College of Veterinary Medicine alumnus Gary Neubauer, ’78, DVM, has received the National Mastitis Council’s (NMC) 2021 Award of Excellence for Contribution to Mastitis Prevention and Control for his work with dairy cattle. 

This award recognizes an NMC member who has provided sustained contributions to mastitis prevention and control through research, extension and/or education, clinical practice, or service to dairy producers. Boehringer Ingelheim sponsors the award and presented Neubauer with a $2,500 honorarium. Bovine mastitis is a common condition in dairy cattle in which udder tissue becomes inflamed due to injury or infection. 

In addition to his work with mastitis prevention and control, Neubauer’s expertise in his field included milk quality, reproduction, fresh cow health, transition management, calf management, residue avoidance, and records analysis. Until his retirement last year, Neubauer had served as senior manager, Dairy Technical Services at Zoetis since 2013. 

Neubauer’s supervisor at Zoetis, Mike Lormore, says he set a powerful example with his dedication to continuous improvement and professional service to the dairy industry and veterinary profession.

“Gary has a long and strong personal interest in udder health and milk quality. Why? Gary always knew that mastitis is the single most expensive disease of dairy cattle, and milk quality affects many aspects of customer satisfaction relative to consumption of milk and dairy products,” Lormore said in a statement. 

Prior to joining Zoetis, Neubauer worked as the senior manager, Dairy Technical Services division of Pfizer Animal Health from 2003 to 2013. Neubauer joined Pharmacia Animal Health in 1994 as a dairy technical services consultant. He spent the first 16 years of his veterinary career as an owner and partner at the Nicollet–New Ulm Veterinary Clinic, New Ulm, Minn. 

Outside the exam room, Neubauer has long been involved with numerous veterinary organizations as well as NMC. He served as the 2015 NMC president and spent 10 years serving on its board of directors. Neubauer also chaired the NMC National Residue Avoidance Committee from 2002–2007. 

Neubauer also served on the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Milk Quality Committee, Minnesota Milk Producers Advisory Board, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Antibiotics Working Group, University of Wisconsin Milk Quality Resources Advisory Council, University of Minnesota Veterinary College Dean’s Advisory Council, Ridgewater College Dairy Advisory Board, Elanco Pharmaceutical Dairy Advisory Board, Pfizer Technical Services Supplementary Support Group, and South Central Technical College Ag Advisory Board. In 1992–93, he led the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association as president. Neubauer received the Minnesota Veterinarian of the Year honor in 2000.