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Victor E. Cabrera

Professor & Extension Specialist - Dairy Farm Management

Extension, Research

Phone

608-265-8506

Email

vcabrera@wisc.edu

Website

https://DairyMGT.info

Office Location

https://DairyBrain.wisc.edu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_E._Cabrera

1675 Observatory Dr
434 Animal Sciences
Madison, WI 53706

photo of Victor E. Cabrera

Dr. Cabrera combines applied research, interdisciplinary approaches, and participatory methods to deliver practical, data-driven, user-friendly, and scientific decision support tools for dairy farm management. These scientific tools are improving dairy farm profitability, environmental stewardship, and long-term sustainability. Dr. Cabrera’s research and extension programs have a global impact. Dr. Cabrera and his workgroup have developed 50 decision support tools, published 100+ refereed articles, and 12 book chapters. Dr. Cabrera has presented in 100+ scientific sessions, and given extension talks in 400+ extension meetings in Wisconsin, other States, and around the world. Dr. Cabrera’s work in the past 15 years has been pivotal to attract $5.5+ million to support his research and extension initiatives. Dr. Cabrera has been distinguished with the Excellence in International Activities Award from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, the American Dairy Science Association DeLaval Dairy Extension Award, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Vilas Faculty Mid-Career Investigator Award, the Second Mile Extension award of the Wisconsin Association of County Agricultural Agents, the Pound Extension Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Distinguished Achievement Award from the University of Florida School of Natural Resources and Environment, the Foundation Scholar Award in Dairy Production from the American Dairy Science Association, and the Alfred Toepfer Faculty Fellow Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Latest 15 Peer Reviewed Articles

    1. Menezes, G. L., G. Mazon, R. E. P. Ferreira, V. E. Cabrera, and J. R. R. Dorea. 2024 (accepted). Artificial Intelligence for Livestock: A narrative review of the applications of computer vision systems and large language models for animal farming. Animal Frontiers 00:00-00.
    2. Pipino, D., N. Lopez-Villalobos, R. Hickson, V. E. Cabrera, M. Balzarini, M. Piccardi. 2024 (accepted). Profitability of Swedish Red and White × Holstein crossbred cows compared with purebred Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 00:00-00.
    3. Cabrera, V. E. 2024 (accepted). Artificial Intelligence Applied to Dairy Science: Insights from the Dairy Brain Initiative. Animal Frontiers 00:00-00.
    4. Freitas, E. N. A., and V. E. Cabrera. 2024 (in press). Dairy VictoryTM Platform: A Novel Benchmarking Platform to Empower Economic Dairy Farms Decisions. Journal of Dairy Science Communications 00:00-00. https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2024-0617.
    5. da Silva, T., and V. E. Cabrera. 2024 (in press). The DairyPrint Model: A Decision-Support Model to Help Dairy Farmers and Other Stakeholders Towards Improved Sustainability.  Journal of Dairy Science 00:00-00. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-24946.
    6. Nunes, A. J., Silva, E., V. E. Cabrera, and E. Noronha. 2024. Milk weighing scale based on machine learning. Smart Agricultural Technology 07:100417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2024.100417.
    7. Rodriguez, Z., V. E. Cabrera, H. Hogeveen, and P. L. Ruegg. 2024. Economic impact of treatment of subclinical mastitis in early lactation using intramammary nisin. Journal of Dairy Science 107:4634-4645. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24311.
    8. Cannas, A., V. E. Cabrera, H. C. Dougherty, J. L. Ellis, A. Gallo, P. Huhtanen, I Kyriazakis, M. McPhee, K. F. Reed, N. K. Sakomura, and J. van Milgen. 2024. Editorial: The 10th international workshop on Modelling Nutrient Digestion and Utilisation in farm animals (MODNUT). Animal 17:101067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.101067.
    9. Gorr, A. Q., V. E. Cabrera, J. Meronek, and K. A. Weigel. 2023. BullVal$: An integrated decision-support tool for predicting the net present value of a dairy bull based on genetic merit, semen production potential, and demographic factors. Animals 13(3): 2062. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132062.
    10. Richardet, M., H.G. Solari, V. E. Cabrera, C. Vissio, D. Agüero, J. A. Bartolomé, G.  A. Bó, C. I. Bogni, and A. J. Larriestra. 2023. The Economic Evaluation of Mastitis Control Strategies in Holstein-Friesian Dairy Herds. Animals 13(10): 1701. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13101701.
    11. Li, M., K. F. Reed, and V. E. Cabrera. 2023. A time series analysis of milk productivity in US dairy states. Journal of Dairy Science 106:6232-6248. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22751.
    12. Li, M., K. F. Reed, M. R. Lauber, P. M. Fricke, and V. E. Cabrera. 2023. A stochastic animal life cycle simulation for a whole dairy farm system model: Assessing the value of combined heifer and lactating dairy cow reproductive management programs.  Journal of Dairy Science 106:3246-3267. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22396.
    13. Gorr, A., V. E. Cabrera, J. Meronek, and K. A. Weigel. 2023. Decision-support tool for global allocation of dairy sire semen based on regional demand, supply constraints, and genetic profiles. Journal of Dairy Science 106:1089–1096. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22170.
    14. Li, M., K. Reed, G. Rosa, and V. E. Cabrera. 2022. Investigating the impact of temporal, geographic, and management factors on US Holstein lactation curve parameters. Journal of Dairy Science 105:7525-7538. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-21882.
    15. Zhang, F., K. A. Weigel, and V. E. Cabrera. 2022. Predicting daily milk yield for primiparous cows using data of within-herd relatives to capture genotype-by-environment interactions. Journal of Dairy Science 105:6739-6748. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21559.

