Debora Costa, Graduate Research Assistant

Hello, my name is Debora Costa. I am a Brazilian veterinarian and currently I am finishing my Masters in Dairy Science under the direction of Dr. Doug Reinemann here at University of Wisconsin-Madison. I have been working in the Milking Lab since June 2001 as a Graduate Research Assistant. I have participated in a variety of research topics here in the Milking Lab, including:

• Effect of vacuum fluctuation on milk performance and teat condition
• Evaluation of cleanliness of milking equipments through ATP technology
• Weekly evaluation of udder health of cows milked in a robotic system
• Stray voltage sensitivity in dairy cattle
• Approval test for a new milk meter

My Masters thesis topic is a study about milking characteristics of Brazilian cross-bred cows and the effect of using calves for pre-milking stimulation.