Patrick Hoffman is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison receiving his BS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and his MS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his 37-year tenure, Professor Hoffman conducted applied nutritional research on dairy cattle and was responsible for dairy education outreach programs. 

He is the author of over 200 scientific manuscripts and abstracts and has received numerous awards for both his research and educational programs.  Professor Hoffman also served for 6 years as a dairy scientist for Vita Plus Corporation located in Madison, WI developing advanced dairy nutritional models. Professor Hoffman currently serves as a professional consultant for the dairy nutrition industry.  

Dr. Casey Owens received her B.S. degree in Poultry Science and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Food Science and Technology from Texas A&M University in 1994, 1996, and 1999, respectively. She has been on faculty in the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas since 2000, and currently serves as Professor and holds the Novus International Professorship of Poultry Science. Her appointment is 75% research, 15% teaching, and 10% service.

Owens’ research has a strong emphasis on evaluating production and processing factors affecting poultry meat quality including tenderness, water holding capacity, colour and sensory attributes. Her recent research has focused on quality of meat from broilers in big bird market programs including muscle myopathies such as white striping and woody breast, and issues with meat texture including technologies to detect myopathies in poultry meat. She has received the National Chicken Council Broiler Research Award based on this research. Past research has included meat tenderness and methods for assessing meat tenderness with the development of the Meullenet Owens Razor Shear, and the use of marination in poultry meat for improved meat quality. She has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles and over 150 research abstracts, along with over 45 book chapters and popular press articles as well. She has given over 75 invited presentations nationally and internationally. She has served as Subject Editor and Associated Editor for Poultry Science in the Processing and Products section.

In addition to her research, Dr. Owens teaches Egg and Meat Technology and Value Added Muscle Foods at the undergraduate and graduate levels for students in Poultry Science, Food Science, and Animal Science. She also teaches industry workshops related meat and egg processing and further processing. She serves as the undergraduate curriculum chair and an academic advisor, and Dr. Owens has directed the research of numerous Ph.D. and M.S. graduate students in addition to undergraduate research.

Named among the 50 people who has made the greatest impact in the U.S. swine industry in the last 50 years, Mike Tokach, University Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences and Industry, is a swine nutrition researcher and extension specialist at Kansas State University. Tokach joined K-State in 1991 and is an author on more than 420 articles in scientific journals, 11 book chapters and more than 1,100 extension and non-refereed articles. Tokach has received more than $22 million in research grants and gifts. He also has been awarded seven patents for his research and has given more than 350 invited lectures at national and international conferences. Tokach has also advised and mentored over 110 advanced-degree students and visiting professors since joining the university. Mike’s wife Lisa also specializes in Swine as a veterinarian. Together, they have three children, Sage, Rogan, and Fiona.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Ethan grew up involved in agriculture through his family’s veterinary practice and in the show pig industry. He received his Bachelors in Animal Science from Pennsylvania State University in 2020. Through his internships with commercial swine operations, Ethan developed a passion for the swine industry and decided to further his education into graduate school. Ethan received his Masters in Applied Swine Nutrition at Kansas State University in 2022 and has since begun his PhD program. His research has primarily focused on the early nursery pig. During his Masters, his research involved evaluating various protein sources in early nursery diets as well as measuring the acid-binding capacity (ABC) of common ingredients and complete diets intended for weanling pigs. His PhD research continues to focus on ABC in an effort to improve health status and subsequent performance of early nursery pigs. Ethan has gained experience in data management and statistical analysis with commercial research staff. Ethan currently serves as the site manager of the Kansas State University Segregated Early Weaning facility where fellow graduate students conduct research projects.

Ludovic Lahaye studied Biology & Animal Production at the University of Rennes I in France before obtaining his PhD degree in Animal Nutrition from École nationale supérieure agronomique de Rennes (AGROCAMPUS OUEST), France in 2004. As a Research Engineer and Ph.D. student at INRA, the French National Institute for Agricultural Research in Rennes from 2000 to 2004, Ludovic investigated the “Impact of technological treatments of feed manufacture on amino acids ileal digestibility and associated endogenous losses in swine”. From 2004 to 2008, Ludovic worked as Technical Support Manager at Yara Helsingborg AB (formerly Kemira GrowHow AB) in Sweden where he was in charge of providing technical and scientific assistance to the Sales & Marketing departments on the range of feed acidifier and inorganic feed phosphate products. Ludovic has been working at Jefo Nutrition Inc. for 13 years; currently, he is the Applied Scientific Curiosity (ASC) Director – Monogastrics. In this role, he manages the ASC team, which is responsible for R&D on new products and applications, as well as current products related to monogastric species. The team also provides on-demand technical support to the Technical Support & Sales teams as well as the distributors network.

