The Feet First® Team

The Feet First® Team is an international collaboration of researchers, veterinarians and nutritionists whose mission is to further advance the swine industry through the identification and prevention of lameness. 

Feet First team members include:

  • Dr. John Deen (University of Minnesota)
  • Dr. Rob van Barneveld (Barneveld Nutrition Pty Ltd, Australia)  
  • Dr. Terry Ward (Zinpro Corporation)
  • Dr. Mark Wilson (Zinpro Corporation)
  • Dr. Kenneth Stalder (Iowa State University)
  • Dr. Sarel van Amstel (University of Tennessee)
  • Dr. Christof Rapp (Zinpro Corporation) 
  • Dr. Marrina Schuttert (Veterinair Centrum, The Netherlands)

ohn Deen, Ph.D., DVM, Associate Professor, Veterinary Population Medicine, University of MinnesotaJohn Deen, Ph.D., DVM, Associate Professor, Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota
John Deen earned a doctorate of veterinary medicine at the University of Guelph, Ontario, in 1984, and a doctorate of veterinary epidemiology at the same university in 1993. He gained board certification in swine health management from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 1994.

He is a member of the swine welfare committees of the National Pork Board and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, a member of the steering committee for the American College in animal welfare, and a board member of the Professional Animal Audit Certification Organization.

Robert van Barneveld, Ph.D., Consultant Research Scientist (Nutrition), Barneveld Nutrition Pty Ltd, AustraliaRobert van Barneveld, Ph.D., Consultant Research Scientist (Nutrition), Barneveld Nutrition Pty Ltd, Australia
Robert van Barneveld earned his doctoral degree and bachelor’s degree (with First Class Honors) from the University of Queensland. He is a Registered Animal Nutritionist through the Nutrition Society of Australia and holds associate professorships with the University of Queensland and the University of New England.

Currently, van Barneveld is a consultant research scientist and nutritionist specializing in feed evaluation for monogastrics. He is a specialist director of Australian Pork Ltd., a director of the Pork CRC Ltd., general manager of the CHM Alliance Pty Ltd., and chairman of Australian Pork Ltd.’s research and development advisory committee.

Terry Ward, Ph.D., Director of Research and Nutritional Services, Zinpro CorporationTerry Ward, Ph.D., Director of Research and Nutritional Services, Zinpro Corporation
Terry Ward earned his doctoral and master’s degrees from Louisiana State University, and his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. He began his professional career with Consolidated Nutrition in Decatur, Ind., as a nutritionist and later joined Zinpro as a research nutritionist.

He was appointed director of research and nutritional services in 2002. His responsibilities include research and technical services for all species for Zinpro business units and distributors around the globe.

Mark Wilson, Ph.D., Reproductive Physiologist, Zinpro CorporationMark Wilson, Ph.D., Reproductive Physiologist, Zinpro Corporation
Mark Wilson earned his doctoral and master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky, and his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University. The first eleven years of his professional career were spent as a professor at the University of Minnesota (Waseca) where he coordinated the swine research at the Southern Experimental Station. Wilson then served as director of technical service at United Feeds, while overseeing the boar and sow research. He has also spent time working for Minitube of America and Ralco Nutrition. 

Currently, Wilson is part of the research and nutritional services team at Zinpro Corporation and is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota.

Kenneth Stalder, Ph.D., Professor, Animal Science, Iowa State UniversityKenneth Stalder, Ph.D., Professor, Animal Science, Iowa State University
Kenneth Stalder earned a doctorate in animal breeding and genetics with a minor in immunobiology from Iowa State University, and a master’s degree from Western Kentucky University. His previous experience includes three years in the feed industry with a large cooperative in northeast Iowa. 

Stalder is a member of several swine committees at the National Pork Board (USA). In 2005, he was awarded the Young Animal Scientist extension award from the Midwest section of the American Society of Animal Science. Much of his research and extension programs have focused on swine longevity and feet and leg soundness.

Sarel van Amstel, BVSc, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of TennesseeSarel van Amstel, BVSc, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee
Sarel van Amstel earned his veterinary medicine degree (BVSc) from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He later returned to the Onderstepoort School of Veterinary Medicine in Pretoria, where he became board certified in internal medicine. In 1989, he was promoted to full professor and chair of the department of medicine.

He moved to the United States in 1996. He gained board certification with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2000, and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2001. His research includes factors relating to sole horn in cattle and lameness in swine.

Christof Rapp, Dr. Sc. Agr., Research Nutritionist, Zinpro Animal Nutrition (Europe)Christof Rapp, Dr. Sc. Agr., Research Nutritionist, Zinpro Corporation (Europe)
Christof Rapp earned his Dr. Sc. Agr. (equivalent to a doctorate) from Hohenheim University, Germany. He joined Zinpro as a research nutritionist in 1999 and works from the European office in Boxmeer.

His primary responsibilities include conducting research on animal performance, providing technical support to Zinpro customers and troubleshooting nutrition-related problems in sow herds. Over the past three years, he has developed specialized knowledge of factors influencing sow lameness.

Marrina Schuttert, DVM, Veterinair Centrum, Someren, The NetherlandsMarrina Schuttert, DVM, Veterinair Centrum, Someren, The Netherlands
Marrina Schuttert graduated from the veterinarian university in Utrecht. From there she joined a large veterinary practice in Someren (the area of the Netherlands with the densest swine population) and for the last nine years has specialized in swine health.

A board member of the group of large animal practitioners in the Netherlands and a veterinarian for the Dutch swine research farm (Sterksel), Schuttert also trains students in sow management. She has excellent working relationships with feed companies and breeding organizations.