Our new venture begins
It’s my pleasure to welcome you to our newly renovated Department of Animal Sciences Newsletter. Looking at the database that we have available, there are a few names that I recognize but certainly most of them I do not, so I would like to introduce myself first. My name is Guillermo Scaglia, and I am the Department Head of Animal Sciences since April 2022. My wife, Adriana, and I moved to Fargo from Louisiana. We both worked at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (Adriana was a 4-H Agent in St. Mary Parish for 14 years). We have a daughter, Florencia, who is now doing her residency (MD) at The Ohio State University. We were all born in Uruguay, South America. I used to work in research and extension on beef cattle and sheep extensive and intensive production systems at the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Uruguay until we moved to the United States in 1999. After completing my PhD degree at Texas A&M University (I am a ruminant nutritionist by training), I worked at Virginia Tech, and then moved to the LSU AgCenter. My research program included the evaluation of year-round forage systems for cow-calf and finishing steers, supplementation strategies with industry by-products, use of legumes in grazing conditions to reduce the use of chemical fertilizer, impact of weaning strategies on reproductive performance of the dam and behavior, intake, and immune response on calves. The holistic approach to grass-fed beef production provided enormous opportunities for federal and state funding support for the program.
In my role at NDSU, I am proud to say that we have a great Department of Animal Sciences, with excellent curriculum for three majors that prepare our graduates for different careers in livestock industries. Most importantly, the Department is full of dedicated faculty and staff that are conscious of their role, which is to help and guide our students throughout their college life. Yes, college life, because we are here not just to tell them which classes they need to take but to help them navigate the opportunities offered by the university. We want them to feel comfortable and have a sense of belonging in our bison community. Faculty and staff are also responsible for several co-curricular activities and clubs such as livestock and meat judging teams, rodeo and equestrian teams, academic quadrathlon, and national and international tours. These experiences allow our students not only to practice skills, but also to learn how to work as a team, respect peers, respect adults, and a more universal understanding of what it means and what is needed to live in our society.
Our newsletter will have three issues every year. The idea with it, is to keep you informed of what is going on in the Department and as you will see within these pages and in future issues, our faculty, staff, and students will tell you about their work, successes, dreams, and activities. Our Department is a hub of innovation, collaboration, and learning. We want to share with all of you our work and in a way, keep you close to the Department and NDSU.
We strive, with a perseverant spirit, to help stake-holders improve their livelihoods. The department has a tremendous legacy and reputation that we are determined to build on. Being connected with our producers, alumni, and friends is an important piece of our program.
We will certainly have the chance to visit in the future somewhere in North Dakota, but also accept the invitation to visit our department during our events or just stop by when you come through Fargo.
Best regards,
Guillermo
