 |
Keira CruickshankPosition/Title: M.Sc. by Thesis email: kcruic01@uoguelph.ca Phone: Office: ANNU 016B
|
Previous Education: BSc in Animal Health, University of Alberta, 2014-2018
Current Education: MSc (by thesis) in Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 2019-2021
Biography
My passion for agriculture and the dairy industry began in my undergraduate degree, during which I worked at the University of Alberta’s Dairy Research & Technology Centre and competed in an intercollegiate dairy consulting competition called Dairy Challenge. My interest in research developed through my time as a research assistant at University of Alberta, which led me to pursue an MSc in ruminant nutrition at the University of Guelph under the supervision of Dr. Michael Steele. I am very passionate about the dairy industry and understanding the vital role that nutrition plays in optimizing cattle health and performance.
Research Interests
My research focuses on selenium supplementation in dairy cow diets. Selenium is an essential nutrient and is required in the diet in sufficient amounts to maintain dairy cow health and performance. My research examines how source of selenium in the diet impacts its bioavailability in lactating dairy cattle. My research utilizes stable isotopes to quantify absorption and retention of selenium. I am also examining the effect of dietary selenium source on animal performance parameters including milk production, antioxidant status, immune function, and inflammatory response during an endotoxin immune challenge.