Illinois where he put policies and practices in place to reduce calf mortality from 15% to less than 2%. This progress meant that the farm retained nearly $100,000 in surviving heifer calves.
Each of these experiences broadened and deepened John’s knowledge and perspective of dairy cattle and the major components of their management and care. In 2005 he returned to Martin Prairie Farms where his introduction of feeding and management practices improved calf survival, decreased fresh cow disorders and improved data collection.
One nominator, an important officer of a major breed organization, stated, “In the value he has brought to our beloved industry, John continues to be generous with his time. He has been active in the American Dairy Science Association, the Missouri Holstein Association, the Fair Play FFA, and the National Dairy Shrine.”
About Underwood’s second book, Celebrating 100 Years of Missouri Holsteins, one nominator wrote: “(It) was an undertaking requiring much dedication. He strove to gather many stories of outstanding Holstein cattle of Missouri and of the dairymen and farms they lived on. His work includes stories, pictures and data from outstanding sires and cows of national distinction. John took great interest in studying the cow families and their pathways toward excellence. The book truly reflects John’s love for the Registered Holstein cow. All of his personal resources were used in gathering materials for his book.”