Curiosity cures the cattle.
Dr. Del Miles built a career on asking better questions to inform smarter decisions. Throughout his career, he challenged assumptions, advanced science-based management and helped cattle feeders prevent problems before they started. His influence reaches beyond feedyards, shaping the way veterinarians, researchers and cattlemen think about herd health.
In recognition of decades spent advancing cattle health, mentoring veterinarians and serving the beef industry, Miles received the 2026 Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Industry Achievement Award at Feeding Quality Forum in Amarillo, Texas, Aug. 4.
From Farm Calls to Feedyards
Miles’ interest in veterinary medicine began when his father encouraged him to tag along with the local veterinarian on farm calls. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong interest in animal health and the science behind keeping cattle well.
After earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri, Miles worked briefly in a small animal practice before realizing it wasn’t the right fit. He went on to earn a master’s degree in pathology from Kansas State University and work in animal health research.
He pushed off a lingering interest in feedyard cattle before Dr. Bob Hummel recruited him to Greeley, Colo., to work one-on-one with feedyard managers. There, Miles immersed himself in feedyard medicine for a few years before gaining the confidence to establish his own practice.
Building a Better Model
Miles struck out on his own in 1984, founding Veterinary Research and Consulting Services (VRCS).
Having worked in the animal health industry, Miles built VRCS around objective, research-based recommendations focused on what made the most sense for the producer, not the easiest product to promote.
“I decided I didn’t want to make decisions based upon four-color ads and testimonials,” Miles says. “That’s when we started doing evidence-based medicine centered on research trials to prove that the products we were recommending were cost-effective.”
Though he envisioned VRCS as a small-scale, one-man operation, demand for his consulting approach quickly grew, making the workload and constant travel unsustainable. In the late 1980s, he began recruiting associate veterinarians, building a team with a shared philosophy of preventative herd health, producer education and practical management decisions.
Proving the Process
Feedyard managers trusted Miles to dig deeper, ask the questions others wouldn’t and find solutions.
One conversation with a feedyard manager changed the way Miles approached treatment decisions. At the time, using multiple antibiotics to treat sick cattle was common practice.
When asked how he knew his recommended treatment protocol was the best solution, he answered, “I don’t, but we’ll do a study and figure it out.” For Miles, not having the answer was never the problem. Not searching for one was.
The VRCS team conducted a controlled study comparing treatment protocols, and the results showed the single-drug treatment outperformed the combination. The results not only saved the feedyard money but supported Miles’ belief that the best recommendations come from research rather than routine.
Cost-effectiveness remained at the center of Miles’ consulting philosophy. He challenged the idea that every problem required another treatment, instead focusing on management practices that prevented problems before they started.
“Everybody wants to fix the problem with a needle,” Miles says. “You’re not going to get it done.”
From bunk management and cattle handling to reducing stress during receiving, Miles and the VRCS team studied a multitude of factors influencing cattle health and performance.
While Miles devoted his career to improving cattle health, he says the people have always been what made the work worthwhile. He holds a deep respect for all the people who keep the industry moving forward, from CEOs to pen riders, despite status.
“It’s highly competitive, but it’s the greatest integrity-laced business out there,” Miles says. “Millions of dollars are traded every day based upon a man’s or woman’s word. It’s not signed contracts. It’s a great industry.”
The Impact of Asking Why
Longtime VRCS colleague and fellow Industry Achievement Award recipient Dr. Bob Smith says Miles’ impact extends well beyond just research.
“I think he’s a whole package,” Smith says, nodding to Miles’ convictions for evidence-based medicine, research and integrity. “The way that he has conducted his practice and his professional life could be an example for all of us.”
He says Miles’ systems-based approach, looking beyond a single treatment or immediate challenge, helped shape the way the industry thinks about cattle health today and forevermore.
“A legacy to me is what you’ve done, what you’ve accomplished, what contributions that you’ve made and the influence on those people who are coming behind us that will replace us and what you’ve done to try to improve the future,” Smith says.
And Miles’ legacy, much like his curiosity, is not defined only by the answers he sought, but by the questions he inspired others to ask.
