Turner Swartz
Assistant Professor
Biography
Originally from a dairy farm in central Pennsylvania, Turner Swartz came to South Dakota State University in February 2023.
He attended Pennsylvania State University for his bachelor's degree in animal sciences. At Penn State, he was a member of the dairy judging team which was the first place team overall and high reasons at the 2007 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge. He was also a member of the American Dairy Science Association quiz bowl team, which placed first at the 2009 ADSA-SAD Quiz Bowl Contest.
After graduation, he worked as a herdsman for five years where he gained valuable skills and knowledge related to dairy cattle management. After which, he attended Virginia Tech where he pursued his Ph.D. in dairy cattle health under the guidance of Christina Petersson-Wolfe. Following his time at Virgina Tech, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Barry Bradford at Michigan State University focused on immunometabolism and nutritional physiology.
Today, his lab focuses on nutritional and management strategies to improve dairy cattle health. Outside of the office, Swartz enjoys spending his time hiking in the Black Hills, watching football and judging dairy cattle.
He attended Pennsylvania State University for his bachelor's degree in animal sciences. At Penn State, he was a member of the dairy judging team which was the first place team overall and high reasons at the 2007 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge. He was also a member of the American Dairy Science Association quiz bowl team, which placed first at the 2009 ADSA-SAD Quiz Bowl Contest.
After graduation, he worked as a herdsman for five years where he gained valuable skills and knowledge related to dairy cattle management. After which, he attended Virginia Tech where he pursued his Ph.D. in dairy cattle health under the guidance of Christina Petersson-Wolfe. Following his time at Virgina Tech, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Barry Bradford at Michigan State University focused on immunometabolism and nutritional physiology.
Today, his lab focuses on nutritional and management strategies to improve dairy cattle health. Outside of the office, Swartz enjoys spending his time hiking in the Black Hills, watching football and judging dairy cattle.
