Rodger JohnsonPhoto Rodger Johnson

Professor Emeritus, Swine Breeding

A218i Animal Science Building
Lincoln, NE 68583-0908
Phone: (402)472-6404
Fax: (402)472-6362
Email: rjohnson5@unl.edu

Mini CV

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. 1973 - Oklahoma State University - Animal Science/Statistics
  • M.S. 1971 - Oklahoma State University - Animal Science
  • B.S. 1965 - North Dakota State University - Animal Science

POSITIONS HELD

  • Associate Professor (1978-1981) - University of Nebraska
  • Associate Professor (1976-1978) - Oklahoma State University
  • Assistant Professor (1973-1976) - Oklahoma State University
  • Graduate Assistant (1969-1973) - Oklahoma State University
  • Assistant County Extension Agent (1967-1969) - Valley City, SD
  • US Army (1965-1967)

AWARDS & HONORS

  • ASAS Fellow - Research, 2008.
  • Darrell W. Nelson Excellence in Graduate Student Advising Award, 2005.
  • Institute of Agriculture and National Resources Omtvedt Innovation Award, 2004.
  • Appointed Irvin and Wanda Omtvedt Professor of Animal Science, July, 2003.
  • Elected to membership in Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement, 2003.
  • Gamma Sigma Delta Award of Merit, 2002, University of Nebraska.
  • Oklahoma State University Outstanding Animal Science Graduate Alumni Award, 1999.
  • University of Nebraska Alumni Recognition for Service to Students, 1998.
  • National Swine Improvement Federation 1998 Distinguished Service Award.
  • The American Society of Animal Science J.R. Prentice Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics, 1988.
  • University of Nebraska Livestock Service Award, 1987.
  • Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award, 1986, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Provide leadership for swine breeding project "Genetic and functional genomic approaches to improve production and quality of pork", contibuting to North Central Region swine breeding project. Focus is on genetic improvement of reproductive efficiency and resistance to disease. The emphasis in reproduction is to identify the major genes and their effects that are responsible for responses in ovulation rate, litter size and uterine capacity observed during 27 generations of selection in the NE lines. The goal in disease resistance is to determine whether genetic variation exists for general immune response to pathogens and to characterize genetic and immune responses to the PRRS and PCV2 viruses. Methods to enhance selection responses and potential applications to the industry are evaluated. Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in animal breeding, population genetics and quantitative genetics. Advise undergraduate students and graduate students.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Society of Animal Science

COURSES

  • ASCI 399: Genetics of Companion Animals
    Semester:  Summer and Fall
    Summary: Individual or group projects in research, literature review, or extension of course work under supervision and evaluation of a departmental faculty member.


  • ASCI 806: Graduate Seminar
    Semester: Fall and Spring
    Summary: Orientation in the animal science graduate program involving introduction to departmental research program, philosophy, and policies. Discussion of elements of an effective seminar; experience and critique in oral presentation of research data.


  • ASCI 431/831: Advanced Animal Breeding
    Semester: Spring
    Summary: Application of genetic principles to animal breeding. Critical examination of current and potential selection programs and crossbreeding systems. Determination of performance objectives. Expected responses to selection methods and dissemination of improvement in an industry.


  • ASCI 931: Population Genetics
    Semester: Fall and Spring
    Summary: Structure of populations, forces affecting gene frequency and frequency of genotypes, continuous variation, population values and means, genotypic and environmental variances and covariances. 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • J. S. Bates, D. B. Petry, J. Eudy, L. Bough, and R. K. Johnson. 2008. Differential expression in lung and bronchial lymph node of pigs with high and low responses to infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. J. Anim. Sci. (submitted, under review).


  • Chen, C. Y., R. K. Johnson, S. Newman, and L. D. Van Vleck. 2007. A general review of genetic competition effects with an emphasis on swine breeding. Genetics and Molecular Research 6(3): 594-606.


  • Chen, C. Y., R. K. Johnson, S. Newman, and L. D. Van Vleck. 2007. A general review of genetic competition effects with an emphasis on swine breeding. Genetics and Molecular Research 6(3): 594-606.


  • D. B. Petry, J. Lunney, P. Boyd, D. Kuhar, E. Blankenship, and R. K. Johnson. Differential immunity in pigs with high and low responses to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. J Anim Sci 2007 85: 2075-2092.


  • J. W. Holl, N Vukasinovic, A.C. Clutter, M. Grosz, S.D. Kachman, and R. K. Johnson. Positioning reproductive QTL in research pig populations. Submitted to Animal, November 2006. Paper is under review.


  • T. Serenius, K. J. Stalder, T. J. Baas, J. W. Mabry, R. N. Goodwin, R. K. Johnson , O. W. Robison, M. Tokach and R. K. Miller. 2006. National Pork Producers Council Maternal Line National Genetic Evaluation Program: A comparison of sow longevity and trait associations with sow longevity. J. Anim Sci. 84:2590-2595.


  • D. B. Petry, J. W. Holl, J. S. Weber, A. R. Doster, F. A. Osorio, and R. K. Johnson. 2005. Biological responses to porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus in pigs of two genetic populations. J. Anim Sci. 2005 83: 1494-1502.


  • A. R. Caetano, J. B. Edeal, K. Burns, R. K. Johnson, C. K. Tuggle  and D. Pomp. 2005. Physical mapping of genes in the porcine ovarian transcriptome. Anim Genet. 2005 Aug;36(4):322-30.


  • J. W. Holl and R. K. Johnson . 2005. Incidence of splayleg pigs in Nebraska litter size selection lines. J. Anim Sci. 2005 83: 34-40.


  • H.-W. Yen, J. J. Ford, D. R. Zimmerman, and R. K. Johnson. 2005. Follicular development and maturation in gilts selected for an index of high ovulation rate and high prenatal survival. J. Anim. Sci. 2005. 83:130–135.


  • A. R. Caetano, J. B. Edeal, K. Burns, R. K. Johnson, C. K. Tuggle and D. Pomp. 2005. Physical mapping of genes in the porcine ovarian transcriptome. Anim. Genet. 36: 322-330.


  • Caetano, A.R., R.K. Johnson, J.J. Ford, and D. Pomp. 2004. Microarray Profiling for Differential Gene Expression in Ovaries and Ovarian Follicles of Pigs Selected for Increased Ovulation Rate. Genetics 168: 1529–1537.