Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences Newsletters

    Spring 2025 Newsletter

    Animal & Dairy Sciences Newsletter | Spring 2025

    From the Department Chair


    Hasan Khatib, Interim Chair


    Our department continues to make significant advances in research, education, and outreach, thanks to the exceptional work of our faculty, staff, and students. This edition of the newsletter highlights the remarkable achievements of our graduate students.


    Celebrating our Department’s Achievements

    Faculty Highlights

    Cabrera provides keynote at Thailand international conference


    Victor Cabrera, a professor and dairy farm management specialist in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, was a keynote presenter at the second Agricultural International Conference on Innovation for Resilient Agriculture in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Feb. 6.

    Rosa named Fellow at University in England


    Oft-honored Animal and Dairy Sciences Department Professor Guilherme Rosa received another recognition recently when he was named a Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Surrey in England.

    Van Os receives prestigious Extension award


    It hasn’t taken long for Jennifer Van Os to make her mark within the UW-Madison Department of Animal and Dairy Science. Van Os, an assistant professor and extension specialist in animal welfare, has become well-known across the Wisconsin dairy industry for her innovative research and outreach programs.

    Student Success

    Jessica Brown honored as ‘Developing Scientist’


    When Jessica Brown joined a meat judging team during her junior year of college, she did so because she was told it would look good on her resume. Little did she know that it would lead to a career in the meat industry.

    Ph.D wrap beginning of busy summer for Peckler 


    Gretchen Peckler is in the middle of “crunch time” as she wraps up her Ph.D. work in animal welfare and behavior in the UW-Madison Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences.

    Peckler is not only on the verge of completing more than four years of work on her doctorate degree, but three days after walking the stage to receive her diploma she will begin a post-doctorate program across the country at the University of California-Davis. And to add to the excitement, she plans to get married in August.

    Diepersloot key player in MILK index update 


    Cole Diepersloot didn’t know what to expect when he made the decision to follow his mentor from the University of Florida to UW-Madison in May of 2020.

    He was already in the midst of a master’s degree program in Florida under the supervision of Luiz Ferraretto, at the time an assistant professor of livestock nutrition at the University of Florida. So when Ferraretto told him he had accepted a position in Wisconsin as an assistant professor and extension specialist in ruminant nutrition in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Diepersloot had a decision to make – He chose Wisconsin.

    Path to Madison links Davidson, Laporta


    Brittney Davidson and her mentor, Jimena Laporta, have gotten to know each other pretty well during their last six years together. Davidson is a Ph.D. student and a Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellow in Laporta’s lactation physiology lab in the UW-Madison Animal and Dairy Sciences Department.

    Consistency key to Guinan’s Ph.D. studies


    Regardless of the field, an employer looks for consistent performance in an employee, someone who can be relied on to get the job done. The same is true in the dairy industry, where producers look for cows that have steady milk production, few health issues and might be considered trouble-free. If a dairy farmer had a full herd of that type of animals, he or she would be a happy farmer.

    Animal welfare at heart of Woods’ Ph.D. project


    Jocelyn Woods didn’t know much about sheep when she joined Dr. Sarah Adcock’s lab to begin her Ph.D. studies in January of 2021.

    But it wasn’t long before the Chicago-area native was immersed in a research project that resulted in her spending hundreds of hours with the animals and analyzing a treasure trove of data to complete her doctorate training in animal science. She hopes to complete her Ph.D. work this spring.

    Lauber continues studies with

    pre-doc fellowship


    Megan Lauber has spent more than a third of her life attending classes in the UW-Madison Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, and she isn’t done yet. Lauber, who has earned a bachelor’s of science degree and a master’s of science degree in dairy science, is closing in on her Ph.D. in the laboratory of Dr. Paul Fricke, a professor and extension specialist in dairy cattle reproduction. Lauber has been in Madison since 2014, after growing up on her family’s dairy farm and graduating from Union Grove High School.

    Konyn reaches dairy judging pinnacle with Expo win


    Kylie Konyn has gotten used to the pressure associated with a daylong dairy judging competition during her four-year career as a student in the UW-Madison Animal and Dairy Sciences Department.

    In fact, in each of the national contests she has competed in during her college career, she has earned a top five finish. But she had never placed first – until she did so at the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in September at the World Dairy Expo.

    Lack of dairy background doesn’t deter Hardy


    It didn’t take Kelsey Hardy very long to dive into dairy research after she enrolled in the UW-Madison Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. In fact, it was during the first semester of her freshman year that Hardy began working on a research project with Brittney Davidson, a Ph.D. student in the department, and Jimena Laporta, an associate professor of lactation physiology.

    Extension & Outreach

    Practice makes perfect for Polk County quiz bowl team 


    Four young women from Polk County discovered in November that hard work and dedication can be the difference when seeking the ultimate prize. The four high school juniors from Amery took their dairy knowledge all the way to a national title in the National 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl competition in Louisville, Ky. The team of Kallie Andersen, Evelyn Braaten, Suki Gatica and Darby Trent won the senior division of the Wisconsin 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest in February of 2024 to earn the opportunity to compete for the top prize at the national contest in November.

    Grant County livestock

    teams win big 


    When Dennis Patterson was asked to judge Grant County 4-H livestock teams in 1988, he did so because two of his younger brothers were on the teams and they were in need of a coach. Thirty-seven years later, after coaching his kids and dozens of other young people, Patterson is still at it, now coaching his nieces and nephews and their friends on livestock and meats judging, skillathon and quiz bowl teams that traditionally do well at state and national competitions. This year was no exception, as the Grant County livestock quiz bowl and skillathon teams finished as reserve champions in national contests in November at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, after winning at the state level to qualify for the competition.

    Both Grant County teams placed behind national grand champion teams from Illinois.

    Upcoming Events

    Friday, May 9

    Doctoral, MFA, and Medical Professional Degree Candidate Commencement Ceremony


    Saturday, May 10

    Bachelor’s, Law, and Master’s Degree Candidate Commencement Ceremony


    Thursday, May 15

    2025 Animal & Dairy Sciences Golf Classic

    2025 Animal & Dairy Sciences Golf Classic


    Join us Thursday, May 15 at the beautiful Pleasant View Golf Course in Middleton, WI for the annual Animal and Dairy Sciences (ADS) Golf Classic. Event proceeds support undergraduate student scholarships, research, and high impact learning experiences.


    Register here!

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