PLAIN CITY, Ohio – Dr. Matt Utt has been named director of research while Marcus Schmelzer has taken on the role of laboratory safety coordinator at Select Sires Inc.
These new responsibilities will further enhance Select Sires’ commitment to fertility and safety.
As director of research, Utt will work closely with other staff scientists to design research trials to improve semen collection, freezing, extenders, evaluation procedures and ultimately semen fertility potential in the field. He will coordinate the Program for Fertility Advancement™ (PFA™) and work with the Select Reproductive Solutions™ (SRS™) team. Utt will also serve as the Select Sires representative on industry committees as well as working closely with academic institutions. Previously, Utt had served as a research associate at Select Sires since 2012. Utt has a doctorate in reproductive physiology and animal sciences from The Ohio State University, the result of the Ohio State University Select Sires C.E. Marshall Graduate Research Associateship, and graduated with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in animal and poultry sciences from Virginia Tech.
Schmelzer began his career in early 2012 in the semen processing department, freezing semen and working with quality control. In addition to those duties he will now serve as laboratory safety coordinator. He will develop, coordinate and enforce safety procedures during semen processing through written protocols and hands-on demonstrations. A trained first responder, Schmelzer will ensure the health and safety of all personnel and visitors in the laboratory.
Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc. is North America’s largest A.I. organization and is comprised of nine farmer−owned and -controlled cooperatives. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen as well as excellence in service and programs to achieve its basic objective of supplying dairy and beef producers with North America’s best genetics at a reasonable price.