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Michel A. Wattiaux

Wattiaux Lab

Professor - Dairy Systems Management

Teaching, Research

Phone

608-263-3493

Email

wattiaux@wisc.edu

Website

https://kb.wisc.edu/dairynutrient/

Office Location

1675 Observatory Dr
Room 648 Animal Sciences
Madison, WI 53706

From a Family Dairy Farm in Belgium to a Ph.D. in Dairy Science … Michel was very involved in the daily work of the family dairy farm where he grew up in Belgium in the sixties and seventies. The thirst for knowledge to better manage the farm was a powerful motivator as he became a first-generation College student. In 1985 Michel came to UW-Madison and earned a Ph.D. in Dairy Science. 

Ten years of International Dairy Extension… Michel began to work with the “Babcock Institute for International Research and Development” of the University of Wisconsin, Madison shortly after its inception in 1992. While at the Institute, he authored four dairy management-related books in a series of “Technical Dairy Guides” and 35 “Dairy Essentials”, which have been translated in six languages (Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese and Turkish) and have been distributed in more than 80 countries.     

Assistant Professor in Dairy Science: Dairy Nutrition… In 2000, Michel joined the faculty of the Department of Dairy Science as an assistant professor with responsibilities in instruction (70%) and Dairy Systems Management research (30%). He revamped a senior level ruminant nutrition course and created five other undergraduate courses. His research focused on Nitrogen utilization of dairy cattle, which led to a Patent on the use of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) as a nutritional and environmental management tool for dairy producers. Michel was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure on the basis of excellence in teaching in the spring of 2006. 

Associate Professor: Research and Teaching at a more “Global Scale” … Michel’s research program has focused on cow-level and farm-level nutritional strategies that reduce the undesirable impact of dairy production on air and water quality. His research seeks to enhance animal productivity and efficiency of production while reducing the emission of compounds known to have negative impacts on human health, the balance of natural ecosystems, and climate change (including for example ammonia, nitrate, nitrous oxide and methane). This research seeks to create “win-win” situations, making farms more economically profitable (reducing feed costs) and more friendly to the environmental and human health. To address these issues at a more “global scale,” Michel has forged networks of collaborations with scientists from Canada, France, Mexico, Costa-Rica, Peru, and Colombia. Michel’s meritorious activities during this period of his career have been recognized by a series of honors and awards (see below). Michel was promoted to Full Professor in the spring of 2011. 

Full Professor: Sustainability of Agriculture and Food Systems… As a full Professor, Michel has continued to expand the boundaries of his scholarship as he challenged himself to research and teach new courses that delve not only on the technological aspects of farming but also in the environmental and social dimensions of agriculture and food systems. Since March 2019, Michel has served as interim Director of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS). The center that was established in 1989 to address issues in sustainable agriculture and food systems using participatory action research methods, strong community engagement and interdisciplinary faculty collaboration. 

More about Dr. Wattiaux is available here. 

Select Peer-Reviewed Articles

Letelier, P. H. A. Aguirre-Villegas, M. Chacón Navarro, and M. A. Wattiaux. Dual-purpose cattle systems in developing countries: Milk to meat ratio dramatically alter allocation of enteric methane to milk or human-edible protein. Global Environmental Change (in review).

Martinez-García, C. G., C. Clugston, C. M. Arriaga-Jordán, J. Olmos-Colmenero, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2021. Strategies to mitigate economic hardship among family dairy farms of Central Mexico. Experimental Agriculture 33:1-10 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479721000077.

Lobos, N., M. A. Wattiaux, and G. A. Broderick. 2021. Effect of rumen-protected lysine supplementation on diets based on corn-protein fed to lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 104:6620-6632 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-19835.

Uddin, M. E., R. A. Larson, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2020. Effects of dairy cow manure and dietary forage on greenhouse gas emissions from manure during storage and after field application. J. Cleaner Production. (In press.). 

Uddin, U. Md., O. Santana, K. Weigel, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2020. Enteric methane, lactation performances, digestibility, and metabolism of nitrogen and energy of Holsteins and Jerseys fed 2 levels of forage fiber from alfalfa silage or corn silage. J. Dairy Sci. 103:6087-6099. 

