Achilles Vieira-Neto, an expert in nutrition and endocrinology of dairy cows, has been named a research assistant professor in Texas Tech University's Department of Veterinary Sciences, according to officials within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. He officially stepped into his new research post on June 1.

The Brazil native indicated that his research program broadly focuses on understanding the nutritional physiology underlying the absorption and regulation of nutrients and their metabolism during the transition period in dairy cattle; and to further explore the relationship between calcium and vitamin D metabolites with immune response targeting the discovery of strategies to improve health in postpartum dairy cows.

One of his primary goals here at Tech is to develop an innovative and collaborative research program, capture the gaps in applied dairy nutrition to provide producers novel knowledge through extension programs to improve animal health, performance and profitability, and instruct undergraduate and graduate students to develop clinical skills, critical thinking and the ability to integrate the complex concepts in dairy cattle nutrition and production medicine to improve health, sustainability, and productivity of dairy farms.

Launched in 2017, the Department of Veterinary Sciences is the newest of CASNR's seven departments. Specifically designed as a graduate degree program, Department Chair Michael Ballou notes that the program offers masters and doctorate degrees, both of which are research degrees.

The primary focus of the department, Ballou said, is to train individuals in population and preventative veterinary medicine with a focus on large-production animal medicine.

Prior to joining the Tech faculty, Vieira-Neto served as a research assistant with the Food Animal and Reproductive Medicine Service at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine.

He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Santa Catarina State University in Lages, Brazil. His master's degree and doctorate in animal molecular and cellular biology are from the University of Florida-Gainesville. He is a member of the American Dairy Science Association, Sigma Xi Scientific, Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture, and the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council.

As part of his position, Vieira-Neto will have access to Texas Tech's sprawling mix of laboratory animal facilities that include the Gordon W. Davis Meat Laboratory; a livestock arena; the New Deal Farm which consists of more than 900 acres, as well as the Burnett Center's Research Feedlot; an equestrian center; and a food safety laboratory in Tech's Experimental Sciences Building.

CONTACT: Michael Ballou, Chair, Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-6513 or michael.ballou@ttu.edu

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Editor's Note: A new online, video-orientated Red Raider Orientation is now available for our Fall 2020 incoming students. The microsite features a 'Meet the Deans' introduction, six CASNR department videos, three 'How To' videos, four 'Helpful Links' and a FAQ section.