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Behind the scenes with Assistant Professor Dr. Kristen Edwards
Research Roundup Fall 2025
Tell us about your background and what brought you to the University of Guelph!
I completed my DVM and PhD at the University of Guelph and spent 11 years in private practice as a cattle veterinarian. My doctoral research, under the supervision of Dr. David Renaud, focused on factors associated with the success of calves during the preweaning and periweaning periods. Although my PhD was very dairy-focused, through that work, I became interested in how management, nutrition, and health intersect to influence outcomes in both beef and dairy cattle. After completing my PhD, I was fortunate to join the Ontario Veterinary College as an Assistant Professor in Ruminant Health Management, which really feels like coming full circle. Guelph’s strong applied research community and its close connection to industry make it an ideal place to continue working on problems that matter to producers.
Congratulations on becoming an Assistant Professor! Can you tell us what your new role looks like?
Thank you! My role is a mix of teaching, research, and service. On the teaching side, I’m involved in the fourth-year Beef Rotation, where students gain practical experience in herd health, production medicine, and client communication. My research program focuses on calf and youngstock health and management (both beef and dairy) with projects ranging from colostrum processing to liver abscess prevention and understanding risk factors associated with abattoir condemnations. I also serve on several committees at the University of Guelph and nationally through the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, including chairing the Cattle Youngstock Committee and serving as the Cattle Research & Innovation Lead for the AI4Food Hub.
What made you interested in becoming an Assistant Professor as you wrapped up your PhD?
I’ve always enjoyed both the investigative and mentoring sides of academia. I enjoy the process of designing studies that could have a tangible on-farm impact, while also supporting students and producers in interpreting and applying the results. The opportunity to build a research program that integrates clinical relevance, epidemiology, and innovation, while teaching and collaborating with veterinarians and producers, felt like a natural next step.
What is your lab going to be focusing on?
Broadly, my lab focuses on youngstock health as well as general nutrition and management of beef and dairy animals with the overarching goal of improving health outcomes and reducing antimicrobial use and condemnation. Current projects include evaluating sous-vide pasteurization of colostrum for Salmonella Dublin control, developing an experimental model for liver abscess induction, and partnering with industry and computer science colleagues to digitize and model carcass condemnation data in Ontario abattoirs. I’m also investigating how specific feed additives can enhance colostrum quality and improve calf growth and immunity in cow–calf pairs, bridging the gap between nutrition, immunity, and long-term performance. Across all of these, we aim to combine strong applied science with practical, producer-focused solutions.
How do you hope your research will help producers and the Canadian beef industry?
My goal is to generate data that helps producers make management and health decisions with more confidence. Whether that’s improving animal resilience during stressful transition periods, reducing antimicrobial reliance, or identifying risk factors for carcass losses, the common thread is evidence that’s actionable. I hope this work contributes to healthier cattle, improved efficiency, and long-term sustainability across the beef and dairy sectors.
Is there anything else about your research that you would like to share?
I’m very interested in interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly linking animal health data with technology and computational tools. Exploring how machine learning and digital decision-support systems can be applied in animal agriculture is an exciting and evolving area of science. This type of integration can really enhance transparency and data-driven decision-making in the industry.
Do you have any projects that you need a graduate student for?
Yes! I’m currently looking for a Master's or PhD student interested in beef cattle health and production, particularly focusing on antimicrobial stewardship and disease prevention strategies. Students interested in nutrition and maternal–calf health, especially in exploring how feed additives affect colostrum and early calf performance, are also encouraged to reach out. Interested students are welcome to contact me at kedwar01@uoguelph.ca
Funding acknowledgement:
My position and early research program are supported by the Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Beef Cattle Research Council.