Dr. Broomhead received his PhD in Animal Nutrition from the University of Missouri. He has been in the animal feed additive business for 17 years, holding roles in nutrition, innovation and technical management, with responsibilities both internationally and throughout North America. Areas of specialty include animal proteins, mycotoxin amelioration (binders), enzymes and gut health products. Dr. Broomhead is the Technical Manager of North America and Mexico for Perstorp Animal Nutrition, a primary organic acid producer.

Alison Duncan is a Professor and Associate Director of Research at the Human Nutraceutical Research Unit in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph. Alison’s academic training is focused on nutrition with a BASc in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph, Registered Dietitian training at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, a MSc in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto and a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Minnesota. Her teaching and research relate to the effects of functional foods on human health outcomes examined in human clinical trials with a particular focus on the agri-food-health continuum. Alison is currently serving as the Research Program Director for the Knowledge Translation and Transfer program of the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance. Alison has served as President of the Canadian Nutrition Society, is currently serving on the editorial board for the Journal of Nutrition, and was recently named a Fellow of the Dietitians of Canada.

Robin completed her B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Sciences at Washington State University. She then transitioned to a postdoctoral position at Virginia Tech, where she is currently an Associate Professor of Animal Systems Management. Dr. White leads a research group focused on improving our understanding of ruminant nutrition and leveraging nutrition and technology as strategies to enhance sustainability of livestock production systems. Her work evaluates basic mechanisms governing rumen fermentation; application of mathematical models and technologies to enhance efficiency of meat and milk production; and systems-level investigation of strategies to enhance sustainability of food systems. White teaches undergraduate courses in nutrition and current issues in animal sciences and graduate courses in ruminant nutrition.

Dr. Manuel Juárez coordinates the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Livestock Phenomics program, linking livestock genomics and phenotypic research focused on meat production. Dr. Juárez applies a holistic approach to evaluate the interactions between genetic and environmental factors in order to quantify their relative contribution on animal performance, carcass and meat quality traits. Breeders can benefit from being able to select and sort animals based on current and expected market conditions. His goal is the optimization of livestock production systems to maximize profitability while maintaining or enhancing carcass and meat quality.

Maria Devant has a strong background in research and development for swine and ruminant production. Over the last 20 years, she has focused her scientific career in beef production on improving feed efficiency and enhancing economic returns while minimizing environmental impact, improving animal welfare, and offering high-quality products to consumers through research and innovation. To achieve this goal, creating and leading the Beef Innovation Table has been crucial. This annual meeting connects 12 individuals representing the entire production chain to propose and set research priorities focusing on new and upcoming societal demands such as antibiotic use reduction. Dr. Devant seeks collaboration within and outside the IRTA when expertise outside of her own areas of nutrition and management is needed. In the last 5 years, she has focused her research on 2 topics: improving beef sustainability and animal recovery from stressful periods using nutritional and management strategies. As a result of her work, she has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in major international journals (Quartile 1, 80%) and presented over 130 communications and posters in scientific congresses. Along with her research activity, she is head of the Ruminant Production Program (since 2016) and Animal Nutrition Program (since 2021) and is a member of the Scientific Coordination Team (since 2018) at IRTA. In her roles with these collaborative scientific teams, Dr. Devant has enhanced her openness to different perspectives, ability to conceptualize the big picture, and skill in bridging the gap between individuals to rally a group around a common mission.

Originally from Langley, British Columbia, Miranda grew up around animals. She received her BSc. in Animal Bioscience from the University of Saskatchewan in May 2021, where she became interested in animal nutrition. Following convocation, she started her Master’s work under the guidance of Dr. Dan Columbus at the Prairie Swine Centre. Her work focuses on protein and amino acid metabolism in swine, particularly the inclusion of non-protein nitrogen in swine diets. She plans on working in industry when her Master’s is completed.