Tricaricio, J., E. Kebreab, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2020. Sustainability of dairy production and consumption in low-income countries with emphasis on productivity and environmental impact. J. Dairy Sci. (In press).  

Danes, M. A. C., M. D. Hanigan, S. I. Arriola Apelo, J. D. L. Dias, M. A. Wattiaux, and G. A. Broderick. 2020. Postabsorptive glucose and casein, but not acetate, stimulate milk protein synthesis in dairy cows through differential effects on mammary metabolism. J. Dairy Sci. 103:6218-6232. 

Aguerre, M. J., B. Duval, J. M. Powell, P. Vadas, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2019. Effects of feeding a quebracho-chestnut tannin extract on lactating cow performance and nitrogen utilization efficiency. J. Dairy Sci. 103:2264-2271. 

Santana, O., J. J. Olmos Colmenero, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2019. Replacing alfalfa hay with triticale hay has minimal impacts on lactation performance and nitrogen utilization of dairy cows in a semi-arid region of Mexico J. Dairy Sci. 102:8546-8558. 

Velarde-Guillén, D. Pellerin, C. Benchaar, M. A. Wattiaux, and E. Charbonneau. 2019. Development of an equation to estimate the enteric emissions from Holstein dairy cows in Canada. Canadian Journal of Animal Science (https://doi.org/10.1139/CJAS-2018-0241 ) 

Favre, J., T Munoz Castiblanco, D. E. Combs, M. A. Wattiaux, and V. D. Picasso. 2019. Forage Nutritive value and digestibility of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass in monoculture and in mixture with red clover. Animal Feed Science and Technology (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2019.114298). 

Wattiaux, M. A., M. E. Uddin, P. Letelier, R. D. Jackson, and R. A. Larson. 2019. Invited Review: Emission and mitigation of greenhouse gases from dairy farms: The cows, the manure, and the field. Larson. Applied Animal Sciences 35 (2):238-254. 

(Dataset) Barford, Carol; Sun, Fei, Aguerre, Matias, J. Wattiaux, Michel A. 2019. Data from: Starch and dextrose at 2 levels of rumen-degradable protein in iso-nitrogenous diets: Effects on lactation performance, ruminal measurements, methane emission, digestibility, and nitrogen balance of dairy cows. USDA National Agricultural Library: Ag Data Commons. (http://dx.doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/1503442). 

Sun, F., M. J., and M. A. Wattiaux. 2019. Starch and dextrose at 2 levels of rumen degradable protein in iso-nitrogenous diets: Effects on lactation performance, ruminal parameters, methane emission, digestibility, and N balance of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 102:1281-1293 (http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15041). 

Barros, T., K. Reed, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2018. Short Communication: Milk urea-N as a predictor of N and urea-N excretion in urine of late-lactation dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 102:1601-1607. 

Pellerin, D., E. Charbonneau, L. Fadul-Pacheco, O. Soucy, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2017. Economic impact of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus mass balance on Wisconsin and Québec dairy farms. J. Dairy Sci. 100(10):8614-8629 (http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11984). 

Arndt, C., J.M. Powell, M. J. Aguerre, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2015. Performance, digestion, nitrogen balance, manure ammonia, enteric methane and carbon dioxide emissions of lactating cows fed varying dietary ratios of alfalfa silage and corn silage. J. Dairy Sci. 98(1):418-430. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2013. Change in students’ self-reported learning gains and worldviews in a Discussion-driven international livestock agriculture classroom. NACTA J. 57(3):83-90. 

Aguerre, M. J., M. A. Wattiaux, J. M. Powell and G. Broderick, and C. Arndt. 2011. Effect of forage to concentrate ratio in dairy cow diets on emission of methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia, lactation performance and manure excretion. J. Dairy Sci. 94:3081-3093. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2010. Excellence in teaching for promotion and tenure in animal and dairy sciences at doctoral/research universities: A faculty perspective. J. Dairy Sci. 93:3365-3376. 

