Gabriel Pent
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Gabriel Pent is the superintendent at Virginia Tech's Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC). Gabe received his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Central Florida and completed his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech studying livestock performance and welfare in silvopasture systems. Gabe spent a couple of years as the ruminant livestock systems extension specialist at the Southern Piedmont AREC before transitioning to his current role.
In his role at the Shenandoah Valley AREC, Gabe works to improve the livestock, forage, and forestry production systems of Virginia through partnerships with researchers, extension agents, and industry stakeholders. Specific areas of collaboration have included: silvopasture for improved cattle welfare and environmental outcomes; incorporating native warm seasons grasses with wildflowers for cattle, wildlife, and pollinators; practices for extending the grazing season and improving farm profitability; expanding gap (Femelschlag) forest management for improved oak regeneration and wildlife habitat; and bale grazing for improved soil health and forage growth.
Poudel, S., Pent, G. J., Fike, J. H., Zeller, W. E., & Davis, B. E. (2025). Effects of sericea lespedeza supplementation on steers grazing wild-type endophyte-infected tall fescue. Animals, 15(3), 373.
Kubesch, J. O., Greiner, S. P., Pent, G. J., Reid, J. L., & Tracy, B. F. (2025). Diversifying tall fescue pastures with native warm-season grasses and white clover improves beef cattle performance. Crop Science, 65(2), e70030.
Poudel, S., Fike, J. H., & Pent, G. J. (2024). Silvopastures: Benefits, past efforts, challenges, and future prospects in the United States. Agronomy, 14(7), 1369.
Kubesch, J. O., Greiner, S. P., Pent, G. J., Reid, J. L., & Tracy, B. F. (2024). Evaluating different methods to establish biodiverse swards of native grasses and wildflowers for pasturelands. Agronomy, 14(5), 1041.
Thomsen, S. J., Poudel, S., Fike, J. H., & Pent, G. J. (2024). Heifer performance and body temperatures in open pasture versus silvopasture in mid-Atlantic USA. Agroforestry Systems, 98(1), 47-59.
Paneru, B., Pent, G. J., Nastasi, S., Downing, A. K., Munsell, J. F., Fike, J. H., & Jacobs, L. (2023). Effect of silvopasture system on fearfulness and leg health in fast-growing broiler chickens. Plos One, 18(3), e0282923.
Poudel, S., Fike, J. H., Wright, L., & Pent, G. J. (2023). Non-invasive techniques reveal heifer response to fescue endophyte type in grazing studies. Animals, 13(14), 2373.
Poudel, S., Zeller, W. E., Fike, J., & Pent, G. (2023). Condensed tannins attributes: Potential solution to fescue toxicosis? Agriculture, 13(3), 672.
Poudel, S., Fike, J. H., & Pent, G. J. (2022). Hair cortisol as a measure of chronic stress in ewes grazing either hardwood silvopastures or open pastures. Agronomy 12(7), 1566.
Munsell, J. F., Fike, J. H., Pent, G. J., & Frey, G. E. (2022). Is livestock producers’ interest in silvopasture related to their operational perspectives or characteristics? Agroforestry Systems, 96(3), 541-551.
Munsell, J. F., Fike, J. H., Pent, G. J., Frey, G. E., Addlestone, B. J., & Downing, A. K. (2022). Thinning forests or planting fields? Producer preferences for establishing silvopasture. Agroforestry Systems, 96(3), 553-564.
Pent, G. J., Fike, J. H., & Kim, I. (2021). Ewe lamb vaginal temperatures in hardwood silvopastures. Agroforestry Systems, 95, 21-32.
Roberts, C. A., Andrae, J. G., Smith, S. R., Poore, M. H., Young, C. A., Hancock, D. W., & Pent, G. J. (2020). The Alliance for Grassland Renewal: A model for teaching endophyte technology. International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 14(5), 50-54.
Pent, G. J. (2020). Over-yielding in temperate silvopastures: A meta-analysis. Agroforestry Systems, 94(5), 1741-1758.
Pent, G. J., Greiner, S. P., Munsell, J. F., Tracy, B. F., & Fike, J. H. (2020). Lamb performance in hardwood silvopastures, II: Animal behavior in summer. Translational Animal Science, 4(1), 363-375.
Pent, G. J., Greiner, S. P., Munsell, J. F., Tracy, B. F., & Fike, J. H. (2020). Lamb performance in hardwood silvopastures, I: Animal gains and forage measures in summer. Translational Animal Science, 4(1), 385-399.
Pent, G. J. & Fike, J. H. (2019). Lamb productivity on stockpiled fescue in honeylocust and black walnut silvopastures. Agroforestry Systems, 93, 113-121.
Pent, G. 2017. Lamb performance, behavior, and body temperatures in hardwood silvopasture systems. Environmental Science.