The Weaning Transition in Dairy Calves: Why is it so often so traumatic?

Dr. Jim Drackley is Professor of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jim grew up on a small dairy farm in Minnesota and received his Ph.D. in Nutritional Physiology from Iowa State University. Since joining the faculty of the University of Illinois in 1989, his research program has focused on improving the health, welfare, and productivity of dairy cattle through nutrition. Specifically, his research deals with improving nutritional management of dairy cows during the dry period and transition to lactation, and nutritional management of baby calves to improve health and growth. Dr. Drackley has published extensively, has trained more than 45 graduate students, and is consistently on the “List of Excellent Teachers” as voted by his students at the University of Illinois. He has received numerous awards for his research, and has worked with dairy and industry groups around the world. He served as a member of the National Research Council sub-committee to produce the 8th edition of the NASEM publication “Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle”.