Dr. Kiarie is an Associate Professor and holder of The McIntosh Family Professorship in Poultry Nutrition at the University of Guelph. He received PhD and Post-Doctoral training in monogastric nutrition from the University of Manitoba. His research program harnesses basic and applied research to solve contemporary challenges in animal protein production. Current research focuses are: 1) Integration of parental, in-ovo and early life nutrition strategies to bolster gastrointestinal and skeletal development for enhanced productivity and reduction in antibiotic use and 2) Evaluation of novel feed ingredients, feedstuffs processing technologies and innovative feed additives to mitigate feed cost and environmental impact of animal protein production. He teaches Monogastric Nutrition and Animal Disorders courses at the undergraduate level, and Growth and Metabolism at graduate level.  

Dr. Danyel Bueno-Dalto is a veterinarian from State University of Londrina, Brazil. He received his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the same university. Dr. Dalto is currently a research scientist at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre working on swine nutrition, more specifically on the metabolism of vitamins and trace minerals. His research program focuses on three major aspects: 1) quality of ovulation and embryo development; 2) pre- and post-weaning piglet robustness (as an alternative to the use of antibiotics and high levels of zinc oxide); and 3) determination of optimum dietary levels of trace minerals to reduce the environmental impact of high levels of heavy metals in pig manure on soil and water contamination.

Bruce Rathgeber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada. He received his Bachelor of Science majoring in Poultry Science from the University of Saskatchewan. He went on to work for Shaver Poultry Breeding Farms and then Cuddy Chicks before entering a MSc program in the Poultry Science Department at the University of Arkansas. He returned to the University of Saskatchewan to earn a PhD in Food Science. Bruce became a faculty member in the Department of Plant & Animal Sciences at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in 2000. After six years in this position, he joined Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada as a Research Scientist. In 2015, he became a faculty member in the Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture at Dalhousie University in Truro, Nova Scotia. His current research interests include the influence of production practices and nutrition on bird performance and product safety and quality for both meat and egg producing birds. Bruce currently serves as the president of the Canadian branch of World’s Poultry Science Association and as a director for the Atlantic Poultry Research Institute. He has mentored 20 MSc and 2 PhD students, is serving or has served on 44 additional graduate student committees, and has supervised 54 undergraduate special projects. Rathgeber has been an author or co-author on 111 abstracts at scientific meetings, 47 peer-reviewed articles, and 8 trade journal articles and has given 15 invited presentations. Bruce enjoys gardening, raising tropical fish and mountain biking and hiking with his family.

Dr. Martin Nyachoti is a Professor at the University of Manitoba. He holds a B.Sc. (Agric.) from the University of Nairobi and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in animal nutrition from the University of Guelph. Dr. Nyachoti’s current research focuses on nutrition and gut health in the non-ruminant, energy and nutrient (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus) utilization, and feed ingredient evaluation. His current publication record includes 270 peer-reviewed journal articles. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Pfizer Young Scientist Award, the Canadian Society of Animal Science’s Awards for Excellence in Nutrition and Meat Sciences and Technical Innovation in Enhancing Production of Safe Affordable Food, the America Feed Industry Association Nonruminant Nutrition Award from the American Society of Animal Science, and multiple Merit Awards for Research Excellence from the University of Manitoba.

Jing Lu is a PhD candidate in the Department of Animal Science at Dalhousie University. Her research centers around evaluating novel feed ingredients and their therapeutic properties on animal gut health, with a particular emphasis on the gut microbiome and its interaction with the host. Jing’s research is driven by her passion for sustainable animal nutrition and her dedication to enhancing animal health and welfare through innovative solutions, such as early-life provision through in ovo supplementation. She was recently awarded the Scotia Bank Agricultural Graduate Scholarship and Phillip Stead Memorial Excellence in Student Leadership Award, which is a testament to her contributions to academia and leadership skills. Additionally, Jing has received multiple graduate presentation competition awards over the years, which highlights her research abilities and communication skills.

Dr. Eduardo Ribeiro grew up on a small family farm in southern Brazil and graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the Santa Catarina State University in 2008. In 2009, he moved to Florida to start his graduate studies in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, completing a MSc in 2011 and a PhD in 2015. In 2016, Dr. Ribeiro joined the Department of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph as an Assistant Professor, and in 2020 he was promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. Ribeiro teaches animal health and animal reproduction to undergraduate and graduate students and leads a research program in reproductive health of dairy cattle. His multidisciplinary research program examines problems related to transition health and fertility of dairy cows at all levels of organization, from herd management to cell biology, and aims to develop novel management solutions that ultimately improve efficiency and sustainability of dairy production.  

