Luiz F. Ferraretto
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist - Ruminant Nutrition
60% Extension, 40% Research
1675 Observatory Dr
934F Animal Sciences Building
Madison, WI 53706
Luiz Ferraretto is originally from Brazil where he earned his B.S. in Animal Science from São Paulo State University in 2008. Immediately after the completion of his B.S. Degree, Luiz joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison for an internship (2009) followed by an M.S. (2011) and Ph.D. (2015) in dairy science with a focus on applied dairy nutrition and forage quality. After the completion of his Ph.D., Luiz joined The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute as a Post-doctoral Research Associate. From 2016 to 2020, Luiz was an Assistant Professor of Livestock Nutrition at the University of Florida. Luiz joined UW-Madison in May of 2020.
His research and extension interests are applied ruminant nutrition and management. His program is focused on understanding and improving starch and fiber utilization by dairy cows, corn silage and high-moisture corn quality and digestibility, the use of alternative by-products as feed ingredients, supplementation of feed additives to lactating cows, and the development of on-farm and laboratory techniques for forage and feed analysis.
Selected Peer-Reviewed Articles
Fernandes, T., E. M. Paula, H. Sultana, and L. F. Ferraretto. 2020. Influence of sorghum cultivar, ensiling storage length, and microbial inoculation on fermentation profile, N fractions, starch disappearance and aerobic stability of whole-plant sorghum silage. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech.
McCary, C. L., D. Vyas, A. P. Faciola, and L. F. Ferraretto. 2020. Graduate Student Literature Review: Current perspectives of whole-plant sorghum silage production and utilization by lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 103:5783-5790.
Agarussi, M. C. N., V. P. Silva, E. M. Paula, D. Vyas, A. T. Adesogan, O. G. Pereira, and L. F. Ferraretto. 2020. Effects of ensiling of whole-plant corn on silage processing score and fermentation and long-chain fatty acids profiles. Applied Anim. Sci. 36:167-171.
Saylor, B. A., F. Casale, H. Sultana, and L. F. Ferraretto. 2020. Effect of microbial inoculation and particle size on fermentation profile, aerobic stability and ruminal in situ starch disappearance of high-moisture corn ensiled for a short period. J. Dairy Sci. 103:379-395.
Adesogan, A. T., K. G. Arriola, Y. Jiang, A. Oyeabade, E. M. Paula, J. J. Romero, L. F. Ferraretto, and D. Vyas. 2019. Symposium review: Technologies for improving fiber utilization. J. Dairy Sci. 102:5726-5755.
Ferraretto, L. F., T. Fernandes, W. I. Silva Filho, H. Sultana and P. Moriel. 2018. Dry matter loss, fermentation profile and aerobic stability of wet brewers grains ensiled with or without increasing concentrations of dry ground corn. Prof. Anim. Sci. 34:642-648.
Fernandes, T., C. L. S. Avila, M. N. Pereira, and L. F. Ferraretto. 2018. Short communication: Effect of washing method, grinding size, and the determination of an indigestible fraction on in situ degradation of starch in mature corn grain. J. Dairy Sci. 101:9052-9057.
Ferraretto, L. F., B. A. Saylor, J. P. Goeser, and K. A. Bryan. 2018. Case-study: Effect of type of processor on corn silage processing score in whole-plant corn silage samples. Prof. Anim. Sci. 34:293-298.
Ferraretto, L. F., W. I. Silva Filho, T. Fernandes, D. H. Kim, and H. Sultana. 2018. Effect of ensiling time on fermentation profile and ruminal in vitro starch digestibility in rehydrated corn with or without varied concentrations of wet brewers grain. J. Dairy Sci. 101:4643-4649.
Ferraretto, L. F., R. D. Shaver, and B. D. Luck. 2018. Silage Review: Recent advances and future technologies for whole-plant and fractionated corn silage harvesting: A contemporary review. J. Dairy Sci. 101:3937-3951.
Grant, R. J., and L. F. Ferraretto. 2018. Silage Review: Silage feeding management: silage characteristics and dairy cow feeding behavior. J. Dairy Sci. 101:4111-4121.