Wattiaux, M. A. and P. Crump. 2005. Students’ perception of a discussion-driven classroom environment in an upper level ruminant nutrition course with small enrollment. J. Dairy Sci. 89:343-352. 

Wattiaux, M. A. and K. L. Karg. 2004. Protein level for alfalfa and corn silage-based diets: II. Nitrogen balance and manure characteristics.  J. Dairy Sci. 87:3492-3502. 

Wattiaux, M. A., D. R. Mertens, and L. D. Satter. 1991. Effect of the source and amount of fiber on digestion and specific gravity kinetics of forages in the rumen. J. Dairy Sci. 74:3872-3883. 

Select Books & Book Chapters

Wattiaux, M. A. 2019. Desafío de la Agricultura Ganadea Frente al Cambio Climático. Pg 33-47 In: Experiencias Ganaderas, Agrícolas, y Forestales en la Conservación de Recursos Naturales. ICAR, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx). 

Wattiaux, Michel A., Matias A. Aguerre and Sanjeewa D. Ranathunga, ‘Sustainable nutrition management of dairy cattle in intensive systems’, in J. Webster (ed.), Achieving sustainable production of milk Volume 3: Dairy herd management and welfare, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, 2017, Cambridge, United Kingdom (print ISBN: 978 1 78676 052 4). 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2017. Dairy sector across the world: National trends and opportunities for sustainable growth. Pp 3-18 in Large Dairy Herd Management, 3rd ed. American Dairy Science Association (https://doi.org/10.3168/ldhm.01101).  

Wattiaux, M. 2015. Decoding and Encoding the “DNA” of Teaching and Learning in Institutions of Higher Education, pp 1-8, Ch 1 in: Molecular and Quantitative Animal Genetic, Wiley Blackwell (ISBN: 978-1-118-67740-7). 

Wattiaux, M. 2012. Recognizing and Promoting Effective Teaching and Learning Practice Among Future and Current Instructors: Laying New Ground for the 21st Century pp 43-66 In Proceedings of a National Conference on Teaching and Learning in the Animal Sciences: Challenging Old Assumptions and Breaking New Ground for the 21st Century. University of Wisconsin System Boards of Regents (ISBN 978-1-59215-157-4) 

Wattiaux, M.A., J. Blazek, and J. J. Olmos Colmenero. 2012. An Overview of the Mexican Family Dairy Production System: Result of Research done in Altos, Jalisco, Mexico. Babcock Institute Discussion paper 2012-2 (51 pp).  The Babcock Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Van Eyck, M., L. Van Toll, and M. Wattiaux. 2012. Engaging Science Faculty in Internationalization: Teaching Innovation at UW-Madison. Institute of International Education Networker (IIEN), Spring 2012:28-31 Available at http://www.iiebooks.org/iisp20enfain.html 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2008. Chapter 11: Signature Pedagogy in Agriculture: Animal and Dairy Sciences, Pp 207-223, In: Exploring Signature Pedagogies: Approaches to Teaching Disciplinary Habits of Mind. R. Gurung, N. Chick and H. Aeron (Eds). Stylus Publishing 

Zartman, D. L. and M. A. Wattiaux. 2004. The Dairy Industry (13 pp). In: Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources, Agricultural Sciences, edited by Rattan Lal, in: Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), developed under the auspices of the UNESCO, Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK (http://www.eolss.net) 

Wattiaux, M. A. 1999. Dairy Essentials: Nutrition & Feeding, Reproduction & Genetic Selection, Lactation & Milking, and Raising Dairy Heifers. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (140 pp). 

Wattiaux, M. A. 1996. Technical Dairy Guide: Dairy Heifer Raising. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (125 pp). 

Wattiaux, M. A.  1995. Technical Dairy Guide: Reproduction and Genetic Selection. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (161 pp). 

Homan, E. J. and M. A. Wattiaux. 1995. Technical Dairy Guide: Lactation and Milking. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (94 pages). 

Wattiaux, M. A. and T. W. Howard. 1994. Technical Dairy Guide: Feeding and Nutrition. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (121 pages). 

