Professional Biography

Professional Biography

Beef Nutrition - Research/Instruction

Professional Experience

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky
2002 - present, Director of Graduate Studies
July 1995 - present, Professor
January 1992 - July 1995, Associate Professor
Appointment .75 research - .25 Teaching
February 1989 - December 1991, Associate Professor

Department of Animal Science and Industry, Kansas State University
August 1983 -February 1989, Assistant Professor
Appointment .6 Research - .4 Teaching

Teaching

Experience with graduate and undergraduate

  • Companion Animal Nutrition, undergraduate nutrition
  • Fundamentals of Nutrition, Introductory undergraduate nutrition.
  • Animal Nutrition, Graduate, nutritional physiology and metabolism.
  • Analytical Techniques in Animal Science, Graduate laboratory methods.
  • Radioisotopes and Radioimmunoassay, Graduate laboratory methods.
  • Techniques in Animal Nutrition Research, Graduate lecture and laboratory.
  • Advanced Ruminant Nutrition, Graduate lecture.

Research

Research program has dealt with identifying relationships between diet digestion, gut metabolism and nutrient absorption in ruminants and companion animals.

  • Principal Investigator on over $4.3 million in research funding
  • Co-Investigator on an additional $792,000

Students

Supervised the thesis for 19 M.S. and 15 Ph.D. students who have completed their degrees as well as 7 post-doctoral students.

Additional Activities

Specialty Chief Editor Animal Nutrition, Frontiers in Animal Science (2020-2023)
Member of University Animal Care Use and Committee (KSU and UK) 
IACUC College of Agriculture Subcommittee Chair (1997-2004)

Affiliations and Honors

University of Kentucky Research Professor, 2024-2025

William B. Sturgill Award- UK outstanding contributions to graduate education, 2024

Recognized as one of 143 University of Kentucky scientists and scholars that rank among top 2% of world’s most-cited researchers – 2023

American Society of Animal Science Industry Service Award- 2021

American Society of Animal Science Research Fellow Award- 2012

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture George E. Mitchell, Jr. Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate Students- 2010

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Thomas Poe Cooper Award for Research- 2006

American Society of Animal Science Jim Corbin Award in Companion Animal Biology- 2005

American Society of Animal Science Director at Large 1999-2002

American Society of Animal Science AFIA Ruminant Nutrition Award- 1998

Journal of Animal Science-Section Editor Ruminant Digestion and Metabolism - 1992-1995

Midwest American Society of Animal Science Young Researcher Award - 1992  

Finalist- Elanco Young Animal Scientist Research Award, 1991

Chair - 31st annual Ruminant Nutrition Symposium FASEB, 1990, Washington, D.C.

American Society for Nutritional Sciences

American Society of Animal Science

Gamma Sigma Delta

Sigma Xi

Widaman Trust Outstanding Graduate Student Award, 1982.

Scholars@UK

View Full Scholars@UK Profile

Association of serotonin and ergot alkaloids on tissue partitioning and contractile response of bovine blood vessels

Valente, E. E. L., Harmon, D. L., May, J., Ji, H., Trotta, R. J. & Klotz, J. L., Jan 2026, In: Current Research in Toxicology. 10, 100272.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Determining the influence of rearing method on lamb weaning behaviour

Simeonov, M. & Harmon, D. L., Oct 10 2025, In: Acta Agriculturae Slovenica. 121, 3

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

The effect of weaning methods on stress and the welfare in early weaned lambs

Simeonov, M., Harmon, D. L., Stoycheva, I. & Mihailova, M., Nov 2025, In: Tropical Animal Health and Production. 57, 8, 441.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation-derived postbiotic on methane production and plasma metabolome of fattening Holstein steers fed a high-grain diet

Dhungana, A., Odunfa, O. A., Altman, A., Ogunade, I., McLeod, K. R., Yoon, I., Harmon, D. L. & Jiang, Y., 2025, In: Journal of Animal Science. 103, skaf307.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Gastrointestinal development and tight junctions of preweaned calves supplemented with sodium butyrate in the starter mixture and whole milk

Zhang, Z., Wu, D., Li, X., Jia, Y., Qi, J., Harmon, D. L. & Xu, M., Jun 2025, In: Tropical Animal Health and Production. 57, 5, 234.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) crude oil extract on Fusobacterium necrophorum of bovine origin

Lakes, J. E., Altman, A. W., Berhow, M. A., Kagan, I. A., Nagaraja, T. G., Harmon, D. L. & Flythe, M. D., Jun 2025, In: Anaerobe. 93, 102960.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Nutrient net absorption across the portal-drained viscera of forage-fed beef steers: Quantitative assessment and application to a nutritional prediction model

El-Kadi, S. W., McLeod, K. R., Elam, N. A., Kitts, S. E., Taylor, C. C., Harmon, D. L., Bequette, B. J. & Vanzant, E. S., Sep 2008, In: Journal of Animal Science. 86, 9, p. 2277-2287 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Whole stillage inclusion level influences in vitro fiber digestibility and ruminal fermentation of tall fescue hay

Ajayi, H. J., Davis, B. E., Lehmkuhler, J. W., Harmon, D. L., Jiang, Y. & Trotta, R. J., 2025, In: Journal of Animal Science. 103, skaf006.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Influence of flake density and starch retrogradation on in vitro gas production kinetics, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation characteristics of steam-flaked corn

