Titles and Education

1. Current - Associate Professor in the Food Animal Production Medicine Setion
2. BS 1978, The Ohio State University
3. DVM 1981, The Ohio State University
4. MS 1985, University of Illinois

Research

My current research interest are in the prevention of hypocalcemia in dairy cattle by oral administration of calcium supplements; the effects of subclinical ketosis on dairy cow performance; and the effects of hypocalcemia on dairy cow health and reproductive performance.  Previous interests included the prevention of ruminal acidosis, direct-fed microbials, and manipulating dietary cation-anion different for the prevention of hypocalcemia.

Visit the FAPM Website

Responsibilities

I teach veterinary clinical nutrition to the first-year veterinary medical students, food animal medicine to the third-year students, and applied aspects of dairy nutrition and transition cow management to the fourth-year veterinary medical students.  My clinical activities include providing on-farm troubleshooting for dairy herds in Wisconsin and nearby states.

Clinical Interests

My main clinical activity is dairy herd troubleshooting for production and metabolic disease problems.  This typically involves a visit to the farm with students, followed by a report and follow-up discussion.  Herd problems that I investigate include low milk yield, milk fever, ketosis, diarrhea, displaced abomasum, pneumonia, or general issues with poor fresh cow health.  As part of these investigations I conduct a detailed analysis of feeding practices, evaluate on-farm diagnosis and treatment protocols, and collect samples from the cows for additional testing as needed.   

Graduate Training

BS - The Ohio State University (Animal Science), 1978
DVM - The Ohio State University, 1981
Internship and Residency (Food Animal Medicine and Surgery), University of Illinois, 1981 - 1985
MS - University of Illinois (Veterinary Clinical Medicine), 1985

Recent Publications

1. Krause, KM, Dhuyvetter, DV, Oetzel GR. Effect of a low-moisture buffer block on ruminal pH in lactating dairy cattle induced with subacute ruminal acidosis. Journal of Dairy Science, 92:353-364, 2009.
2. Oetzel GR, Miller BE. Effect of oral calcium supplementation on early lactation health and milk yield in commercial dairy herds.  Journal of Dairy Science 95:7051-7065, 2012.
3. McArt, JAA, Nydam, DV, Ospina, PA, Oetzel, GR. A field trial on the effect of propylene glycol on displaced abomasum, removal from herd, and reproduction in fresh cows diagnosed with subclinical ketosis. Journal of Dairy Science 95:2505-2512, 2012.
4. McArt, JAA, Nydam, DV, Oetzel, GR. Epidemiology of subclinical ketosis in early lactation dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 95:5056-5066, 2012.
5. McArt, JAA, Nydam, DV, Oetzel, GR. Dry period and parturient predictors of early lactation hyperketonemia in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 96:198-209, 2013.

6. Oetzel GR: Undertaking nutritional diagnostic investigations. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, Dairy Nutrition, Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 30(3):765-788, 2014.