Improving animal health and operational productivity

At CFAES Wooster, researchers work across dairy, beef, small-ruminant, swine, poultry and equine systems to improve animal health, welfare and product quality.

Species-specific facilities, diverse herds and flocks, and experienced animal operations staff allow researchers to study questions in working production environments. Projects can range from controlled feeding and genetics studies to herd- and flock-level research involving reproduction, animal behavior and management practices.

Areas of research

Animal nutrition and production efficiency

Our facilities support controlled and applied studies involving dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goats, swine and poultry. Researchers study how feed, forage and management affect animal growth, health, performance and efficiency.

Research may include:

  • Feed intake and nutrient use
  • Diet formulation and feed ingredients
  • Growth and feed efficiency
  • Dairy production and lactation
  • Forage and grazing systems
  • Relationships among nutrition, health and meat quality

Reproduction and genetics

Breeding herds, flocks and specialized facilities allow researchers to explore reproductive performance and genetic improvement across animal species.

Research may focus on:

  • Reproductive physiology
  • Fertility and breeding management
  • Maternal and offspring performance
  • Genetic selection
  • Poultry genetics
  • Traits associated with productivity and disease resistance

Facilities supporting this work include maternity and calving areas, a fully equipped equine breeding laboratory, farrowing and gestation facilities, and breeding programs involving cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry and horses.

Animal health and disease resistance

Researchers examine the biological, genetic, nutritional and management factors that influence animal health.

Studies may help identify ways to prevent disease, strengthen animals鈥� natural resistance and improve management practices. Research environments also allow faculty and students to work within the biosecurity and animal-care procedures used throughout animal agriculture.

Research areas may include:

  • Disease resistance
  • Health monitoring
  • Biosecurity practices
  • Relationships among nutrition and health
  • Effects of housing and management
  • Population and flock health

Animal welfare and behavior

Animal welfare research considers how housing, handling, nutrition and management affect animal behavior and well-being.

Wooster鈥檚 range of facilities allows researchers to evaluate animals in pasture, group housing, individual feeding areas and confinement systems. The beef facilities include a Temple Grandin-designed handling system that supports low-stress cattle movement and safe handling.

Research may examine:

  • Animal behavior
  • Handling and movement
  • Housing systems
  • Environmental conditions
  • Stress and welfare indicators
  • Management practices that support animal well-being

Meat quality and animal products

Researchers investigate how genetics, nutrition, health and management influence the quality and value of animal products.

This work helps connect decisions made throughout an animal鈥檚 life with outcomes important to producers, processors and consumers.

Research may include:

  • Meat quality
  • Growth and carcass characteristics
  • Effects of nutrition on product quality
  • Production consistency
  • Relationships among genetics, management and performance

Fact sheets

Research resources across species

CFAES Wooster maintains diverse animal populations and facilities that support both controlled and applied research.

Resources include:

  • Approximately 150 lactating registered Holsteins at Krauss Dairy
  • Beef cattle and small-ruminant facilities with individual and group feeding pens
  • Sheep and goat herds supported by pasture, grazing acreage and flexible housing
  • More than 36,000 square feet of poultry research housing
  • Swine breeding, farrowing, nursery and finishing facilities
  • Dairy heifer development facilities and rotationally grazed pasture
  • Beef herds, pasture, a monoslope feedlot and a Temple Grandin-designed handling facility
  • An equine center with breeding, foaling and riding facilities

Active research and teaching area

Research and teaching activities follow Ohio State animal-care requirements, approved protocols and applicable biosecurity procedures. The animal units are active research, teaching and production facilities and are not open for self-guided public access

Plan a research project

Researchers interested in using animals, facilities or animal-operations support at CFAES Wooster should contact the team during the early stages of project planning.

Animal-operations staff work with researchers to identify the animals, facilities and support needed for each study.

Depending on the project, support may include animal selection and housing, feeding protocols, breeding activities, sample collection, data gathering, biosecurity, animal handling and daily care.