Selected Book Chapters

    1. Cabrera, V. E. 2026. Reproductive efficiency and farm sustainability. Encyclopedia of Livestock Medicine for Large Animals and Poultry Production. June 2024. Springer Nature Switzerland, 2026. ISBN 3031615484, 9783031615481
    2. Cabrera, V. E. 2026. Reproductive indexes in bovine dairy farms. Encyclopedia of Livestock Medicine for Large Animals and Poultry Production. June 2024.  Springer Nature Switzerland, 2026. ISBN 3031615484, 9783031615481
    3. Cabrera, V. E. Data-driven decision support tools in dairy herd health. In: Improving dairy herd health. Prof. Emile Bouchard (Ed). Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1786764676.
    4. Fraisse, C. W., N. E. Breuer, and E. Cabrera. 2019. Developing climate-based decision support systems (DSS) from agricultural systems models. In: Advances in crop modelling for sustainable agriculture. Boote, K. (Ed), Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science, ISBN-13: 978-1786762405.
    5. Overton, M. W., and E. Cabrera. 2017. Monitoring and quantifying value of change in reproductive performance. In: Large Dairy Herd Management Book (http://ldhm.adsa.org). American Dairy Science Association.
    6. Liang, D., and  E. Cabrera.2017. Dairy Farm Management Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Mitigation Strategies and Economic Considerations in the US. in: Agricultural Research Updates. Volume 20. Nova Science Publishers, ISBN-20: 978-1-53612-216-9.
    7. Krpálková, L., E. Cabrera, J. Kvapilik, J. Burdych, M. Štipková, P. Crump, L. Stádnik, and M. Vacek. 2014. Optimal growth of heifers and effect of milk yield level on dairy herd production, reproduction, and profitability. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, Saarbrücken, Deutschland, Germany. ISBN: 978-3-659-58200-4.
    8. Cabrera, V. E. DairyMGT: A suite of decision support systems in dairy farm management. IN Decision Support Systems. Jao C. (Ed), INTECH, Rijeka, Croatia. ISBN: 978-953-51-0799-6.
    9. Cabrera, V. E., P. E. Hildebrand. Chapter 7th: Linear programming for dairy herd simulation and optimization: An integrated approach for decision-making. IN Linear programming – New frontiers in theory and applications. Zoltan, A. M. (Ed.), Nova Science Publishers, Inc., Hauppauge, NY. ISBN: 978-1-61209-579-0.
    10. Cabrera, V. E., D. Solís, G. A. Baigorria, and D. Letson. Chapter 7th: Managing climate variability in agricultural analysis. IN: Long, J.A., and D. S. Wells (Eds), Ocean circulation and El Niño: New research, p. 163-179, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., Hauppauge, NY. ISBN: 978-1-60692-084-8.
    11. Hoogenboom, G., C. W. Fraisse, J. W. Jones, K. T. Ingram, J. J. O’Brien, J. G. Bellow, D. Zierden, D. E. Stooksbury, J. O. Paz, A. Garcia y Garcia, L. C. Guerra, D. Letson, N. E. Breuer, E. Cabrera, L. U.  Hatch, and C. Roncoli. 2007. Climate-based agricultural risk management tools for Florida, Georgia and Alabama, USA. In: Sivakumar, M. V. K. and J. Hansen (Eds.), Climate Prediction and Agriculture: Advances and Challenges, p. 273-278, Springer, Berlin. ISBN: 978-3-540-44650-7.
    12. Langeveld, J.W.A., A. Crawford, M. Paine, S. Pinheiro, W. de Boef, I. S. Kristensen, J. Hermansen, B. Dedieu, P. E. Hildebrand, E. Cabrera, D. Jansen, and J. Dixon. 2006. Project setup and learning processes in participative systems-oriented research initiatives. In: Langeveld, H., N. Roling (Eds), Changing European farming systems for a better future. New visions for rural areas. p. 89-91, Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen. ISBN: 978-9-086-86002-9.