Select Conference Proceedings

Wattiaux, M. A. 2021. Sustainability of the dairy sector: Challenges and opportunities. Invited presentation at the 1st Virtual Scientific Symposium of the Sherbrooke Research and Development Center, June 9-10 2021; Sherbrooke, Canada.

Wattiaux, M. A. 2020. Use of technology to increase interest in learning (in small enrollment, discussion-based courses); Invited presentation, June , 2020, Online National meetings of ADSA. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2019. Educación universitaria en el siglo XXI: un cambio de paradigma hacia la educación centrada en el estudiante. Keynote Invited Presentation Jornada de Reflexión y Capacitación en Nuevas Tendencias en Formación Docente, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Julio 22-23; Bogotá, Colombia. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2018. Taking College Education into the 21st Century: A Paradigm Shift Toward Student Centered Education. Keynote Invited Presentation Congreso Internacional de Innovaión Educativa en Tema Agrarios (CIIETA) 17-19 Octubre Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Perú. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2018. Invited Review: Mitigación de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en lecherías (La vaca, el Estiércol, el campo) – Con énfasis sobre la contribución de óxido nitroso en Sistema estabulado de Wisconsin EEUU. Webinar invited presentation CATIE, Fontagro, Nov 13, 2018. 

Wattiaux, M. A., M. E. Uddin, P. Letelier, R. D. Jackson, and R. A. Larson. 2018. Invited Review: Emission and mitigation of greenhouse gases from dairy farms: The cows, the manure, and the field. Invited presentation at the ARPAS symposium: Sustainable Dairy Production at the 2018 ADSA Annual Meeting in Knowxville Tennessee TN. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2018. College Classroom as active learning environment. Invited presentation, June 24, 2018, National meetings of ADSA, June 24, 2018, Knoxville, Tennessee. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2017. Challenging the Status Quo: Moving university teaching and learning into the 21st century. Invited presentation, August 18, 2017, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia. 

Ranathunga, S. and M. A. Wattiaux. 2017. Dairy Production Systems: Nitrous oxide emissions and its relationship with dietary crude protein and milk urea-N. Invited presentation 3rd conferencía de gases a efecto invernadero en sistemas agropecuarias de Latinoamérica (GALA); 4-6 October, INIA, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2017. Visión general de la alimentación de las vacas lecheras y aspectos particulares de la nutrición proteica / Overview of dairy cow nutrition and particular aspects of protein nutrition. Xl Reunión Científica Anual Asociación Peruana de Producción Animal (APPA), August 1-3 2017, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas (UNTRM) Chachapoyas, Peru. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2017. Retos de la ganadería ante el cambio climático / Challenges of the livestock facing climate change. 5° Simposio Internacional sobre Producción Animal, 17-18 de Mayo 2017, Temascaltepec, México. 

Wattiaux, M. A. and H. Busse. 2017. How livestock systems could better contribute to health, nutrition and sustainable livelihood in Ethiopia. 25th Annual Conference Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP) August 24-25, 2017, Haramaya Universtity, Ethiopia. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2016. Reto de la Ganadería ante el Cambio Climático. Invited Presentation. Foro Ganadería Sustentable en Territorios de Montaña de México. Reto y Oportunidades de Los Sistemas Agrosilvopastoriles en Áreas Protegidas. June 30 – July 3, 2016. 

Wattiaux, M. A. and S. Ranathunga. 2016. Milk urea Nitrogen as a tool to assess efficiency of Nitrogen utilization in dairy cows, pp 79-88 in Proceedings of Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference (Dubuque Iowa, June 15-16, 2016). 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2016. Dairy sector across the world: National trends and opportunities for sustainable growth. Large Dairy Herd Management Conference, Oak Brook, IL, May 1-4, 2016. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2015. Scholarship of Teaching: What are the best methods of conducting research in teaching? Invited presentation, Joint Annual Meetings, July 12-16, Orlando Florida. 

Wattiaux, M.A. 2014. Comparative digestion strategies and protein nutrition of lactating dairy cow, sheep and Goats. Pp 52-68 in Seminario Internacional Ensminger School. Avances en Producción Animal en América Latina. Nov. 5-7, 2014, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru. Available here.  

