Laboratory - Dairy Cattle Reproduction UW-Extension

Current Graduate Students

Maria Jose Fuenzalida Valenzuela
M.S. student, May 2010 to present.
M.S. project: Effect of mastitis on reproduction in dairy cows.

Alessio Valenza
Ph.D. student, April to October, 2010
Dr. Valenza is a veterinarian working on his Ph.D. at Bologna university in Italy. Alessio is spending 7 months in my lab conducting research as a part of his Ph.D. program.
Research Project: Evaluation of activity monitors for detection of estrus in dairy cattle.  

Julio O. Giordano
Ph.D. student, October 2007 to present.
Ph.D. Thesis: Improving Reproductive Efficiency in Lactating Dairy Cows through Synchronization of Ovulation Protocols and Development of Economic Decision Support Systems

Former MS Students

Glaucio Lopes, Jr.
July 2009 to August 2011.
M.S. Thesis: Effect of timing of initiation of resynchronization and presynchronization with GnRH on fertility of resynchronized inseminations in lactating dairy cows.
Current position: Reproduction Field Specialist, Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo, WI.

Katie Hackbart
January 2007 to December 2008.
M.S. Thesis: Effects of organic trace minerals on reproductive function in lactating dairy cows.
Current position: Ph.D. candidate, ERP program, UW-Madison

Nicholas R. Bork
September 2006 to August 2008.
Nick received his M.S. degree in the Department of Animal Sciences at North Dakota State University. One chapter of his thesis was collaborative field trial between NDSU and UW-Madison.
M.S. Thesis: Using flax seed as a supplemental fat source for dairy cattle.
Current position: Nutrition Consultant, Standard Nutrition, Luverne, MN.

Elena Silva
December 2004 to November 2006.
M.S. Thesis: Development of strategies for resynchronizing lactating dairy cows failing to conceive to a previous artificial insemination.
Current position: Ph.D. student, University of Illinois

Ryan A. Sterry
June 2004 to August 2006.
M.S. Thesis: Systematic reproductive management of lactating dairy cows after first postpartum timed artificial insemination.
Current position: St. Croix County Dairy and Livestock Agent, University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Roy D. Wilson
July 2002 to April 2004. Co-Advised with Dr. Kent Weigel.
M.S. Thesis: Practical on-farm implementation of in vitro embryo production and sexed semen technologies.
Current position: Associate VP of Large Herds, Genex/CRI, Shawano, WI.

Humberto Rivera
July 2001 to December 2003.
M.S. Thesis: Development of hormonal protocols for synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination in dairy heifers.
Current position: Reproduction Field Specialist, Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo, WI.

Maria Costanza Cordoba
October 1998 to May 2001.
M.S. Thesis: Synchronization of ovulation and fixed-time artificial insemination of dairy cattle in seasonal calving grazing-based dairy systems.
Current Position: Outreach Specialist, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Former Ph.D. Students

Noelia Silva del Río
October 2002 to September, 2007. Co-Advised with Dr. Ric Grummer
Ph.D. Thesis: Epidemiology, physiology and nutritional management of twinning in dairy cattle.
Current position: Assistant Specialist in Cooperative Extension, Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis located at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center (VMTRC), Tulare, CA.

Chainarong Navanukraw
May 1999 to August 2003. Dr. Navanukraw was a Ph.D. student with D.A. Redmer and L.P. Reynolds in the Department of Animal & Range Sciences at North Dakota State University who spent three months in my laboratory learning to conduct transrectal ultrasound, collect and process blood samples, and handle lactating dairy cows. Dr. Navanukraw then returned to NDSU and conducted a dairy cattle synchronization research project as part of his Ph.D. research program. I served as a Ph.D. committee member for Dr. Navanukraw. 
Dairy Research Project: Effect of presynchronization on conception rate to a timed artificial insemination protocol in lactating dairy cows. Current Position: Professor, Department of Animal Science, Khon Khan University, Thailand.

Visiting Scientists