Latest 15 Conference Proceedings

    1. Egger-Danner, C., I. Klaas, L. Brito, K. Schodl, J. Bewley, V. E. Cabrera, N. Charfeddine, N. Gengler, M. Haskell, M. Iwersen, R. van der Linde, K. Stock, A. Stygar, E. Vasseur, and M. Hostens. 2024. Improving animal health and welfare by us- ing sensor data in herd management and dairy cattle  breeding—A joint initiative of ICAR and IDF. The 11th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, Bologna, Italy, 9-12 September 2024.
    2. Egger-Danner, C., I. Klaas, L. Brito, K. Schodl, J. Bewley, V. E. Cabrera, N. Charfeddine, N. Gengler, M. Haskell, M. Iwersen, R. van der Linde, K. Stock, A. Stygar, E. Vasseur, and M. Hostens. 2024. Improving animal health and welfare by us- ing sensor data in herd management and dairy cattle  breeding—A joint initiative of ICAR and IDF. 75th European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP).  Florence, Italy. 1-5 September 2024.
    3. Gong, Y., A. Bellingeri, F. Fumagalli, G. S. Sechi, A. S. Atzori, F. Masoero, A. Gallo, and V. E. Cabrera. 2024. Optimizing agricultural sustainability: A mixed integer linear programming approach for multi-year crop rotation and animal diet optimization under environmental policies. The 11th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, Bologna, Italy, 9-12 September 2024.
    4. Gong, Y., A. Bellingeri, F. Fumagalli, G. S. Sechi, A. S. Atzori, F. Masoero, A. Gallo, and V. E. Cabrera. 2024. Optimizing agricultural sustainability: A mixed integer linear programming approach for multi-year crop rotation and animal diet optimization under environmental policies. 75th European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP).  Florence, Italy. 1-5 September 2024.
    5. Egger-Danner, C., I. Klaas, L. Brito, K. Schodl, J. Bewley, V. E. Cabrera, N. Charfeddine, N. Gengler, M. Haskell, M. Iwersen, R. van der Linde, K. Stock, A. Stygar, E. Vasseur, and M. Hostens. 2024. Improving animal health and welfare by us- ing sensor data in herd management and dairy cattle  breeding—A joint initiative of ICAR and IDF. International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology. Chicago, Illinois. 26-29 August 2024.
    6. Gong, Y., H. Hu, K. F. Reed, and V. E. Cabrera. 2024. Enhancing dairy farm simulation: An approach to modeling farm-specific lactation curves with readily available data. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting (ADSA), West Palm Beach, Florida. 16-19 June 2024.
    7. Heins, B. J.,  K. T. Sharpe, P. J. Pinedo, A. DeVries, E. Miller-Cushon, V. E. Cabrera, E. M. Silva, R. A. Lynch, and G. M. Schuenemann. 2024. Use of the VaDia vacuum recorder for detection of factors related to mastitis and somatic cell count in organic dairy herds. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting (ADSA), West Palm Beach, Florida. 16-19 June 2024.
    8. Gong, Y., A. Bellingeri, F. Fumagalli, G. S. Sechi, A. S. Atzori, F. Masoero, A. Gallo, and V. E. Cabrera. 2024. Optimizing agricultural sustainability: A mixed integer linear programming approach for multi-year crop rotation and animal diet optimization under environmental policies. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting (ADSA), West Palm Beach, Florida. 16-19 June 2024.
    9. Egger-Danner, C., I. Klaas, L. Brito, K. Schodl, J. Bewley, V. E. Cabrera, N. Chardeddine, N. Gelgler, M. Haskell, B. Keringstad, M. Hostens, M. Iwersen, R. Linde, K. Stock, A. Stygar, and E. Vasseur. 2024. Improving animal health and welfare by using sensor data in herd management and dairy cattle breeding – a joint initiative of ICAR and IDF ICAR & Interbull Conference, Bled, Slovenia. 18-24 May 2024.
    10. Gong, Y., K. Reed., and V. E. Cabrera. 2023. Impact of using sexed semen and beef semen on genetic progress and economic benefits. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting (ADSA), Ottawa, Canada. 25-28 June 2023.
    11. Da Silva, T., and V. E. Cabrera. 2023. DairyPrint Model: Paving Pathways for Dairy Farmers Towards Higher Environmental Sustainability. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting (ADSA), Ottawa, Canada. 25-28 June 2023.
    12. Gong, Y., Da Silva, T., S. Wangen, and V. E. Cabrera. 2023. Streamlining Dairy Farm Management: A Unified Data Integration System for Continuous Monitoring of Key Performance Indicators. Precision Dairy Conference. Bloomington, Minnesota. June 20-21, 2023.
    13. Munoz-Boettcher, P., A. De Vries, E. Miller Cushon, V. E. Cabrera, E. Silva, R. A. Lynch, G. M. Schuenemann, D. Manriquez, and P. Pinedo. 2023. Risk factors associated with clinical mastitis in certified organic dairy herds.  American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting (ADSA), Ottawa, Canada. 25-28 June 2023.
    14. Heins, B.J., K. T. Sharpe, P. Pinedo,  A. De Vries, E. Miller-Cushon, V. E. Cabrera, E. Silva, R. A. Lynch, G. M. Schuenemann. 2023. Benchmarking Organic Holstein, Jersey, and Crossbred Cows for Production, Somatic Cell Score, and Days Open in the United States. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting (ADSA), Ottawa, Canada. 25-28 June 2023.
    15. Da Silva, T., S. R. Wangen, M. Li, F. Zhang, and V. E. Cabrera. 2023.Feed efficiency and income over feed cost in dairy herds: how can data integration help farmers monitor these and other key performance indicators on a continuous basis? 2nd US Precision Livestock Conference, May 21-23, 2023. Knoxville, TN.

