Dr. Kenneth Eng

Dr. Kenneth Eng’s lifelong dedication to the cattle industry has left an indelible mark on the field. A Nebraska farm boy at heart, Eng earned a Ph.D. in animal nutrition from Oklahoma State University in 1962. He began his career at Texas A&M University’s Gulf Coast Research Station, where his passion for innovation in cattle feeding took root.

In 1965, Eng became Ralston-Purina’s first technical feedlot consultant, eventually establishing himself as one of the first independent consulting nutritionists. His expertise revolutionized the efficiency of commercial cattle feeding in the Southern Plains and western U.S. Eng also developed and led Texas A&M’s M.S. program in feedlot management, further cementing his role as an industry leader.

A prolific writer, Eng authored over 600 articles, including the “Beef Bottom Line” column for Feedstuffs for 30 years, and published seven books of poetry. His final book, Started Small & Just Got Lucky, chronicles his career alongside the evolution of commercial cattle feeding.

As a successful rancher, Eng used proceeds from his operations to establish the Dr. Kenneth S. and Caroline McDonald Eng Foundation, supporting cow efficiency research at UNL, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M. Known for his humor, intellect, and dedication, Eng’s contributions continue to inspire the industry.