The nutrition graduate program within the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences is an internationally renowned group with research addressing questions spanning from applied to basic. Research focus varies by faculty within the nutrition group and include forage quality and processing, starch utilization, fiber digestion, NDF analysis and modeling, lipid metabolism, milk fat depression, dietary nitrogen use efficiency, protein metabolism, amino acid balancing, byproducts and additives, methane emission and the linkages between nutrition and environmental impacts, hepatic metabolism, and metabolic disorders. Our focus is on the whole animal. Studies range from applied animal feeding trials to basic studies on the metabolism of nutritive and non-nutritive components of diets. Studies can be directed toward molecular and cellular systems as well as integrated whole animal metabolism with an emphasis on quantitation and regulation. Animal models are developed for studies focus on metabolic, nutritional and biochemical disorders in animals and humans. Two general themes exist – one theme focuses on mongastric animals and is closely linked to the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences (IGPNS); the other theme focuses on ruminant animals and is integrated with professors and courses in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences and IGPNS.
Research within the nutrition group involves collaboration with other disciplines within the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, researchers in other departments at the University of Wisconsin focusing on aspects of animal production (Agricultural Engineering, Food Science, etc.), as well as other research groups worldwide. Opportunities for joint graduate training programs include the US Dairy Forage Research Center (USDFRC), University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences (IGPNS).
Graduates at the MS level typically pursue employment in industry with positions including field nutritionists, technical support, and laboratory technicians and graduates at the PhD level pursue research-based positions in academic institutions, government laboratories, or private industry.