ROYAL GD - Key Persons
Expertise
Ruminant nutrition and health
Drinking water for animals
Dairy herd health
Biography
Ant grew up on a family dairy farm in the Netherlands. She studied veterinary medicine at the University of Utrecht (graduation in 1996). During the first 12 years after graduation she worked as a veterinarian and co-owner in a veterinary practice in the central part of the Netherlands where she focussed on (prevention of) health problems in dairy cows. Especially herd health, nutrition and feed (management) on dairy farms attracted her interest. In 2008, Ant made a shift in her career, transitioning to a role as a researcher/consultant with a specialization in "Ruminant Nutrition and Health" at Schothorst Feed Research BV, an esteemed international research and knowledge institute based in the Netherlands. Her research and consultancy expertise revolved around critical areas such as transition cow management, subacute rumen acidosis, rumen and gut health, vitamins, macrominerals, trace elements, and nutrition for young stock. Additionally, she derived a lot of satisfaction in solving complex health issues on farms.
Since 2022, Ant works at Royal GD in Deventer, contributing to the "Ruminant Health Monitoring Team" and the product team (FIT-team) focusing on health and nutrition. Her role extends to research projects centered on nutrition, and problem-solving at dairy farms.
One of Ant's passions is exploring the impact of sustainable agriculture and feed management on dairy farming and the health of dairy cows. Specific areas of interest include the effects of measures like reducing protein and phosphorus levels in dairy rations, as well as methods to mitigate methane output on health and performance of dairy cows.
Expertise
Animal health surveillance
Youngstock
Parasitic diseases
Expertise
Zoonotic diseases
Monitoring and surveillance
Virus discovery
Moleculair diagnostics and next-generation sequencing
Expertise
Bacteriology
Cryptosporidium parvum
Mycoplasma bovis
Tritrichomonas foetus
Campylobacter fetus
Coxiella burnetti
Streptococcus suis
"This world is not ruled by presidents but by bacteria. Bacteria outnumber humans by magnitudes. Since we can't beat them. Join them!" Erik van Engelen
Biography
After finishing his master degree in Biology with focus on the immune system, Erik succeeded also the study for becoming a veterinarian. After some years working as bovine practitioner, he became lecturer at the Veterinary Faculty, teaching physiology. His PhD thesis focused on the calving process of cows, which can be described as an inflammatory process. About ten years ago, Erik started working at the Animal Health Service as immunologist, however after some years he changed to bacteriology for which he received the Dutch specialization. Erik is involved in several studies on detection and characterization of veterinary important pathogens. This also includes the production and improvement of autologous vaccines, a really promising topic at this moment.
Expertise
Infectious disease IBR
Infectious disease BVD
Animal Welfare
Expertise
Development of veterinary diagnostic assays, especially immunodiagnostic assys (e.g. ELISA)
Biography
After his education (university of applied sciences, biochemistry), Harold worked as research technician at GD Animal Health between 1982 and 2010. In 2009 he completed a PhD on Histomonas meleagridis at University of Utrecht. Since 2010, Harold is a senior R&D scientist at GD Animal Health and manager of GD's R&D laboratory.
Expertise
Quantitative epidemiology
Surveillance
Simulation modelling
Predictive modelling
Risk analyses
Data products
'I am an enthusiastic epidemiological researcher who is committed to deliver high quality research and is both scientifically and practically oriented. The thing that I love about epidemiology is that it provides the opportunity to add value by translating large amounts of data into practical and comprehensible information for stakeholders. I aim to contribute to a livestock industry that is based on preventive medicine rather than cure, that has high health and welfare standards and that is cherished by the Dutch society.' Inge Santman-Berends
Biography
In 2006, dr. ir. Inge Santman-Berends obtained her MSc in Animal Science at Wageningen University, the Netherlands with a specialisation in Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics. After her graduation in 2006, Inge started to work in the Epidemiology group of GD as a veterinary epidemiologist. In 2011, she obtained a PhD at Utrecht University with a thesis entitled: "Impact and transmission of Bluetongue serotype 8 in dairy cattle". Since 2012, Inge works as a senior veterinary epidemiologist with focus on monitoring and surveillance, risk analysis and quantitative epidemiology. Additionally, from October 2015 on Inge became responsible for the output of the epidemiology department on field studies and product innovations. Since 2021, she is heading the Epidemiology group of GD. Besides her position at GD, Inge is since March 2017 also part-time employed at Utrecht University as coordinator of an EU funded project on the development of a Surveillance Tool for Outcome-based Comparison of FREEdom from infections generated by control programmes (STOC free).
