Contact Information:
970.491.2722
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Mark Enns, Assistant Professor of Animal Sciences, was born and raised in Enid, Oklahoma. Growing up, Mark worked on the family’s wheat and cattle farm. He received dual degrees in Biology and Natural Science—chemistry from Tabor College, Hillsboro Kansas (1987). After a year working in private industry, he entered the graduate program in Animal Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. He completed his M.S. in 1991 under the supervision of Dr. Jim Brinks and in 1995 he completed his PhD with co-advisors Drs. Jim Brinks and Richard Bourdon.

While pursuing his graduate studies at Colorado State University, Mark spent a summer developing selection indexes with Dr. Mike MacNeil at the USDA Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Laboratory in Miles City, Montana. He also worked as a research associate for the CSU Beef Improvement Center near Encampment, Wyoming. In this position, he developed breeding plans, supervised data collection, coordinated bull sale information, and maintained the 50+ year old database for the 450 head, purebred Angus herd.

After graduation, Mark worked for 2 years as a visiting research scientist with Landcorp Farming, Ltd in New Zealand. There he developed genetic evaluation systems and breeding programs for the company’s deer, sheep, goat and beef enterprises.

In 1995, Mark joined the Animal Sciences Department at the University of Arizona where he remained until 2001 when he returned to Colorado State University to join the faculty of the Department of Animal Sciences. Mark oversees the operations of the CSU Center for Genetic Evaluation. He also teaches Principles of Animal Breeding (AN 330), Selection Index Theory (AN 631); co-teaches Livestock Production Systems (A 634) as part of the graduate program in Western Center for Integrated Resource Management; and guest lectures in several other courses.

Mark’s research focuses on methods to genetically evaluate and select animals that fit their production environment both biologically and economically. These efforts include development of new methods for evaluating and improving cow and heifer fertility, cow maintenance requirements, time to finish in the feedlot; and development of methods to better use economic information in selection decisions for increased profitability of beef production.

Education:

Ph.D. 1995. Colorado State University

M.S. Animal Sciences, Colorado State University

B.S. Biology, Natural Science, Tabor College