In Memoriam: Peter J. Van Soest (1929–2021)

Peter J. Van Soest, one of the most influential animal scientists and professors his generation, died March 21, 2021. Soest (pronounced “Van Soost”) was born June 30, 1929, grew up on a dairy farm in Snohomish, Washington. He graduated from Department Dairy Science Washington State University with BS 1951, MS 1952. said that minor physical chemistry gave him new way looking at world. obtained PhD Husbandry Wisconsin 1955 drafted into Army where he served as biochemist Walter Reed Institute Research, working analysis minerals blood. In 1957, recruited by Lane Moore to join Cattle Research Branch Animal Division USDA-Agricultural Service Beltsville, Maryland. given mission develop nutritionally relevant analyses replace crude fiber. Although its deficiencies were well known, fiber had been used since 1860s, replacing it no simple challenge. An early visitor advised ignore because there future it. initially focused measurement lignin, indigestible component acid detergents remove nitrogen hemicellulose contaminations serious issues lignin determination (Van 1963Van P.J. Use fibrous feeds. II. Rapid method for lignin.J. Assoc. Off. Agric. Chem. 1963; 46: 829-835https://doi.org/10.1093/jaoac/46.5.829Google Scholar, 1973Van Collaborative study detergent Anal. 1973; 56: 781-784https://doi.org/10.1093/jaoac/56.4.781Google Scholar). This led fiber, which preparatory step work described effect heating increasing measured content forages through heat damage proteins via nonenzymatic browning reactions 1965Van III. Study effects drying yield forages.J. 1965; 48: 785-790https://doi.org/10.1093/jaoac/48.4.785Google realized not measure total developed assay neutral (NDF) an estimate plant cell walls recalcitrant fermentation feeds foods Wine, 1967Van Wine R.H. The use feeds: IV. Determination cell-wall constituents.J. 1967; 50: 50-55https://doi.org/10.1093/jaoac/50.1.50Google Not these breakthrough efforts variable digestibility dry matter With input Marvin Bryant, vitro NDF et al., 1966Van L.A. Estimation true digestion walls. Section 2.in: Proc. X Int. Grassland Congr., Helsinki, Finland. 1966: 438-441Google Scholar; Goering 1970Goering H.K. Forage (apparatus, reagents, procedures, some applications). USDA Handbook No. 379. Service, Washington, DC1970Google this, created summative equation demonstrated function digestible detergent-soluble Development comprehensive system feed application Anim. Sci. 26: 119-128https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1967.261119xCrossref Google pioneered concept ideal nutritive entities are bases our current evaluation available energy His methods, ideas about how they should be interpreted, throughout world improve health productivity. These accomplishments alone would have established significance any scientist's career. 1968, joined Cornell continued research markers, ruminant nutrition, nutritional ecology. For efforts, received numerous awards. It wrote textbook, Nutritional Ecology Ruminant 1982Van Ruminant. Press, 1982Google 1994Van Ruminant.2nd ed. 1994Crossref Scholar)—the definitive concepts metabolism, physiological relationships, characteristics, principles important herbivore nutrition. 1991 Journal paper carbohydrate methodology co-authored Jimmy Robertson Betty Lewis 1991Van J.B. B.A. Methods dietary nonstarch polysaccharides relation nutrition.J. 1991; 74 (1660498): 3583-3597https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (20470) Scholar) has 16,386 citations (Web Science), 16,387 (Google published 27 papers Science, last 2020 stability liquid passage markers under reducing conditions Hall, 2020Van Hall M.B. Cobalt (III)-EDTA dissociated chromium is slightly more stable comparable those rumen.J. 2020; 103 (32952016): 10152-10160https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-18945Abstract (2) final peer-reviewed paper, Barry M.C. Klason heterogeneous fraction unsuitable prediction forage neutral-detergent fibre ruminants.Br. Nutr. 124 (32406341): 693-700https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520001713Crossref (8) consummate teacher—he loved teach every opportunity. Innumerable students benefitted knowledge ability explain things classroom laboratory, walks woods, or over beer. still informally teaching graduate 90th year! broad deep understanding nutrition inspiring. could only discuss characteristics rare earth elements modeling passage, but also describe pigments, impact composition interactions plants their environment, ecological interaction herbivores plants, zoo animals, role human diets, heat-damaged breakfast cereals, donkeys elephants, dinosaurs. At times, daunting—he understood basis periodic table, you! dedicated helping colleagues understand applications myriad interests beyond science—a modern Renaissance man. curiosity knew few bounds passion intellect pursue whatever interested him. formal. connoisseur wild mushrooms single malt whiskey, cook, particularly Indian cuisine. classical music, geology, art, history. passed love arts children, John, Anne, Justin. Few will legacy Soest. indelibly changed methods novel, revolutionary, useful, foundational what we do today. comprehensive. mattered many. who him, “Pete” remembered awesome intellect, intensity curiosity, scientific understanding, share gladly freely others.