Stephanie Hansen is a Professor in Feedlot Nutrition in the Dept of Animal Science at Iowa State University. An Iowa native, she earned her B.S. from Iowa State and her M.S. and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. With 95+ peer-reviewed papers and over 10 million dollars in funding as Co-PI or PI., she has established an original and impactful research program for beef cattle. A major focus of her program is the refinement of mineral requirements for cattle, especially related to optimizing growth and resiliency to stress. She has received early career awards in research from Iowa State University, the Midwest section of ASAS, and ASAS. Dr. Hansen is passionate about training the next generation of animal scientists. She teaches courses in animal nutrition, ruminant nutrition, and micronutrient metabolism. She also co-hosts a podcast on graduate mentoring called Mentoring Matters. Graduates of her program are serving industry and academia. She enjoys hiking, photography and recently published her first fiction novel.

Robert Van Saun received his DVM degree from Michigan State University in 1982. He practiced in northern New York in a predominately dairy practice prior to returning to Michigan State to complete a MS degree in nutrition (1988) and a residency in theriogenology (reproduction). Dr. Van Saun completed a PhD program in ruminant nutrition at Cornell University (1993). He is a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists and American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Nutrition). Dr. Van Saun was a faculty member with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University from 1992-2000 and worked with the dairy and small ruminant (sheep, goats, camelids) industries in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Van Saun has completed research projects dealing with vitamin D, hepatic lipidosis and trace mineral nutrition in small ruminants. Dr. Van Saun joined the Penn State faculty in 2000 as an extension veterinarian. Robert provides extension programs across species on various nutrition, animal health and reproductive topics regionally, nationally and internationally. He is responsible for teaching courses on parasitology, disease control and pathology of nutritional diseases. His research interests include the role of nutrition in animal health and performance, especially pregnancy nutrition, and improving diagnostic tests to evaluate nutritional status.

Dr. Leluo Guan is Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton Canada.  Dr. Guan is one of the pioneer researchers in cattle gut microbiome. Dr. Guan’s research program focuses on 1) Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of host-microbial interactions by characterization of bovine gut microbial ecology and its functions using metagenomics/metatranscriptomics approaches, and host gene expression using a functional genomics approach; 2) Association between gut microbial ecology and feed efficiency, methane emission and gut immunity development in beef and dairy cattle; and 3) Study of the bovine transcriptome, proteome, and non-coding microRNAs and their roles in economically important traits. Dr. Guan is the author or co-author of 242 peer-reviewed publications and 8 book chapters with an H-index of 61.0. She has secured >$33.9 million of research funding (>$10.5 million as PI and >$23.4 million as Co-I) and has trained a total of 38 grad students and 21 postdocs.  For her contribution, Dr. Guan was awarded with multiple prestigious awards including Technical Innovation in Enhancing Production of Safe Affordable Food Award from Canadian Society of Animal Science in 2013; Killam Professorship in 2017; ADSA Zoetis Physiology Award and Canadian Society of Animal Science Fellowship in 2021.

Myriam Landry graduated from Université Laval in Quebec City with a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy. Under the supervision of Dr. Rachel Gervais from the Université Laval Department of Animal Sciences, her master’s research project was about the effects of increased milking frequency and lipid supplementation on dairy cows’ performances and raw milk quality from a processing point of view. Under the same supervision, she is now beginning her thesis entitled “Dietary lipid supplementation in dairy cows and its effects on milk production, composition, and technological properties”.

Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire is an associate professor at Université Laval, where he teaches in the agronomy and animal science programs related to behaviour, welfare and animal ethics. His research in applied ethology investigates how to evaluate and improve the welfare of farm and laboratory animals. He has previously worked on various topics including abnormal behaviours, juvenile play, pain assessment, validity of biomedical animal models and development of automated tools to monitor behaviour. His current research program, primarily focused on pigs, looks into the social and developmental determinants of robustness – the capacity of animals to cope with various threats to their welfare. Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire also plays an active role with regulatory bodies in the animal welfare sector, notably the Canadian Council for Animal Care.