Latest 15 Popular Press Articles

    1. Mazon, G., and V. E. Cabrera. 2024. What affects the adoption of precision tech? Hoard’s Dairyman Intel. 7 October 2024. Link.
    2. da Silva, T., and V. E. Cabrera. 2023. Guiding farms to more sustainable pathways. Journal of Nutrient Management. September 5, 2023. Link.
    3. Cabrera, V. E. 2023. Advantages of involuntary culling and herd structure dynamics. Smart Science SeriesTM Ruminant Podcasts. Adisseo. 25 August 2023. Link.
    4. Gong, Y., M. Li, M. A., Sotirova, K.F. Reed, and V. E. Cabrera. 2023. Is it worth it to use beef semen? Department of Animal and Dairy Science Infographics Competition. Madison, WI 19 May 2023.
    5. Cabrera, V. E., A. Kalantari, and T. Danzinger. 2023. Different cows react to disease differently. Hoard’s Dairyman. June 2023.
    6. Noronha, E., and V. E. Cabrera. 2023. Distilling data will improve dairy farms. Hoard’s Dairyman Intel. 20 April 2023. Link.
    7. Cabrera, V. E., and T. E. da Silva. 2023. DairyPrint model: Helping dairy farmers toward higher sustainability. Progressive Dairy. March 14, 2023. Link.
    8. Cabrera, V. E. 2023. Economics of repro programs. The Repro Spot. Web-Podcast. Episodes January 19 and 26, February 2, 9, 16, and 23. Link.
    9. Bjurstrom, A., V. E. Cabrera, and D. Diederich. 2023. Selection tool yields four positive outcomes. Hoard’s Dairyman Intel. 02 January 2023. Link.
    10. Cabrera, V. E. 2022. Considerations for nutritional grouping in dairy farms. Balchem Real Science Exchange. October 2022 Journal Club with Dr. Bill Weiss. 25 October 2022. Web-Podcast. Link.
    11. Gong, Y., M. Li, M. A., Sotirova, K.F. Reed, and V. E. Cabrera. 2022. Make the right decision on heifer breeding. Department of Animal and Dairy Science Infographics Competition. Madison, WI 20 May 2022.
    12. Cabrera, V. E., and T. E. da Silva. 2022. How we can link environment and economy. Hoard’s Dairyman Intel. 09 May 2022. Link.
    13. Cabrera, V. E. 2021.  A step towards smarter management in dairy farms. Scientia. https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA758.
    14. Hallbach, T., V. E. Cabrera, M. J. Fuenzalida, and L. Seefeldt. 2020. Records reveal heat stress losses. Herd management software like Dairy Comp 305 can be used to assess the potential impact of heat stress on your dairy. Hoard’s Dairyman. 25 August 2020. Interview available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu_Gyv-6Cvk&feature=youtu.be.
    15. Gunderson, S., and V. E. Cabrera. 2020. Considerations in Reducing Milk Production: Switching Cows from 3X to 2X Milking. Dairy Extension Resources. UW-Division of Extension.

