Leoni F. Martins

DVM, MSc., PhD student

• Ruminant nutrition
• Dairy science
• Animal health

My work is centered on sustainable dairy nutrition, with a specific emphasis on precision nutrition as a potential strategy to enhance the efficiency and environmental sustainability of dairy cattle. My research has investigated the impacts of feeding methods and the frequency of concentrate feeding on lactational performance, enteric gas emissions, and efficiency of nutrient utilization in dairy cows. The overarching goal is to refine precision nutrition from the group to the individual animal level. My research portfolio extends to projects exploring the effects of phytonutrients, rumen buffer, and exogenous enzymes supplementation to modify ruminal fermentation, enhance nutrient digestibility, and improve both performance and health in dairy cows. Employing meta-analytical approaches, I have quantified the efficacy of methane-mitigating strategies and assessed the predictive capacity of nutritional models. Additionally, I have explored machine-learning algorithms to enhance the precision nutrition of dairy cows.

Contact information

College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Sciences

333 Agricultural Sciences Building, University Park, PA 16802 US

leonimartins@psu.edu / leoniferreiramv@gmail.com

LinkedIn

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

ORCID

Curriculum vitae and resume

Curriculum vitae

Resume

Current Position

• 2021-2024 Graduate Research Assistant at the Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University.
  • My research focuses on sustainable dairy nutrition with an emphasis on evaluating strategies to enhance efficiency and precision feeding of dairy cows.
    • Expected graduation date: Fall 2024

Education

• 2021-present PhD in Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

  • Dissertation: Strategies to enhance efficiency and precision nutrition of dairy cows
  • Dissertation Committee: Alexander N. Hristov, Kevin J. Harvatine, Lisa Holden, C. Alan Rotz, and Alex Bach

• 2020-2021 Visiting Scholar, Purdue University, University Park, PA, USA

  • Project: Nutritional strategies to mitigate hypocalcemia in transition dairy cows
  • Advisor: Rafael C. Neves

• 2018-2019 Master of Science in Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Uberlandia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Uberlandia, Brazil

  • Thesis: Characterization of calves rearing and evaluation of the impacts of management on dairy calves’ passive immunity transfer and health
  • Advisor: Alex de Matos Teixeira

• 2012-2017 Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Uberlandia, Brazil

  • Thesis: Metabolic and productive parameters of periparturient dairy cows
  • Advisor: Alex de Matos Teixeira

PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES

• Martins, L. F., S. F. Cueva, D. E. Wasson, C. V. Almeida, C. Eifert, M. B. de Ondarza, J. Tricarico, and A. N. Hristov. 2024. Effects of dose, dietary nutrient composition, and supplementation period on the efficacy of methane mitigation strategies in dairy cows: A meta-analysis. J. Dairy Sci. Accepted for publication on June 17, 2024.

• Wasson, D. E., L. F. Martins, E. H. Wall, and A. N. Hristov. 2024. Lactational performance and hematological effects of capsaicin supplementation in dairy cows: A meta-analysis. J. Dairy Sci. Accepted for publication on May 29, 2024.

• Martins, L. F., S. F. Cueva, T. Silvestre, N. Stepanchenko, D. E. Wasson, M. L. Hile, and A. N. Hristov. 2024. Separate offering of forages and concentrates to lactating dairy cows: Effects on lactational performance, enteric methane emissions, and efficiency of nutrient utilization. J. Dairy Sci. 107:4587-4604. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Cueva, S. F., D. E. Wasson, L. F. Martins, S. Räisänen, T. Silvestre, and A. N. Hristov. 2024. Lactational performance, ruminal fermentation and enteric gas emission of dairy cows fed an amylase-enabled corn silage in diets with different starch concentrations. J. Dairy Sci. 107:4426–4448. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Martins, L. F., S. F. Cueva, C. F. A. Lage, M. Ramin, T. Silvestre, J. Tricarico, and A. N. Hristov. 2023. A meta-analysis of methane mitigation potential of feed additives evaluated in vitro. J. Dairy Sci. J. Dairy Sci. 107:288-300. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Martins, L. F., S. F. Cueva, T. Silvestre, N. Stepanchenko, D. E. Wasson, E. Wall, and A. N. Hristov. 2023. Lactational performance, enteric methane emission, and nutrient utilization of dairy cows supplemented with botanicals. J. Dairy Sci. 107:242–257. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Silvestre, T., L. F. Martins, S. F. Cueva, D. E. Wasson, N. Stepanchenko, S. E. Räisänen, S. Somai, M. L. Hile, and A. N. Hristov. 2023. Lactational performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient use efficiency, enteric methane emissions and manure greenhouse gas-emitting potential in dairy cows fed a blend of essential oils. J. Dairy Sci. TBD. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Martins, L. F., J. Oh, A. Melgar, M. Harper, E. W. Wall, and A. N. Hristov. 2023. Effects of phytonutrients and yeast culture supplementation on lactational performance and nutrient use efficiency in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 106:1746–1756. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Silvestre, T., S. E. Räisänen, S. F. Cueva, D. E. Wasson, C. F. A. Lage, L. F. Martins, E. Wall, and A. N. Hristov. 2022. Effects of a combination of Capsicum oleoresin and clove essential oil on metabolic status, lactational performance, and enteric methane emissions in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 105:9610-9622. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Martins, L. F., D. E. Wasson, and A. N. Hristov. 2022. Feeding dairy cows for improved metabolism and health. Anim. Front. 12(5):29-36. Animal Frontiers.

• Martins, L. F., J. Oh, M. Harper, A. Melgar, S. E. Räisänen, X. Chen, K. Nedelkov, T. P. Karnezos, and A. N. Hristov. 2022. Effects of an exogenous enzyme preparation extracted from a mixed culture of Aspergillus spp. on lactational performance, metabolism, and digestibility in primiparous and multiparous cows. J. Dairy Sci. 105:7344-7353. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Silvestre, T., M. Fetter, S. E. Räisänen, C. F. A. Lage, H. Stefenoni, A. Melgar, S. F. Cueva, D. E. Wasson, L. F. Martins, T. P., Karnezos, and A. N. Hristov. 2022. Performance of dairy cows fed normal- or reduced-starch diets supplemented with an exogenous enzyme preparation. J. Dairy Sci. 105:2288–2300. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Malacco, V. M. R., L. F. Martins, I. C. F. Maciel, C. F. A. Lage, R. R. B. Coelho, A. L. B. S. A. Costa; A. M. Moura, H. M. Saturnino, S. G. Coelho, R. B. Reis. 2021. Effects of partial replacement of solvent-extracted soybean meal by amino resin-treated soybean meal in the concentrate supplement of high producing grazing dairy cows. Livestock Science., v.254. 104762. Livestock Science.

• Martins, L. F., P. R. Menta, L. Fernandes, V. S. Machado, R. C. Neves. 2021. Prolonged, low-grade inflammation in the first week of lactation: associations with mineral, protein, and energy balance markers, and milk yield in a clinically healthy Jersey cow cohort. J. Dairy Sci. 104:6113–6123, 2021. Journal of Dairy Science.

• Martins, L. F., D. M. B. Prado, G. R. Gomes, A. M. Teixeira, L. N. Oliveira, L. C. Gonçalves, and F. S Oliveira. 2020. Nutritional value of elephant grass harvested at different regrowth ages. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia., 72:1881–1890. ABMVZ.

Extension Articles

• Martins, L. F., and A. N. Hristov. 2022. Precision Feeding in Dairy Cows: Increasing Efficiency and Profitability. PSU extension

Coming soon

Courses

Translating science into practice