Wattiaux, M.A. 2013. Hacia el logro de la Excelencia y Erudicion en la enseñanza. Workshop Congreso Internacional: Innovación de la Enseñanza Universitaria en Agricultura Y Recursos Naturales, 15-17 Octubre Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Perú. 

Wattiaux, M. A. Recognizing and Promoting Effective Teaching and Learning Practice Among Future and Current Instructors: Laying New Ground for the 21st Century. 2012. Invited presentation, National Conference on Teaching and Learning in the Animal Sciences. UW-Madison, WI, Pyle Ctr. June 22, 2012. 

Select Popular Press Articles

Wattiaux, M. A. 2013. Are we graduating the right graduates? To ensure the dairy industry will thrive, we must focus on transferring vital knowledge, developing the proper skills and providing valuable experience. Hoard’s Dairyman April 25, 2013:275.

Cabrera, V. E., R.D. Shaver, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2009. Free spreadsheet lets you ask feeding “what ifs” Hoard’s Dairyman June 2009:400.   

Wattiaux, M. A., J.J. Olmos Colmenero, and O. Reynoso Campos. 2008. What Dairying is like in Mexico.  National Statistics Cloud the Complexity of the Mexican Dairy Industry. Why Aren’t Mexican Producers Able to Grow Domestic Production to Meet National Demand? Hoard’s Dairyman July 2008:462.  

Wattiaux, M. A., J.J. Olmos Colmenero, and O. Reynoso Campos. 2008. Cómo es la Producción de leche en México. Hoard’s Dairyman en Español October 2008:600-601. 

Wattiaux, M. A., J.J. Olmos Colmenero, J. R. Blazek y M.E. Castellanos Sevilla. 2008. Análisis de eficiencia de la utilización de nitrógeno y fósforo en granjas lecheras de Los Altos de Jasilsco. Gaceta CUALTOS 1 (enero/febrero): 6-7. 

Wattiaux, M. A. 2005. What can MUNs really tell us? Hoard’s Dairymam. 150:697. 

Select Posters

Letelier, P., G. I. Zanton, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2020. Effects of dietary crude protein level on lactation performance, feed efficiency, and nitrogen use efficiency of dairy cows at different stages of lactation. J. Dairy Sci. Vol 103 (Suppl. 1):136

Wattiaux, M. A. 2019. Changing students’ worldviews on animal agriculture and global sustainable development. UW-Madison, CALS Global Symposium April 9, 2019. 

Letelier, P., F. Contreras-Góvea, B. Albarrán-Portillo, F. De Kassia Gomes, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2019. Effects of the interaction between cow phenotypic milk urea nitrogen and dietary crude protein on milk production responses and efficiency. ADSA 2019. 

Uddin, M. E., O. I. Santana, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2019. Nitrogen and energy balance of primiparous Holstein and Jersey cows fed 2 levels and 2 sources of forage neutral detergent fiber. ADSA 2019.  

Letelier, P., M. Chacón, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2018. Critical evaluation of functional unit and co-products handling methods to assess the environmental impact of dual purpose cattle system: A case study in Costa Rica. 10th International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 2-6 September, 2018. 

Reed, K., M. J. Powell, T. Barros, M. Danes, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2018. Kinteics of nitrogen excretion in milk and excretion in urine and faeces of four common dairy feeds intrinsically enriched with 15N. 10th International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 2-6 September, 2018. 

Uddin, M. E., O. I. Santana, T. Wickert, D. D’Huyvetter, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2018. Enteric methane emission of lactating Holstein and Jersey cows fed two levels and two sources of forage neutral detergent fibre. 10th International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 2-6 September, 2018. 

Aguerre, M. J., F. Sun, J. M. Powell, K. Weigel, A. Pelletier, P. Crump, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2017. Effects of contrasting predicted residual feed intake on performance and CH4 emission of dairy cows fed 2 levels of forage neutral detergent fiber. ADSA. 

Letelier, P., F. Contreras-Góvea, B. Albarrán-Portillo, F. De Kassia Gomes, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2018. Effects of dietary crude protein on the performance of cows grouped based on high or low phenotypic milk urea nitrogen. PDPW Business Conference. 

