Whether Dr. Hagsten is a generalized specialist, or a specialized generalist, depends on your point of view. After graduating from high school at 15, he worked for the next nine years on crop and livestock farms in five countries. Following a general agriculture associate degree, he obtained an M.Sci. Degree from the Royal Danish Veterinary and Agricultural University, with a major in agronomy and a minor in dairy science. From Purdue University, he obtained both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (two years each) in cattle/sheep nutrition and swine production, respectively. While still in his native Denmark, Ib received his masters degree in agronomy with a minor in dairy science. Moving to the U.S., he studied at Purdue where he achieved both an M.S. in cattle/sheep nutrition and a Ph.D. in swine production in only four years.

Dr. Hagsten spent 23 years as a consulting nutritionist in the feed and animal healthy industry. He became a recognized resource person in such diverse fields as swine antibiotic growth promotants, growth enhancing implants, and miticides. Along the way he became a well-known if non-degreed endo-/exto-parasitologist.

Although his first consulting assignment was with Shell Oil while still in college (an extension of his M.Sci. dissertation), it was not until 1998 that he began consulting full-time. His next assignment took him, as a nutritionist, to four countries in Asia, representing National Renders Association. His first USAID-sponsored activity found him assessing the feasibility of agribusinesses in Moldova for US trade partnership.

Having enjoyed the part-time consulting opportunities, Dr. Hagsten ventured into full-time consulting in 1998. Since then, he has added another dozen countries to his repertoire, plus many states and provinces in North America. He has consulted in twelve countries, half of the 50 states and a half dozen Canadian provinces.

His firm, Hagsten Consulting aims to empower people at all levels of a facility to do more and better through education/training and improved communications and reporting. His advice blends practical and scientific animal husbandry, agronomy and economics advice with suggestions for improved organizational interrelations. Ib has long been recognized for his skill in writing reports that succinctly incorporate performance data, recommendations for improved production practices, and suggestions for overcoming miscommunications among staff and management that effects the success or failure of organizations.

A partial list of Dr. Hagsten’s Certifications, include:

• Certified environmental assessor for swine, dairy cattle, pasture & feedlot cattle, turkeys, broilers, and laying hens (Environmental Management Solutions, LLC)
•  Certified Nutrient Management Planner (USDA/National Resources Conservation Service and EMS, LLC)
• Certified Conservation Planner (NRCS; EMS, LLC; Florida Dept. of Agriculture)
• Certified Professional Animal Scientist (American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists)
• Charter diplomate of the American College of Animal Nutrition (ARPAS)
• Certified Agricultural Consultant (American Society of Agricultural Consultants)
• Certified Agricultural Consultant (Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association)

Dr. Hagsten has also written hundreds of scientific papers, abstracts, and articles on animal health, nutrition, antibiotic and parasitology issues, as well as topics in agronomy. He has decades of lecturing experience both to colleagues and as a guest professor at land-grant universities across the country. In fact, he has a standing invitation to speak anytime at 32 agricultural universities across the U.S. He has produced motivation, sales and personnel training guides for many organizations, corporate divisions, and large production facilities US.

Testimonials:

Communications Savvy: "You are obviously the communicator among us," Bill Holstine, ASAAC officer, 2001.

Cultural Sensitivity: "In my 18 years as executive secretary to the Dean of Agriculture at Tuskeegee Institute, you are the first white person that walked in looking comfortable," Betty Jo Auchliffe, 1995.

Broad-Based and Technically Experienced: "During the more than 21 years at the Hoechst organization, Dr. Hagsten excelled in anything requested by management. He became the single best-known swine technical specialist in the US; he was Salesman of the Year twice, when asked to sell externally while training internally; he became an accomplished non-degreed parasitologist, interpreting livestock analyses nationwide; and he mentored everyone he worked with in a ‘compassionate consulting’ role," John Paul, DVM, Hoechst Professional Services Manager, 1998.