Brad Heins
University of Minnesota · Animal Science
Active 1986–2026
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About
Brad Heins is a Professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, earned in 2010, along with a Master's degree in Animal Science with a Minor in Statistics obtained in 2006, and a Bachelor's degree in Animal and Plant Systems from the same university in 1998. His research focuses on organic dairy production, crossbreeding in dairy cattle, renewable energy systems for dairies, and the application of precision technologies to improve dairy grazing systems. He has contributed to understanding the microbiota of dairy cows, the effects of herbal therapies on calves, and genetic parameters related to health and production traits in dairy cattle. He is involved in teaching applied statistical models and dairy nutrition, and his work includes investigating animal health, welfare, and environmental sustainability within organic dairy systems.
Research topics
- Medicine
- Veterinary medicine
- Biology
- Animal science
- Biotechnology
- Genetics
- Geography
- Food science
- Psychology
- Toxicology
Selected publications
Evaluation of solar photovoltaic systems to shade cows in a pasture-based dairy herd
Journal of Dairy Science · 2020-12-25 · 82 citations
articleOpen accessCorrespondingThe combined use of solar photovoltaics and agriculture may provide farmers with an alternative source of income and reduce heat stress in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to determine the effects on grazing cattle under shade from a solar photovoltaic system. The study was conducted at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, Minnesota on a grazing dairy. Twenty-four crossbred cows were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups (shade or no shade…
Journal of Dairy Science · 2020 · 37 citations
There is a need for standardized, efficient, and practical sampling methods to support large population-based studies of the internal and external epithelial microbiomes of the bovine udder. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate different sampling devices for the isolation of microbial DNA originating from the internal and external teat epithelium. Secondary objectives were to survey and compare the microbial diversity of external and teat canal epithelial microbiomes using amplico…
Journal of Dairy Science · 2021 · 21 citations
The first 2 generations from a 3-breed rotation of the Viking Red (VR), Montbéliarde (MO), and Holstein (HO) breeds were compared with their HO herdmates in high-performance commercial herds in Minnesota. The designed study enrolled pure HO females in 2008 to initiate a comparison of 3-breed rotational crossbreds with their HO herdmates. Sires of cows were proven artificial insemination bulls selected for high genetic merit in each of the 3 breeds. The first-generation cows calved for a first ti…
Journal of Dairy Science · 2020 · 20 citations
Three generations of crossbreds from a 3-breed rotation of the Viking Red (VR), Montbéliarde (MO), and Holstein (HO) breeds were compared with their HO herdmates in 7 commercial dairy herds in Minnesota. The designed study enrolled 3,550 HO females in 2008 to initiate crossbreeding and a control of pure HO herdmates within each herd. Service sires were high-ranking, proven AI bulls selected for high genetic merit within each of the VR, MO, and HO breeds. Cows in this study calved from 2010 to 20…
Journal of Dairy Science · 2020 · 17 citations
Three generations of crossbred cows from a 3-breed rotation of the Viking Red (VR), Montbéliarde (MO), and Holstein (HO) breeds were compared with HO herdmates in 7 high-performance, commercial dairy herds in Minnesota. The designed study was initiated in 2008 with the enrollment of 3,550 HO females. Sires of cows were proven artificial insemination bulls and were high-ranking for genetic merit within each of the VR, MO, and HO breeds. The first generation of cows calved a first time from 2010 t…
Frequent coauthors
- 60 shared
Emily Krekelberg
- 55 shared
Joe Armstrong
- 27 shared
G.M. Pereira
University of Maine
- 25 shared
L.B. Hansen
University of Minnesota
- 23 shared
Hannah N. Phillips
- 20 shared
Kirsten Sharpe
Colorado State University
- 18 shared
A.R. Hazel
University of Minnesota
- 15 shared
A.J. Seykora
University of Minnesota
Labs
Department of Animal SciencePI
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