Laurie Lawrence, PhD, professor in the department of animal and food sciences at the University of Kentucky (UK) was recently awarded the American Society of Animal Science Fellow Award, which recognizes career achievements in research.

Since joining UK in 1992 Lawrence has made many significant contributions to the field of equine nutrition. She has studied the equine athlete, the broodmare, and the growing horse.

Furthermore, Lawrence was one of the first equine nutritionists to focus on performance horses. She and her graduate students used a systematic approach in understanding the metabolism of exercising horses with particular emphasis on factors that limit maximum performance. Her investigations focused on fuel utilization and acid-base balance during exercise. Her research expanded the knowledge base relative to the contribution of various nutrients to energy production during exercise. Her studies on nitrogen metabolism during exercise and the role of dietary protein on horses’ response to exercise were the first ever conducted.

Pre-exercise feeding practices vary widely in the racing industry. Lawrence’s studies shed new light in this area, as well. She found little evidence that the type of feeding practice (fed versus fasting) prior to high-intensity exercise had any effect on the exercise response. Her studies also demonstrated that several nutrients, including vitamin E, selenium, fructo-oligosaccharides, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, affect immunological enhancement