The ruminant nutrition program is characterized by highly productive individual research programs and a concomitant commitment to the pursuit of collaborative research efforts. Scientists within the ruminant nutrition program maintain the dual goals of conducting research which will advance the understanding of fundamental nutritional phenomena and provide insight into practical aspects of the nutritional management of ruminant livestock. Students entering the program are provided with a strong foundation in ruminal and post-ruminal digestion, absorption and metabolism as well as training in the fundamental experimental procedures necessary for conducting ruminant nutrition research.

Supporting coursework is frequently pursued in the areas of biochemistry, grain science, microbiology, physiology and statistics. Areas of research emphasis within the ruminant nutrition group include:

** dairy cattle nutrition

** cow-calf nutrition 

** feedlot nutrition

** growth and development

** rumen microbiology (via Dr. Nagaraja in Vet. School)

** stocker nutrition