Contact Information:

Phone:      +1 765-496-7750

Email:       Jessica.Pempek@usda.gov

 Areas of Expertise:

• Applied Ethology
• Animal Welfare Science
• Epidemiology

Education:

BS: Animal Sciences, 2009, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University

MSc: Animal Sciences, 2011, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University

PhD: Animal Sciences, 2015, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University

Postdoc: 2015-2017, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University

Dr. Jess Pempek joined the USDA-ARS Livestock Behavior Research Unit as a Research Animal Scientist in 2022. Growing up on a cow-calf operation in Belmont County, Ohio, caring for livestock was one of her first passions. This passion fueled her desire to pursue graduate school and study applied ethology and animal welfare in the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University (OSU), where she earned her MSc and PhD degrees. Dr. Pempek continued in Postdoctoral (2 years) and Research Associate positions (3 years) in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and then rejoined the Department of Animal Sciences as an Assistant Professor and Animal Welfare Specialist. The overarching goal of Dr. Pempek’s research program is to integrate aspects of applied ethology, epidemiology, physiology, and sociology to enhance the welfare of dairy and beef animals, particularly in early life. Specifically, she is interested in 1) strategies to optimize neonatal care; 2) the development and maintenance of calf social behavior; 3) promoting early disease detection and antimicrobial stewardship through an understanding of natural behavior and the application of precision technologies; and 4) welfare risk assessment, particularly in the male dairy calf production chain.

• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • Effect of repeated HPA axis stimulation on hair cortisol concentration, growth, and behavior in preweaned dairy cattle -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Kern, J., Jorgensen, M.W., Boerman, J.P., Erasmus, M., Johnson, J.S., Pempek, J.A. 2024. Effect of repeated HPA axis stimulation on hair cortisol concentration, growth, and behavior in preweaned dairy cattle. Journal of Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae171.
    
  • Effect of different genres of music played in the milking parlor on lactation performance and behavior of dairy cows-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Effects of individual versus pair housing on cortisol, growth, and health of dairy calves during the pre-weaning period-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Rehydration post-transport: duration of oral fluid therapy on behavior, biochemical measures of hydration, and health of neonatal dairy calves-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Pempek, J.A., England, Z., Habing, G.G., Niehaus, A. 2024. Rehydration post-transport: duration of oral fluid therapy on behavior, biochemical measures of hydration, and health of neonatal dairy calves. Journal of Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae011.
    
  • Condition of surplus dairy calves during marketing: A cross-sectional study -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Maggard, H.L., Habing, G.G., Renaud, D.L., Proudfoot, K.L., England, Z.A., Cheng, T., Wilson, D.J., Moran, M., Pempek, J.A. 2023. Condition of surplus dairy calves during marketing: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Dairy Science. 107(4):2444-2453. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-23625.
    
  • Dairy calf transportation in the United States: challenges and strategies to improve animal welfare -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Cramer, M.C., Pempek, J.A., Román-Muñiz, I.N., Edwards-Callaway, L.N. 2023. Dairy calf transportation in the United States: challenges and strategies to improve animal welfare. Journal of Dairy Science Communications. https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2023-0452.
    

• Projects

  PARTNERSHIP: Characterizing formula-fed veal and dairy beef calf welfare through audits and industry engagement Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:445555

  PARTNERSHIP: Characterizing formula-fed veal and dairy beef calf welfare through audits and industry engagement Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:445556

  Characterizing Formula-fed Veal and Dairy Beef Calf Welfare through Audits and Industry Engagement Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:441499

  Optimizing Welfare for Food Producing Animals In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:442656

  Characterizing Formula-fed Veal and Dairy Beef Calf Welfare Through Audits and Industry Engagement Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:444049

  Institutional Biological Safety Committee (IBC) Agreement - Purdue University Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement (N)   Accession Number:442029

  Improving Welfare of Swine and Poultry through Environmental Enrichment Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:442896

  Determine relationships between stress-load and calf behavior in precision livestock farming Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:443553

• ARS News Articles

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