VEERKRACHT DAIRY CONGRESS - Key Persons
Walter Grünberg is a senior researcher and clinician at the Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover with specialty in bovine internal medicine. Walter graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria and obtained a doctoral degree from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany. After several years in food animal practice, Walter returned to academia and held research- and clinical track positions at the Veterinary Teaching Hospitals of the Free University Berlin, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Purdue University and Utrecht University. Beside of holding board certifications in animal reproduction and bovine health management Walter has been granted the status of associate diplomate of the ACVIM. His research focus is on metabolic diseases, with an emphasis on mineral-, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances in cows and calves. Walter has authored or coauthored of over 60 scientific publications, numerous book chapters and is coeditor of the 11th edition of Veterinary Medicine, a textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and goats.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Metabolic Physiology
Dr. Bradford is a Professor of Metabolic Physiology in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University. After completing BS degrees in animal science and agricultural biochemistry (2002), he went on to earn a PhD in dairy nutrition at Michigan State University under the guidance of Dr. Michael Allen. Bradford joined the faculty at Kansas State University in 2006 with a 40% teaching / 60% research appointment, and has subsequently been promoted through the ranks to full professor. Bradford's research focuses on dairy cattle nutrition and metabolic physiology, with a particular emphasis on translating novel findings in fundamental metabolic physiology to practical applications in animal agriculture. Contributions by Bradford's group have largely focused on dietary utilization of byproducts in lactation diets, the physiological impacts of systemic postpartum inflammation, and the roles of nutrients as signals. Working closely with 20 graduate students and dozens of collaborators, Bradford has contributed to more than 75 refereed publications and shared those findings in more than 100 invited presentations.
Jo Leroy graduated as a Veterinarian, specialized in ruminants, in 2001 after which he continued with his PhD research at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (University of Ghent, Belgium). During this PhD period he investigated the impact of the negative energy balance in dairy cows on reproductive physiology and on oocyte and embryo quality. During that 4 year period he also contributed in the ambulatory large animal clinic and herd health services.
In fall 2006 Leroy moved to the University of Antwerp teaching Veterinary Physiology, Pathophysiology and Husbandry to the bachelor students of veterinary sciences. Furthermore, he was able to build his own research line focusing on the effect of maternal metabolic health on the quality of the oocyte and the embryo and on the health of the offspring. Both in vitro and in vivo models are used. The dairy cow model shows to be ideal to study the impact of maternal health on the very first steps of new life. Many of the study results are relevant for human reproductive medicine as well.
He stayed involved in the field and activities of potential stakeholders (dairy industry, feeding industry, human assisted reproduction) as board member of scientific and more applied associations (AETE), and as expert panel member of industrial partners. Jo Leroy is often invited as a speaker or a consultant. He is the author of more than 100 peer reviewed scientific papers and supervised more than 10 PhD theses. All this is combined with a heavy teaching load. Since 1 January 2018 he is appointed as a full professor at the University of Antwerp.