Lattimer, James

Associate Professorlattimer
132 Weber Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-2840
785-532-7059 fax
jlattimer@ksu.edu

Area of Specialization
Equine and Comparative Nutrition

Education
B.S., Kansas State University, 2002
M.S., Oklahoma State University, 2004
Ph.D., Kansas State University, 2012

Bio Brief

Dr. James Lattimer is a native of Newton, KS. He graduated with his B.S. in Animal Science from Kansas State University in 2002. He began his graduate career in equine nutrition at Oklahoma State University in the fall of 2002. While at OSU, he was the assistant horse judging team coach and directly involved in the undergraduate teaching program. After completing his M.S. in the summer of 2004, he moved to Ocala, FL, and taught equine science courses at the College of Central Florida and in the fall of 2005 accepted a horse science instructor position at Black Hawk College in Kewanee, IL. In the fall of 2009, Dr. Lattimer came back to Kansas State University to work on his Ph.D. in comparative nutrition. Following graduation in May 2012, he joined Nestle Purina in St. Louis, MO, as a Technical Nutritionist.

He returned home to Kansas State University in the spring of 2015 as an Assistant Professor with an 80% teaching and 20% research appointment. In 2021, he was promoted to Associate Professor. His current responsibilities include teaching undergraduate nutrition courses, conducting equine and comparative nutrition research, and mentoring graduate students who are pursuing advanced degrees with an equine or comparative nutrition emphasis.

Dr. Lattimer’s research program focuses on digestive physiology of the horse with specific areas in the gut microbiome and the effect of feedstuffs on get health. He collaborates across species with his fellow nutritionists to provide his students with a comparative look into animal nutrition. His work can be found in the Journal of Animal Science, Translation Animal Science, Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Equine Veterinary Journal, International Journal of Poultry Science, and Small Ruminant. Below are a few examples of his most recent published work.

“Evaluation of Enogen® high amylase corn on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs” https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab052

“Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses” https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa407

“Caecal fermentation characteristics of commonly used feed ingredients” https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13390

“Effects of Megasphaera elsdenii on Growth Performance and Characteristics of Cecal Digesta in Broiler Chickens” https://10.3923/ijps.2020.321.329

“Effects of Sodium Caseinate and Varying Protein Sources on In Vitro Fermentation of Forages by Mixed Equine Cecal Microorganisms” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103127

“Effects of sodium caseinate on hindgut fermentation and fiber digestion in horses” https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky436

Additionally, Dr. Lattimer serves as the faculty supervisor for the Horse Teaching and Research Unit and head coach for the KSU Intercollegiate Horse Judging Team. Most recently, the team claimed 2 World Championship titles in 2019 by winning both the AQHA and APHA World Championship Show Collegiate Judging Contests. While at K-State, Dr. Lattimer has coached 4 World Championship teams.

Dr. Lattimer and his wife, Nichole, have three children, Paige, Payton and Owen. The Lattimer family own a small livestock operation outside of Wamego, KS, where they raise and show club lambs and Boer goats.