Project Type: Faculty fellowship (UW-RF, UW-P)
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Plasma treatment of Condensate of Whey (COW) water for sustainable dairy cleaning applications: a bench-scale study
Dairy processing requires large amounts of water—especially for cleaning and sanitation—which creates both environmental and cost challenges for the industry. This project focuses on finding a more sustainable solution by…
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Protein and energy metabolites as predictors of postpartum reproductive recovery in dairy cows
Dairy cows face significant challenges in the weeks after calving, when the demands of milk production can outpace their nutritional intake. This “transition period” often leads to delays in reproductive…
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The future of dairy entrepreneurship through the PYLot project
Wisconsin has lost nearly 70 percent of its dairy farms over the past 25 years, even as milk production has remained strong due to advances in technology and efficiency. While…
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Short-stature corn as a sustainable alternative for silage production: agronomic efficiency and economic feasibility
This research examines whether short-stature corn can serve as a strong replacement for traditional brown midrib (bm3) corn in dairy silage production, especially as bm3 hybrids are expected to be…
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Beyond feed: an alternative safety net for Midwest dairies through non-feed cost reduction
This research explores a key challenge facing Midwest dairy farms: even when milk prices are stable, many farms—especially small and mid-sized operations—still struggle financially because of rising non-feed costs like…
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Export market concentration and dairy price risk: implications for Wisconsin farm businesses
This project examines how Wisconsin’s dairy industry is increasingly reliant on a small number of export markets and how that dependence affects price stability for farmers. Dairy exports—especially products like…
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Molecular epidemiology of pathogens isolated from subclinical mastitis cases in Wisconsin dairy cows
This research focuses on subclinical mastitis, a common but often unnoticed infection in dairy cows that can quietly reduce milk quality and production. Even though infected cows may look healthy,…
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Farm GPT (herd pilot): custom LLM advisor for dairy cow health monitoring with precision data for bovine management
Dairy farming in Wisconsin and across the United States is becoming increasingly complex. Farmers must balance animal health, milk production, feed efficiency, labor management, and environmental conditions—all while operating within…
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Tracing the legacy: baseline assessment of potentially toxic trace metals under long-term manure application
This research project evaluates how long-term manure application on dairy farms influences the buildup of potentially toxic trace metals in soil, crops, water, and manure itself. By comparing fields with…
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Captive bolt placement effects on tissue depth and thalamic damage in dairy cattle cadavers
This project aims to improve the effectiveness of penetrating captive bolt (PCB) stunning and euthanasia in cattle by refining placement recommendations based on anatomical evidence. Specifically, it focuses on three…