Stefanos, S., M. A. Wattiaux, E. Silva, and A. Morales. Using debate preparation in and interdisciplinary, capstone-like college course to promote critical thinking about food systems, sustainability and climate change. UW-Madison Teaching and Learning Symposium. 

Wattiaux, M. A., J. P. Iñamagua-Uyaguari, F. Casasola-Coto, L. Guerra-Alarcón and A. Jenet. Partial carbon footprint of milk and interaction between enteric methane and nitrous oxide emissions in grazing dairy farms: The case of Costa Rica. ADSA/ASAS 2016. 

Aguerre, M. J., A. Pelletier, J. M. Powell, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2016. Intake, milk production, and methane emission of dairy cows fed diets that differ in ruminal in vitro NDF digestibility. ADSA/ASAS 2016. 

Fadul-Pacheco, L., D. Pellerin, P. Y. Chouinard, M. A. Wattiaux, M. Duplessis, and E. Charbonneau. 2016. Nitrogen efficiency on commercial dairy farms: impact on production performance and herd profitability. ADSA/ASAS 2016. 

Select Extension Publications

Horacio Aguirre-Villegas, Michel Wattiaux, Rebecca A. Larson, Larry Chase, Sanjeewa Ranathunga, Matthew D. Ruark. 2017. Dairy cow nitrogen efficiency. UW-Extension Learning Store UWEX A4131-08, GWQ080 https://learningstore.uwex.edu 

Horacio Aguirre-Villegas, Rebecca A. Larson, and Matthew D. Ruark, Di Liang, Michel Wattiaux, Larry Chase, Victor Cabrera. 2017. Mitigation of enteric methane emissions from dairy cows. UW-Extension Learning Store UWEX A4131-08, GWQ080 https://learningstore.uwex.edu  

Horacio Aguirre-Villegas, Rebecca A. Larson, and Matthew D. Ruark, Di Liang, Michel Wattiaux, Larry Chase, Victor Cabrera. 2017. Accounting techniques for enteric methane emissions from dairy cows. UW-Extension Learning Store UWEX A4131-07, GWQ079 https://learningstore.uwex.edu  

Sun, F., M. Aguerre, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2017. Intake and digestibility of nutrients, manure production, and nitrogen excretion as affected by nonfiber carbohydrate sources and rumen degradable protein levels in the diet of dairy cows eXtension: https://articles.extension.org/pages/74268/intake-and-digestibility-of-nutrients-manure-production-and-nitrogen-excretion-as-affected-by-nonfib  

Aguirre-Villegas, H., B. A. Larson, M. D. Ruark, D. Liang, V. Cabrera and M. A. Wattiaux. 2017. Sustainable Dairy Fact Sheet Series: Mitigation of Enteric Methane Emissions from Dairy Cows, eXtension http://articles.extension.org/category/main  

Lab Information

Undergraduate Courses

Dy Sci 471 – Food Production and Sustainability (3 credits, Spring)
Course Description: This advanced interdisciplinary course delves into aspects of natural sciences (biology and agricultural sciences) and social sciences underpinning the assessment of food production systems as related to a variety of outcomes including but not restricted to human and environmental health, air and water quality, greenhouse gases emission, land use, economic opportunity, social justice, as well as mitigation and adaptation to climate change, both domestically and globally.
Requirements: (Graduate or professional standing) or junior standing and satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) B requirement

Dy Sci 472 – Animal Agriculture and Global Sustainable Development (1 credit, Spring)
Course Description: Interactive lectures and class activities focusing on global agricultural and rural development issues (trade, immigration, poverty, gender, health, etc.) followed by a discussion of the relationship between US and the Mexican Dairy industries.
Requirements: Consent of instructor. 