Trotta, R. J., Kreikemeier, K. K. & Harmon, D. L., 2024, In: Journal of Animal Science. 102, skae308.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Influence of postruminal casein infusion and exogenous glucagon-like peptide 2 administration on the jejunal mucosal transcriptome in cattle

Trotta, R. J., Swanson, K. C., Klotz, J. L. & Harmon, D. L., Aug 1 2024, In: PLoS ONE. 19, 8, e0308983.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Influence of rearing method on the behaviour and welfare of Assaf lambs during the neonatal period

Simeonov, M., Harmon, D. L. & Stoycheva, I., Sep 2024, In: Indian Journal of Animal Sciences. 94, 9, p. 797-802 6 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Effects of a Proprietary Kelp Blend Product on Enteric Methane Production and Tissue Residues in Cattle

Altman, A., Vanzant, E., Davis, S., Harmon, D. & McLeod, K. R., Aug 2024, In: Animals. 14, 16, 2411.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Levodopa attenuates the feed intake reduction caused by ergot alkaloids in cattle

Valente, E. E. L., Klotz, J. L., Markmann, R. C., Trotta, R. J., Edwards, J. L., May, J. B. & Harmon, D. L., 2024, In: Journal of Animal Science. 102, skae078.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Impact of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed consumption on endocrine changes associated with intake regulation and post-absorptive metabolism in growing steers

King, M. E., Herzing, H. M., McLeod, K. R., Klotz, J. L., Foote, A. P., Edwards, J. L. & Harmon, D. L., Oct 2024, In: Domestic Animal Endocrinology. 89, 106873.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Serotonin receptor-mediated vasorelaxation occurs primarily through 5-HT4 activation in bovine lateral saphenous vein

Trotta, R. J., Harmon, D. L. & Klotz, J. L., Jul 2024, In: Physiological Reports. 12, 13, e16128.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Nutritional and Physiological Constraints Contributing to Limitations in Small Intestinal Starch Digestion and Glucose Absorption in Ruminants

Trotta, R. J., Harmon, D. L., Matthews, J. C. & Swanson, K. C., Mar 2022, In: Ruminants. 2, 1, p. 1-26 26 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

5-hydroxytryphophan mitigates ergot alkaloid-induced suppression of serotonin and feed intake in cattle

Valente, E. E. L., Klotz, J. L., Markmann, R. C., Edwards, J. L. & Harmon, D. L., 2024, In: Journal of Animal Science. 102, skae083.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Influence of α-linked glucose on sodium-glucose cotransport activity along the small intestine in cattle

Bauer, M. L., Harmon, D. L., Bohnert, D. W., Branco, A. F. & Huntington, G. B., Jul 2001, In: Journal of Animal Science. 79, 7, p. 1917-1924 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Review: Utilizing industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) by-products in livestock rations

Altman, A. W., Kent-Dennis, C., Klotz, J. L., McLeod, K. R., Vanzant, E. S. & Harmon, D. L., Jan 2024, In: Animal Feed Science and Technology. 307, 115850.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Exploring the Role of G Protein Expression in Sodium Butyrate-Enhanced Pancreas Development of Dairy Calves: A Proteomic Perspective

Wu, D., Zhang, Z., Wang, X., Harmon, D. L., Jia, Y., Qi, J., Li, X., Jia, H. & Xu, M., Mar 20 2024, In: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 72, 11, p. 5645-5658 14 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

ARS/FAPRU: Improving Sustainability of Forage-Based Production Systems

Matthews, J. (PI), Bridges, P. (CoI), Ely, D. (CoI), Haan, N. (CoI), Harmon, D. (CoI), Hunt, A. (CoI), Ji, H. (CoI), McCulley, R. (CoI), McLeod, K. (CoI), Phillips, T. (CoI), Schardl, C. (CoI), Smith, S. (CoI), Suman, S. (CoI), Teutsch, C. (CoI), Trotta, R. (CoI), VanValin, K. (CoI) & Zhu, H. (CoI)

Agricultural Research Service

8/28/25 → 8/27/26

Project: Research project

The Agronomy of Hemp and Its Uses in Forage-Animal Agriculture

Matthews, J. (PI), Adam, E. (CoI), Adams, A. (CoI), Ely, D. (CoI), Gauthier, N. (CoI), Harmon, D. (CoI), Hunt, A. (CoI), Ji, H. (CoI), Kawashima, T. (CoI), Lawrence, L. (CoI), Mark, T. (CoI), McCulley, R. (CoI), McLeod, K. (CoI), Moe, L. (CoI), Page, A. (CoI), Pearce, R. (CoI), Schendel, R. (CoI), Urschel, K. (CoI), Vanzant, E. (CoI), Villanueva, R. (CoI) & Xiong, Y. (CoI)

Agricultural Research Service

8/1/21 → 7/31/26

Project: Research project

Amaize

Harmon, D. (PI)

Alltech Incorporated

10/1/20 → 7/31/22

Project: Research project

Mechanisms of EPNIX in Finishing Cattle

Harmon, D. (PI)

Alltech Incorporated

8/1/17 → 8/31/21

Project: Research project

Associated Departments

Animal and Food Sciences