United Animal Health Expands into Poultry Industry with Two New Hires
- April 16, 2020
- News
SHERIDAN, IN. – United Animal Health, Inc. has hired Mike Blair as their new Sr. Manager of US Poultry Nutrition and Keith Staggs as their new Director of US Poultry Sales.
The addition of Blair and Staggs to the poultry team will allow United Animal Health to provide needed expertise on poultry feed and nutrition to customers throughout the industry.
Together, Blair and Staggs will lead, manage and oversee everything from initial poultry nutrition research to strategic client growth across United’s key accounts. These hires communicate to the marketplace that United is dedicated to creating value and success for its partners across all livestock groups – swine, dairy and poultry.
“We are fortunate to have these two individuals join our team as we launch our new poultry products and tools,” said Kerry Keffaber, DVM, Vice President of Product Development & Strategy at United Animal Health. “Their experience and understanding of production will help us help our customers capture value. We are excited about the future these new additions bring to complement our innovative product portfolio.”
Blair graduated with a degree in Animal Science from Purdue University and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Poultry Nutrition from Virginia Tech. He joins United Animal Health from Devenish where he served as a Poultry Nutritionist, providing consulting services to the poultry and feed additive industries. Prior to Devenish he was the President of A&J Nutrition Services, a successful business he grew from the ground up. Dr. Blair has over 30 years of experience in the poultry industry working for a feed company internationally, for feed additive companies and for a broiler integrator.
“Having grown up in Indiana, not far from Sheridan, and working with United Animal Health personnel over my entire career in the poultry industry both in technical support and as a customer of their products, the opportunity to work for such a trustworthy and respected company is both exciting and rewarding,” explained Blair. “I am looking forward to working with the poultry team to bring research-based safe and efficient products and also ideas to address issues facing the poultry industry today and in the future. One of my personal life philosophies is that I have chosen a career that helps feed the world. Joining United Animal Health fits right in!”
Staggs graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Poultry Science from Texas A&M University. He joins United Animal Health from Holmes Foods, Inc., a privately held commercial broiler company where he served as Director of Live Operations with responsibilities for a hatchery, two feed mills, pullet & breeder production, broiler grow-out and live transport. Prior to Holmes Foods, Staggs worked for DuPont/Danisco Animal Nutrition. Staggs serves the State of Texas as the Texas Animal Health Commissioner for Commercial Poultry, appointed by the Governor of Texas. He is also the National
Honor Show Chow Ambassador for Market Poultry at Purina Animal Nutrition where he provides technical expertise on show feed products for young people who are producing show animals as part of 4-H and FFA.
“The opportunity to develop and grow United Animal Health’s presence in the US Commercial Poultry Industry is exciting,” Staggs commented. “United’s advanced technologies, product portfolio and depth of research provide a wide range of solutions serving the areas of animal nutrition and animal health as we collaborate with producers and stakeholders to develop solutions and deliver results for our customers. Working with the US Poultry Industry to provide a supply of safe and affordable food has always been a passion and I am pleased to work for a company that shares the philosophy of ‘We Feed The Animals That Feed the World.’”