Project Type: Graduate student assistantship
-
Defining and enhancing the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of bacterial communities on wooden cheese boards
This project is exploring how naturally occurring bacteria on wooden cheese-aging boards can help protect cheese from Listeria monocytogenes, a major food safety concern for the dairy industry. Researchers have…
-
Productivity of forages in a short-corn silage and alfalfa inter-seeding system
This project explores a new way for Wisconsin dairy farmers to grow two important forage crops, corn silage and alfalfa, in the same field at the same time. Traditionally, farmers…
-
Sustainable intensification of corn silage-livestock systems under tile drainage
This project aims to help Wisconsin dairy farmers boost forage production and protect water quality by testing a “stacked” system of practices in tiled corn‑silage fields. Researchers will evaluate how…
-
Impact of whey protein phospholipid concentrate supplementation on steoporosis and sarcopenia
As people age, they often lose muscle and bone strength, which can lead to frailty, poor mobility, and a higher risk of fractures—especially in postmenopausal women. Our research explores how…
-
Evaluating novel dietary strategies to enhance nitrogen utilization efficiency in dairy cows
Microbial true protein (MTP), produced in a cow’s rumen, is a key protein source, but only about 80% is digestible in the small intestine. By increasing MTP digestibility, researchers hope…
-
Engineering beyond the brown midrib phenotype: Using tissue- and cell-type specific engineering to improve the agronomic traits of digestible brown midrib maize mutants
Brown midrib (bm) maize mutants are known for their improved forage digestibility, but they often suffer from poor plant growth, limiting their use on farms. This project aims to genetically…
-
The antimicrobial dilemma: Exploring the effects of prophylactic antimicrobials on microbial colonization and immune development in dairy calves
The preweaning period is one of the most vulnerable stages in a dairy calf’s life, with high rates of illness and death still common across North America. While antibiotics have…
-
Fluidized bed drying (FBD) vs. spray drying (SD) of liquid whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC): oxidate self-life, in-vitro digestion, and therapeutic potential
Whey Protein Phospholipid Concentrate (WPPC) is prone to oxidation during processing and storage, which reduces its quality and value. This project explores a new fluidized bed drying (FBD) method that…
-
Assessing the functionality of a promising new dairy ingredient (WPPC) on the health of post-menopausal women
Whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC), a byproduct of whey protein production, is often discarded or used as animal feed, despite being rich in valuable nutrients like choline. This project aims…
-
Genomic solutions to reduce fetal loss in dairy cattle
Pregnancy loss after 42 days of gestation is a major barrier to reproductive efficiency in dairy herds, impacting animal welfare, milk production, and farm profitability. This graduate research project will…
