Welcome to the McArt Dairy Cow Lab!

Our lab focuses on the identification, epidemiology, and economics of periparturient diseases in dairy cattle. As such, we are interested in identifying methods that accurately and quantitatively measure energy-related metabolites, macromineral concentrations, and important biological markers cow-side in order to improve detection of specific disorders. Knowledge of a disease’s incidence and prevalence during this period of lactation and its association with other diseases is an important antecedent in determining management factors and preventative measures that decrease the impact of disease in a herd.

Our group has experience studying the epidemiology of hyperketonemia and hypocalcemia in early lactation, and we are interested in exploring patterns of these and other parturient-related diseases to improve the welfare, health, and production of dairy cattle. In addition to the welfare of individual cows in a herd, diseases have an impact on the financial success of dairy farms. Economic considerations regarding the cost of parturient-related diseases and the cost-benefit of different testing and treatment strategies have a large impact on farm engagement and management practices. Using deterministic and stochastic/iterative modeling, we hope to explore the economic impact of transition cow diseases and promote management practices that optimize cow health and farm profit.

On our lab site you will find information about the research that we do, a little bit about who we are, and how to reach us.  Don’t forget to check back frequently to see what’s going on in our News section or feel free to subscribe below to receive emails whenever we have an update!