15 Selected Computerized Decision Support Tools

    1. Da Silva, and V. E. Cabrera. 2023. DairyPrint: Paving pathways for dairy farmers towards higher sustainability. https://dairymgt.cals.wisc.edu/tools/DairyPrintModel/index.php
    2. Cabrera, V. E., and R. Shaver. Quick assessment for diet formulation. https://dairymgt.info/tools/DietFormulation/index.php?tab=tool
    3. Cabrera, V. E. Bulk tank SCC and milk value. https://dairymgt.info/tools/milk_quality/index.php
    4. Cabrera, V. E. Repro Money Extension program in Wisconsin 2010-2014. https://dairymgt.info/tools/ds/index2.php
    5. Gaspar, N., and E. Cabrera. Economic evaluation of CholiPEARL use on preventing subclinical Ketosis. https://dairymgt.info/tools/eval_choline/index.php
    6. Cabrera, V. E. Characteristics of organic, grazing, and conventional dairy farms in the state of Wisconsin. https://dairymgt.info/tools/ds/index3.php
    7. Cabrera, V. E., and K. A. Weigel. Integrated genomic testing for Jersey heifer calf decision support tool. https://dairymgt.info/oldtools/genomics_last/index.php
    8. Cabrera, V. E., G. Lopes, and W. Li. Premium on beef dairy program. https://dairymgt.info/tools/acc_gen/index.php
    9. Shahinfar, S., A. Kalantari, E. Cabrera, and K. A. Weigel. Retention Pay-Off (RPO) calculator. https://dairymgt.info/tools/rpo_calc/
    10. Cabrera, V. E. Nutritional grouping in Wisconsin and Michigan dairy farms. https://dairymgt.info/tools/ds/index.php
    11. Cabrera, V. E. The economic value of a dairy cow. https://dairymgt.info/tools/cow_value_resp_v2/index.php
    12. Cabrera, V. E., L. Armentano, and R. D. Shaver. FeedVal. https://dairymgt.info/tools/feedval_12_v2/index.php
    13. Cabrera, V. E., and J. O. Giordano. UW-CornellDairyRepro$Plus: A reproductive analysis tool that includes heat detection devices. https://dairymgt.info/oldtools/UWCUDairyRepro/tool1.php
    14. Cabrera, V. E. Dairy reproductive economic analysis. https://dairymgt.info/markov/reader.php
    15. Cabrera, V. E. Grouping strategies for feeding lactating dairy cattle. https://dairymgt.info/tools/grouping_strategy/index.php

https://dairymgt.cals.wisc.edu

https://dairybrain.wisc.edu

https://dairymgt.cals.wisc.edu/tools.php

Animal & Dairy Sciences Climate and Diversity Committee
External Relations & Outreach (Chair)

Budget Commmittee
CALS Equity and Diversity Committee
Data Science Hub Steering Committee
Journal of Dairy Science Editorial Board
ANIMALS Journal Editorial Board
Frontiers in Animal Sciences Journal Editorial Board
Recommender on Peer Community in Animal Science
Ruminant Farm System Model National Initiative Executive Committee Member
ANEMBE (National Association of Veterinarians, Spain) Advisory Committee

Excellence in International Activities Award. (Plaque)(Picture)(Letter)(Department News)(CALS News)

American Dairy Science Association. DeLaval Dairy Extension Award. (Plaque)(Picture)(News)

University of Wisconsin-Madison. Vilas Faculty Mid-Career Investigator Award (Letter) (News)

Wisconsin Association of County Agricultural Agents. Second Mile Award (Plaque) (Citation)

University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Pound Extension Award (Letter) (Plaque) (Words)

University of Florida School of Natural Resources and Environment. Distinguished Achievement Award (Plaque) (Words)

American Dairy Science Association. Foundation Scholar Award in Dairy Production (Letter) (Plaque) (Citations)

University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Alfred Toepfer Faculty Fellow Award. (Letter)

Noronha, E., and V. E. Cabrera. 2024. Dairy Victory Platform. WARF Ref. No. P230390US01. A technology aimed at optimizing dairy production processes through advanced analytics and machine learning. This technology was developed in collaboration with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), under an agreement that assigns all rights, titles, and interests in the technology to WARF. 

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