Dairy Science Showcase
Thank you for attending the 2015 Dairy Science Showcase!
Save the date for the 2016 event, scheduled for Tuesday, November 1st
Featured Speakers:
Kent Weigel – Professor of dairy genetics, focuses on international genetic comparisons, genotype by environment interactions, genetic evaluation of health and management traits, and strategies to control inbreeding.
Find the link to Dr. Weigel’s presentation here:
“Genomic Selection for Improved Efficiency”
Lou Armentano – Professor of dairy nutrition, specializes in ruminant nutrition physiology, especially the role of liver metabolism and its relation to protein nutrition. Additionally, he researches whole animal energy metabolism and the utilization of high fiber by-products for dairy nutrition.
Find the link to Dr. Armentano’s presentation here:
“Nutritional Aspects of Feed Efficiency in High Producing Cows”
Randy Shaver – Professor of dairy nutrition, focuses on applied nutrition of lactating dairy cattle. His research aims at improving nutrient utilization of corn silage and corn grain and B-vitamin supplementation of dairy diets.
Find the link to Dr. Shaver’s presentation here:
“Nutritional Grouping Tools and Strategies”
Matt Atkins – Dairy management specialist, is responsible for developing and conducting integrated and applied research and extension programs on dairy heifer management. In addition, he mentors graduate and undergraduate students that perform research on heifer nutrition.
Find the link to Matt’s presentation here:
“Feed Efficiency in Growing Heifers”
Graduate Student Presentations:
Matteus Toledo– “Effect of supplementation with rumen-protected methionine on reproduction in lactating dairy cows”
Tawny Chandler – “Methyl-donors choline and methionine differentially alter hepatic methyl carbon metabolism”
Kristina Weld – “Milk fat secretion in lactating dairy cattle is influenced by soybean fatty acid profile and particle size”
Maria-Jose Fuenzalida – “Effects of treatment of culture negative cases of clinical mastitis on somatic cell count and bacteriological outcomes”
Fei Sun – “Effect of source of non-fiber carbohydrates and level of rumen degradable protein on lactation performance and methane emission of lactating cows”
About the 2015 Showcase:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Dairy Science invites department alumni and stakeholders to attend its third annual Dairy Science Showcase on Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at campus’ Dejope Hall.
The Showcase, designed to highlight the department’s research, extension and instructional efforts, will kick-off with talks by faculty members on findings from the “Genomic Selection and Herd Management to Improve Feed Efficiency of the Dairy Industry” project. It will be followed by graduate student presentations on other current research initiatives. Participants also will have the opportunity to meet with master’s and doctoral students during a research poster session and help honor undergraduate scholarship recipients during a brief awards ceremony.
The department is a major player in the $5 million National Institute of Food and Agriculture project that will deliver genomic predictions for residual feed intake (RFI) to the dairy industry. This trait will be used to select animals that digest feed and convert it to milk and body tissue more efficiently than their herdmates. Along with collaborators at Michigan State, Iowa State, Virginia Tech, Florida, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Wageningen University (Netherlands), and the Scottish Agricultural College, the researchers have measured individual dry matter intakes of roughly 6,000 Holstein cows to date. Results of the genetic, nutritional, and management aspects of this work will be presented.
Kent Weigel, professor and chair of the dairy science department, says the primary purpose of the Showcase is to foster interactions between the department’s campus community and its alumni and industry stakeholders. “We want our alumni and stakeholders to meet our new staff, graduate students and undergrads,” he says. “We also want to recognize those who have helped support our programs by sponsoring research projects, funding scholarships and contributing in countless other ways.”
As a steward of public trust and private investment, the UW-Madison dairy science program is committed to providing cutting-edge, science-based knowledge for the industry and unparalleled training to students interested in pursuing careers in the field. The department’s goal is to improve the quality of milk and the efficiency and profitability of its production around the world.
To attend the Dairy Science Showcase, please register online by October 23rd at dysci.wisc.edu/showcase/. Registration is free and covers complementary lunches and an ice cream social for participants. All activities will be held at campus’ Dejope Hall, located at 640 Elm Drive. Parking passes can be purchased when registering for the event.
For Dairy Science Showcase sponsorship opportunities, contact:
Ted Halbach by e-mail at tjhalbach@wisc.edu or phone at (608) 219-5289.
Kent Weigel by email at kweigel@wisc.edu or phone at (608) 263-4321.