Ferraretto, L. F., and R. D. Shaver. 2015. Impact of whole-plant corn silage hybrid type on intake, digestion, ruminal fermentation and lactation performance by dairy cows through a meta-analysis. J. Dairy Sci. 98:2662-2675.
Giuberti, G., A. Gallo, F. Masoero, L. F. Ferraretto, P. C. Hoffman, and R. D. Shaver. 2014. Factors affecting starch utilization in large animal food production system: A review. Starch/Starke. 66:72-90.
Ferraretto, L. F., P. M. Crump, and R. D. Shaver. 2013. Impact of cereal grain type and corn grain harvesting and processing methods on intake, digestion and milk production by dairy cows through a meta-analysis. J. Dairy Sci. 96:533-550.
Ferraretto, L. F., and R. D. Shaver. 2012. Meta-analysis: Effect of corn silage harvest practices on intake, digestion and milk production by dairy cows. Prof. Anim. Sci. 28:141-149.
Selected Conference Proceedings
Ferraretto, L. F., A. T. Adesogan, K. G. Arriola, E. M. Paula, and D. Vyas. 2019. Strategies to improve fiber digestibility of whole-plant corn silage. Proc. I Simpósio Internacional de Nutrição de Gado de Leite. Uberlandia, MG, Brazil. Pages 47-55.
Ferraretto, L. F. 2019. Length of silage storage: What does it change? Proc. IX Simfor. Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Pages 171-182.
Ferraretto, L. F. 2019. New perspectives on fiber and starch digestibility of corn silage. Proc. Four-State Dairy Nutr. & Mgmt. Conf. Dubuque, IA. Pages 164-169.
Ferraretto, L. F. 2019. Optimizing the role of starch as an energy source for dairy cows. In: Proc. 28th Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, Fort Wayne, IN. Pages 17-26.
Ferraretto, L. F., E. M. Paula, C. S. Ballard, C. J. Sniffen, and I. Shinzato. 2018. Impact of essential amino acid balancing postpartum on lactation performance by dairy cows. In: Proc. 29th Florida Ruminant Nutrition Symposium, Gainesville, FL. Pages 1-12.
Selected Popular Press Articles
Akins, M. and L. Ferraretto. 2020. Fermentation of frozen & thawed corn silage. MFA Forage Focus, March 2020 issue. Pages 14-15.
McCary, C., and L. Ferraretto. 2020. Re-evaluating berry processing score. Hay and Forage Grower, January, 2020 issue. Pages 30-31.
Saylor, B., and L. Ferraretto. 2019. Small-grain silage production. Progressive Forage, March 1, 2019 issue. Pages 42-43.
Ferraretto, L. 2019. Low-lignin forages in dairy diets. Hay and Forage Grower, January, 2019 issue. Pages 8-9.
Ferraretto, L. 2018. Improving the nutritive value of corn silage. Progressive Forage, December 1, 2018 issue. Pages 16-17.
Ferraretto, L. 2018. Good silage: a matter of fermentation and stability. Hay and Forage Grower, April/May, 2018 issue. Pages 34-35.
Wallau, M., B. Justesen, L. Ferraretto, A. Blount, and G. Aiken. 2018. Mycotoxins in Florida Pastures. Factsheet for the Beef and Forage Field Day. Kenansville, Osceola Co., FL. April 6, 2018.
Ferraretto, L. 2018. Longer storage length – What does it change? Vita Plus Forage Foundation Newsletter, January 25th, 2018 issue.
Ferraretto, L. 2018. You can manipulate silage fiber digestibility. Hay and Forage Grower, January, 2018 issue. Page 20-21.
Ferraretto, L. 2017. Adjust rations for sorghum silage. Hay and Forage Grower, April/May, 2017 issue. Page 24-25.
Ferraretto, L. 2017. Poor kernel processing impacts the bottom line. Hay and Forage Grower, January, 2017 issue. Page 26-27.
Selected Videos
Presentation: Impact of essential amino acid balancing postpartum on lactation performance by dairy cows
Presentation: Keys to improve the nutritive value of corn silage
Member – CALS Ag Research Stations Committee
Member – ADSA 2020 Program Committee – Forages and Pastures
Associate Editor – Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia / Brazilian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2018 to present
Reviewer, several journals related to agriculture and animal sciences, 2015 to present