Expertise
Quantitative epidemiology
Data monitoring
Syndromic surveillance
Expertise
Surveillance
Research projects (antimicrobial use and resistance in poultry)
Consultancy
Bacterial diseases in poultry
''Our common goal is to raise and keep healthy animals. This should be a priority for anyone working in livestock,whether it is in The Netherlands or anywhere else in the world. My aim is to work together towards this goal by gathering and dissemination knowledge on health and disease and how to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. Monitoring is a great tool to be able to detect deviations in animal health and act timely and accordingly.'' Jeanine Wiegel
Biography
In 2014 Jeanine completed her veterinary medicine studies at Utrecht University, with a focus on livestock and public health. Soon thereafter she started working as a poultry veterinarian at GD Animal Health. Her work consists of giving advice to veterinarians, farmers and other professionals in the poultry industry. It concerns health and diseases, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Responsiblities are linked to monitoring, research projects and consultancy, in the Netherlands and abroad. Many of the research projects concern antimicrobial use and resistance in poultry. Jeanine graduated Cum Laude from University of Georgia, USA as a Master in Avian Health and Medicine in 2019.
Expertise
Immune diagnostics
Epidemiology
Laboratory quality
Ruminant infectious disease
Expertise
Animal welfare
Bluetongue
Infectious disease BVD
Infectious disease IBR
Leptospirosis
Job Titles:
- Specialist Veterinary Microbiology
Expertise
Equine infectious diseases
Transboundary animal diseases
Virology
Diagnostic methods, in particular serological, virological and molecular methods
Virtual and field training in low and middle income countries
Job Titles:
- Specialist Equine Internal Medicine
Expertise
Equine infectious diseases
Equine internal medicine
Biography
Linda studied Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and graduated in december 1995. After graduating, she worked for 2 years in two small animal practices with also a limited number of equine patients. After two years, she returned to university for a four-year training as a specialist in Equine Internal Medicine. Patient care, research, liaising with referring veterinarians and also educating students in their final phase of the study were among her tasks during this period. After successfully completing this program Linda worked for 13 years as a practitioner in a large equine clinic (DAP Bodegraven) where she participated in ambulatory care and anesthesia work, however internal medicine for equine residential patients was her main area of focus.
Since 2014 Linda works at GD Animal Health (now Royal GD) in Deventer with exclusive focus on equine health topics. Based on her accumulated experience, among other things she acts here as a sparring partner for equine practitioners in the field on topics related to equine internal medicine and in particular advice on suitable options for diagnostics.
Furthermore she is involved in safeguarding animal welfare on Dutch farms by working in on-call acute intervention teams in the event of suspected animal neglect.
Expertise
Swine health
Diagnostics
Brucella suis
Microbiota
Expertise
Quantitative epidemiology
Prediction models
New methodological opportunities
Zoonoses
‘The combination of diagnostics and animal health expertise is what makes GD so unique. This enables us to offer products and services that not only improve animal health, but are also convenient for our customers and generate good financial returns.'
Dr. Ynte Schukken is Chief Executive Officer at Royal GD in Deventer, the Netherlands and a Professor of Management of Farm Animal Health at Wageningen University with a courtesy appointment as Professor of Farm Animal Disease Control Programs at the Veterinary College at Utrecht University. Dr. Schukken's research approach is based on understanding epidemiology and pathobiology of the diseases and population dynamics of infectious diseases in animal populations and in application of epidemiological, statistical and mathematical methods to animal disease research. Ynte worked for many years at Quality Milk Production Services at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, USA. As an expert in bovine mastitis and infectious diseases he has published extensively in the peer reviewed and public literature. Ynte also has consulted on many dairy farms across the world and taught courses to groups of veterinarians, farmers and students.
Field of expertise: bovine mastitis, endemic infectious diseases of dairy farms, epidemiology, diagnostic tests, animal health programmes
Expertise
Molecular diagnostics
Molecular biology
Molecular epidemiology and genotyping of veterinary pathogens
Mycoplasma synoviae
Infectious bronchitis virus
Infectious bursal disease virus
Expertise
Bovine mastitis
Udder health
Antibiotic use
Expertise
Swine Health
Infectious pig diseases
One Health in pig farming
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae