Online Programs

Dr. Phil Cardoso is an Associate Professor and Extension Faculty Specialist at the University of Illinois. Dr. Cardoso addresses the most important challenges faced by the dairy industry through his research in nutrition and reproduction. He engages dairy producers to implement data-driven best management practices into their operations. He studies the mechanisms of metabolic adaptation from gestation to lactation and the impact of nutrition on metabolism, reproduction, and health.

Dr. Josh McCann is an Assistant Professor of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He studies the influence of nutrition on metabolism and growth of feedlot cattle by characterizing ruminal fermentation and the gut microbiome. His work contributes to the sustainability and profitability of feedlot cattle operations that provide high-quality beef to consumers.

Dr. Jim Drackley is Professor of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 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. Isabella Condotta is an Assistant Professor of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Condotta’s research focuses on reducing animal stress, improving animal well-being and environmental sustainability, and helping farmers make better and more efficient management decisions by developing precision animal management systems. Her interdisciplinary research applies advanced technologies, such as image and audio processing and machine learning algorithms, to acquire and analyze individual animal’s electronic data, allowing continuous and automatic monitoring of their behavior, health, and well-being.

Dr. Juan Loor is a Professor of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Loor is an international leader in his field, advancing knowledge to understand cattle development better while helping feed a growing world population. He studies nutritional and physiological genomics during the neonatal, lactation, and rapid growth periods in beef and dairy cattle.

Dr. Derek T. Nolan is Teaching Assistant Professor and Extension Faculty Specialist of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Nolan helps dairy producers reach their goals by providing tools to make informed management decisions and improve milk quality. He focuses on providing hands-on experiences that help youth better understand the dairy cow and dairy production system.