The I-29 Moo University 2024 Dairy Webinar Series continues Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The webinar will feature a review of research on heat stress in dairy calves with Dr. Jimena Laporta from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Dr. Laporta is originally from Uruguay, where she received a B.S. degree in Biology and a M.S. degree in Animal Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Dairy Science from UW-Madison (2014) and was a faculty member at the University of Florida for five years. She joined the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at UW-Madison in fall 2020 as an Assistant Professor in lactation physiology.
Laporta’s research integrates mammary gland physiology with advances in management and nutrition to overcome challenges dairy cattle face across their lifetime, including increased susceptibility to the environment, metabolic disorders, and immune suppression. She incorporates state-of-the-art molecular techniques to investigate how autocrine, systemic, and environmental factors affect the regulation of mammary gland development and function, as well as milk synthesis and composition. She also investigates the underlying molecular mechanisms by which prenatal and postnatal stressors contribute to the programming of offspring’s future potential.
By targeting these early life developmental windows, Dr. Laporta aims to develop management practices and therapeutic interventions to improve future health and productivity outcomes. Her outreach goal is to generate knowledge that can be translated into practical improvements while training future scientists and educating the community on the importance of the efficient production of sustainable dairy products.
There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, registration is required at least one hour before the webinar. Register online at https://go.iastate.edu/HEATSTRESS24.
For more information, contact: in Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230; in Minnesota, Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093; or in South Dakota, Patricia Villamediana, 605-688-4116.