Dy Sci 473 – Study Abroad Field Trip Program in Mexico (2 credit, Summer (May))
Course Description: Two-week program in central Mexico focusing on topics covered in DY SCI 472 Animal Agriculture and Global Sustainable Development.
Requirements: DY SCI 472 and consent of instructor 

Graduate Courses

Dy Sci 824 – Ruminant Nutrition Physiology 1 (Carbon and Nitrogen Use Efficiency Section; 3 credit, Fall, every other year)
Course Description: This 2-week section of course focuses on Nitrogen (N) losses (e.g., ammonia or nitrate) and carbon (C) losses (e.g., methane) with undesirable environmental impact. We review the recent literature to understand the sources of these inefficiencies and how to reduce them

Dy Sci 875 – Effective Teaching in Culturally Diverse College Classroom (3 credit, Fall)
Course Description: In this course, students learn the core skills of effective and savvy teachers who can use global perspectives, varied modes of instruction, and differences in students’ experiences as tools to increase the learning of every student in their classes. This is a discussion-based course modeled after what is now known as “flipped-classroom” and “blended learning,” students learn how to take advantage of the unique perspectives of each student in their classes to engage them fully in the course content. Requirements: PhD candidate, Consent of Instructor. 

Dairy Science Department: 

  • Curriculum Cmt (since 2020)
  • Search and Screen Cmt Rumen Microbiology Faculty (2020); 
  • Faculty and Staff Development Cmt (since 2019); 
  • External Relation Cmt (since 2019); 
  • Chair Dairy Science Curriculum Cmt (2007-2018). 

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS): 

  • CALS Curriculum Cmt (2019-2021); 
  • CALS Global Advisory Cmt (2020-2023); 
  • Chair Search and Screen Cmt Center for Integrated Agricultural System Director (2018); 
  • CALS Institutional Animal Care and Use Cmt (IACUC; 2014-2017). 

University of Wisconsin-Madison: 

  • Advisory Board Global Health Institute (GHI; 2019–2021); 
  • Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Governance Cmt (2019-2021); 
  • Chair Review Cmt 10-year Review Sustainability Certificate (2019-2020); 
  • Chair Review Cmt 10-year Review Development Studies Program (2015-2016); 
  • Advisory Board Madison Teaching and Learning Excellence (MTLE; 2012-2015);  
  • UW-Madison Teaching Academy (2005-2007, 2007-Chair); 
  • Institutional Review Board (IRB, 2007-2009); 
  • Faculty Senate, Dairy Science senator (2006).  

Professional Societies: 

  • Editor Journal of Dairy Science American Dairy Science Association (2019-2021); 
  • Editor North America College and Teachers of Agriculture (since 2019); 
  • Planning Cmt 12th Discover Conference American Dairy Science Association (2006); 
  • Chair Undergraduate and Graduate Education Cmt American Dairy Science Association (2006-2009; 2019-2021; Chair 2021). 

American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Fellow Award 2021

Spitzer Excellence in Teaching Award, UW-Madison CALS 2020

UW-Madison Teaching Academy Distinguished Fellow Award 2018

North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator Award 2017

UW-System Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award 2012

Excellence in International Activity Award, UW-Madison CALS 2011

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in College and University Teaching Award, North Central Region 2009

UW-Madison Scholar of the Wisconsin Teaching Fellow & Scholar Program, UW-System Office of Professional and Instructional Development 2009

Recipient of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), Land O Lakes Purina Feed LLC Teaching Award in Dairy Production 2008

Jung Excellence in Teaching Award, UW-Madison CALS 2008

Fulbright scholar to Mexico, US Department of State and
Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) 2007

UW-Madison Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award 2006

Nominated for UW-System Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award 2005

American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), International Dairy Production Award 2002

UW-Madison Fellow of the Wisconsin Teaching Fellow Program, UW-System Office of Professional and Instructional Development 2001

State of Wisconsin Governor’s Award for Achievement in Export (on behalf of the Babcock Institute for International Dairy Research and Development 1999

Fellowship, Academic Staff Professional Development Program, UW-Madison 1994

Fellowship, Latin American and Iberian Studies Programs, UW-Madison 1994

Fulbright Scholar to the U.S., Belgian-American Educational Foundation, Inc. (BAEF) 1985

Belgian delegate to the U.S., International 4-H Youth Exchange program 1982

United States Patent US 9,955,673 B1 Milk Urea-N Yield (MUNY) as a Nutritional and Environmental  Management Tool for the Dairy Industry; Awarded May 1, 2018. 

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