Animal Health and Livestock Production

3 researchers stand in front of a solar panel and dairy cattle

Improving the health and productivity of Minnesota’s herds and flocks through cutting-edge diagnostics and precision nutrition.

Minnesota’s livestock industry is a cornerstone of the state’s economy, but it faces constant pressure from emerging global diseases and evolving environmental standards. AGREETT scientists and educators are dedicated to safeguarding animal health and improving production efficiency. With expertise ranging from rapid disease diagnostics to biosecurity practices to precision nutrition, AGREETT helps Minnesota’s beef, dairy, swine, and poultry producers efficiently raise their herds while ensuring the safety and sustainability of our food supply. 

Recent News

UMN team launches new project to better understand PRRSV-2 and other viruses

April 24, 2026

AGREETT associate professor Kim VanderWaal is a co-lead on a $2.8 million dollar grant from the USDA-NIFA dedicated to understanding viral "fitness.” This project aims to identify where the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, which costs the U.S. swine industry roughly $1.2 billion annually, is most dangerous and use that data to understand why some new variants are more likely to become the next national epidemic.

Meet the AGREETT animal health and livestock production experts