Jennifer Van Os is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare on the faculty of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Van Os received her PhD in the interdisciplinary Animal Behavior graduate program at the University of California-Davis and conducted postdoctoral research in the Animal Welfare Program at the University of British Columbia. The research in her lab at UW-Madison focuses on understanding, evaluating, and improving the welfare of dairy animals from biological- and social-science perspectives. The goal of Dr. Van Os’ extension program is to promote best practices in management and housing to help the dairy industry adapt as our scientific knowledge about animal welfare continues to grow.
Select Peer-Reviewed Publications
Salter, R., K. Reuscher, and J.M.C. Van Os. 2021. Milk- and starter-feeding strategies to reduce cross sucking in pair-housed calves in outdoor hutches. Journal of Dairy Science 104:6096-6112.
Saraceni, J., C.B. Winder, D.L. Renaud, C. Miltenberg, E. Nelson, and J.M.C. Van Os. 2021 In Press. Disbudding and dehorning practices for pre-weaned dairy calves by farmers in Wisconsin, USA. Journal of Dairy Science.
Van Os, J.M.C, S.A. Goldstein, D.M. Weary, and M.A.G. von Keyserlingk. 2021 In Press.
Van Os, J.M.C., G.S.S. Nemeth, D.. Weary, and Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk. 2021 In Press. Strategies to encourage freestall use in dairy heifers. JDS Communications.
Foris, B., L.G. Mangilli, J.M.C. Van Os, M.A.G. von Keyserlingk, J.A. Fregonesi, and D.M. Weary. 2021 In Press. Individual and environmental factors associated with defecation while lying down in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science.
Chung, H., J. Li, Y. Kim, J.M.C. Van Os, S.H. Brounts, C.Y. Choi. 2020. Using implantable biosensor and wearable scanners to monitor dairy cattle heat stress in real-time. Computers in Agriculture 174:105453.
Van Os, J.M.C., D.M. Weary, J.H.C. Costa, M.J. Hötzel, M.A.G. von Keyserlingk. 2019. Sampling strategies for assessing lameness, injuries, and body condition score on dairy farms. Journal of Dairy Science 102:8290-8304.
Wang, X., H. Gao, K.G. Gebremedhin, B. Schmidt Bjerg, J. Van Os, C.B. Tucker, G. Zhang. 2018. A predictive model of Equivalent Temperature Index for dairy cattle (ETIC). Journal of Thermal Biology 76:165-170.
Van Os, J.M.C., E.M. Mintline, T.J. DeVries, C.B. Tucker. 2018. Domestic cattle (Bos taurus taurus) are motivated to obtain forage and will demonstrate contrafreeloading. PLoS ONE 0193109.
Van Os, J.M.C., C. Winckler, J. Trieb, S.V. Matarazzo, T.W. Lehenbauer, J.D. Champagne, C.B. Tucker. 2018. Reliability of sampling strategies for measuring dairy cattle welfare on commercial farms. Journal of Dairy Science 101:1495-1504.
Van Os, J.M. C., E.M. Mintline, T.J. DeVries, C.B. Tucker. 2017. Motivation of naïve feedlot cattle to obtain grain and individual responses to novelty. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 197:68-74.
Chen (Van Os), J.M., C.L. Stull, D.N. Ledgerwood, C.B. Tucker. 2017. Muddy conditions reduce hygiene and lying time in dairy cattle and increase time spent on concrete. Journal of Dairy Science 100:2090-2103.
Chen (Van Os), J.M., K.E. Schütz, C.B. Tucker. 2016. Technical note: Comparison of instantaneous sampling and continuous observation of dairy cattle behavior in freestall housing. Journal of Dairy Science 99:8341-8346.
Chen (Van Os), J.M., K.E. Schütz, C.B. Tucker. 2016. Cooling cows efficiently with water spray: Behavioral, physiological, and production responses to sprinklers at the feed bunk. Journal of Dairy Science 99:4607-4618.
Select Book Chapters
Miller-Cushon, E., J.M.C. Van Os. 2021. Advances in understanding behavioral needs and improving the welfare of calves and heifers. Chapter 8 in Understanding the Behavior and Improving the Welfare of Dairy Cattle, edited by M. Endres. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK. ISBN: 978 1 78676 459 1.
Van Os, J.M.C. 2019. Considerations for cooling dairy cows with water. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 35:157-173. Housing to Optimize Comfort, Health and Productivity of Dairy Cattle, edited by N.B. Cook.
