Born on June 22, 1951 in Champaign, Ill. and grew up on his father's farm in rural Champaign County, near Mahomet. His father's farm was a typical 710 acre farm (230 acres of which he owned) of the 1950s and 1960s, raising cattle and hogs with most land in corn and soybeans. Doug's interest in farming, and especially in cattle and livestock, grew over the years. He also became active in cattle judging competitions. He studied agriculture at the University of Illinois with the intent to return to the family farm. When the opportunity arose to attend graduate school at the university in 1973; however, he elected to stay, and eventually earned his Ph. D. in Animal Sciences in 1980, and thereafter joined the University faculty. Doug described his relation to farming, and his father's influence throughout his life. He married fellow student Susan Limacher in 1979. Doug also discussed the history of the University of Illinois as a center for agricultural teaching and research, and the College of Agriculture's evolution from its founding in 1867 to the present, changing its name to the College of ACES (Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences). He stressed the dual mission of the College of ACES; one part teaching, and the other in research, stressing the considerable contributions the College has made toward advancements in such things as genetics research and optimizing feed efficiencies for cattle and livestock. The ability to obtain grants from either governmental entities or private industry is crucial in funding research. Doug discussed the changes in cattle genetics over the last several decades, and the impact of grain prices as well as the optimum feed for livestock, especially cattle. He also addressed the use of growth hormones in cattle, transgenic manipulations, animal cloning, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Mad Cow disease), the international marketing of beef in recent years, the many uses of the university's farm land, challenges of keeping the university's dairy program open, and the Grow Safe cattle feed monitoring system.
From the description of An interview with Doug Parrett / Doug Parrett ; Mark R. DePue, interviewer. 2008. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 265034609
