Insight

Spring 2008

Iron Rose Ranch equine reproduction chair

The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences announced in August the establishment of the Iron Rose Ranch University Chair in Equine Reproduction, funded with a $3 million gift. The chair will enhance the College’s work in equine reproductive performance and is held by Dr. Patrick M. McCue, Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and Director of the ERL. With the addition of the new Iron Rose Ranch Chair, endowed chairs at the College now number eight.

“The Equine Reproduction Laboratory has long been a world leader in advancing the science of reproduction and fertility,” said Dr. Lance Perryman, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “The creation of the Iron Rose Ranch Chair in Equine Reproduction will enhance the research efforts at the laboratory, and provide a source of secure funding. The gift is a great honor for the College and a tribute to the outstanding faculty and staff at the Equine Reproduction Laboratory.”

The Equine Reproduction Laboratory has a long history of developing innovative reproductive technology and protocols for the equine industry. Started in 1967, the laboratory is internationally renowned for its reproductive research including several discoveries that directly benefit human reproductive and fertility medicine, as well as breakthroughs that are helping to preserve the genetic materials of endangered species. During the past 30 years, the laboratory has developed techniques that now are routinely used in the equine industry such as collection of semen and artificial insemination, recovery and transfer of equine embryos, and shipping of cooled semen and embryos.

Dr. Perryman noted that the Iron Rose Ranch gift is especially appreciated as the College works to retain and attract world-class researchers and teachers. Because of limitations in state funding, private donations help the College compete for the best and the brightest to the benefit of CVMBS students, veterinary clients and research programs.

“Endowed chairs give us a permanent funding source to continue to retain and attract gifted individuals to our faculty,” said Dr. Perryman. “We greatly appreciate the visionary thinking of those who chose to invest in our College in this way, as it represents a path toward continued growth and excellence.”

The Colorado State University Foundation permanently invests funds that are given to establish endowed chairs, and the interest generated is used to support the chair. The principal is never used, so endowments allow continuous funding to supplement the chairholder’s salary, graduate student work, research, professional travel, and other activities tied to the chairholder’s program.

Iron Rose Ranch, located near Carbondale, Colorado, specializes in breeding some of the finest cutting horses in the nation. This is the second chair established at Colorado State by the Iron Rose Ranch. The first, the Iron Rose Ranch Chair in Equine Musculoskeletal Disease and Injury, was created in 2004. Dr. Chris Kawcak, an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences, was named to fill that chair.

Since the creation of the first chair, Dr. Kawcak and Dr. Paul Lunn, Head of the Department of Clinical Sciences, have continued to work with the Iron Rose Ranch on additional funding opportunities within the College. The new Iron Rose Ranch University Chair, noted Dr. Perryman, is a result of their joint efforts.