Select Conference Proceedings
Van Os, J. 2019. Animal welfare: Critical for the cow, the producer, and the consumer. Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA.
Van Os, J.M.C. 2019. Welfare of dairy calves and heifers: Relevance to the animal, the producer, and the consumer. Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Conference. Middleton, WI.
Van Os, J.M.C. 2018. Animal Welfare: Current trends for dairy cattle and relevance to the AI sector. National Association of Animal Breeders 27th Technical Conference on Artificial Insemination and Reproduction. Green Bay, WI.
Select Popular Press Articles
Van Os, J., T. Kohlman, E. Miller-Cushon, and T. Ollivett. 2020. Why all the fuss about pair housing? Article #1 in Two heads are better than one: A starter guide to pairing dairy calves. http://animalwelfare.cals.wisc.edu/calf_pairing/
Van Os, J., J. Costa, T. Kohlman, and T. Ollivett. 2021. Benchmarks for calf health before pair housing. Article #2 in Two heads are better than one: A starter guide to pairing dairy calves. http://animalwelfare.cals.wisc.edu/calf_pairing/
Van Os, J., C. Halbach, T. Kohlman, T. Ollivett, and D. Sockett. 2021. Hygiene practices. Article #3 in Two heads are better than one: A starter guide to pairing dairy calves. http://animalwelfare.cals.wisc.edu/calf_pairing/
Van Os, J., C. Halbach, T. Kohlman, and T. Ollivett. 2021. Options for housing pairs or groups. Article #4 in Two heads are better than one: A starter guide to pairing dairy calves. http://animalwelfare.cals.wisc.edu/calf_pairing/
Van Os, J., C. Halbach, T. Kohlman, T. Ollivett, and E. Miller-Cushon. 2021. Grouping strategies. Article #5 in Two heads are better than one: A starter guide to pairing dairy calves. http://animalwelfare.cals.wisc.edu/calf_pairing/
Van Os, J., E. Miller-Cushon, T. Kohlman, and T. Ollivett. 2021. Feeding practices and reducing cross sucking. Article #6 in Two heads are better than one: A starter guide to pairing dairy calves. http://animalwelfare.cals.wisc.edu/calf_pairing/
Stuttgen, S., J. Van Os, S. Adcock, and T. Kohlman. 2020. Disbudding and dehorning considerations. Article #7 in Two heads are better than one: A starter guide to pairing dairy calves. http://animalwelfare.cals.wisc.edu/calf_pairing/
Robbins, J., B. Ventura, J. Van Os. 2020. How do we maintain consumer confidence when it comes to animal care? Hoard’s Dairyman.
Van Os, J. and R. Salter. 2020. Appropriate alternatives reduce cross sucking. Agri-View.
Van Os, J. 2020. Keeping dairy calves in hutches cool and comfortable. Wisconsin State Farmer.
Van Os, J. 2020. Pairing dairy calves using hutches for housing. Wisconsin State Farmer.
Van Os, J. 2019. For dairy calves, two – or more – heads are better than one. Wisconsin State Farmer.
Van Os, J. 2019. Let cows choose. Dairy’s Bottom Line.
Van Os, J. 2019. Animal welfare should be a strength for a dairy operation, not a threat. Wisconsin State Farmer.
Van Os, J. 2019. Animal care includes providing dairy cattle with opportunities for important behaviors. Progressive Dairy.
Select Videos
UW Dairy Animal Welfare Specialist Thankful for the Cows. Wisconsin Life. 24 December, 2019. https://www.wisconsinlife.org/story/uw-dairy-animal-welfare-specialist-thankful-for-the-cows/ or https://pbswisconsin.org/watch/wisconsin-life/cow-comfort-zzuqtb/
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences Extension and Outreach Committee
Mentorship Opportunities in Science & Agriculture for Individuals of Color (MOSAIC)
UW Faculty Senate Alternate
UW-Madison Division of Extension, Agriculture Institute: Advisory Committee to the Institute Director; Equity Committee, Hiring & Retention Workgroup
UW-Extension Wisconsin Dairy & Beef Cattle Well-Being Conference planning committee
Four-State Dairy Nutrition & Management Conference planning committee
International Conference on Production Diseases (ICPD) in Farm Animals: 2022 conference planning committee
USDA-NIFA-AFRI Foundational & Applied Science Program, Animal Welfare & Well-Being program area priority (A1251) – Panel Manager, Panelist
International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE): Communications Officer (2016-2020); Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce