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Howard Townley Fredeen, agricultural research scientist (born 10 December 1921 in Macrorie, SK; died 27 December 2021 in Lacombe, Alberta ). Fredeen is recognized for codeveloping the Lacombe breed of hogs, the first breed of hogs developed in Canada. (See also Animal Breeding; Pig Farming.) In addition to his genetics research, Fredeen wrote and published about the city and history of Lacombe.
Education and Career
Howard Fredeen received a BSA from the University of Saskatchewan 1943, and a MSc from the University of Alberta in 1947. That same year, he joined the staff of the Lacombe Research Station in Alberta, subsequently obtaining a PhD in animal breeding and genetics from Iowa State College (1952). (See also Agricultural Research Stations; Agricultural Research and Development.) Fredeen spent his entire career with Agriculture Canada's Research Branch, retiring 6 July 1984. With the late J.G. Stothart he was the codeveloper of the Lacombe breed of hogs, still renowned for its excellence. (See also Pig Farming.)
Fredeen played a major role in developing Canadian livestock breeding policies and in introducing innovative breeding practices and new techniques for carcass evaluation. As well as writing more than 300 scientific and technical papers, he has established an international reputation by frequently representing Agriculture Canada abroad.
Honours and Awards
Howard Fredeen received numerous honours, including a fellowship in the Agricultural Institute of Canada, the Public Service Award of Merit and the Genetics Society of Canada Award of Excellence. Fredeen edited and published about the history of Lacombe district. For his contributions he received a Lacombe Citizen of the Year Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation.
