Field full of Holstein cattle.

Animal Science - nutrition, physiology, and lactation.

MBA in Management, Loyola University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

MS in Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

BS in Animal Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

My expertise is in nutritional physiology which means I study what happens inside animals after they consume their feed. And because I studied ruminant physiology, by proxy I understand monogastric physiology (the processes are the same after it leaves the rumen). I leverage my knowledge of physiology to develop products for various animal health and nutrition (AHN) applications that include:

  • Microbial bedding additives for mastitis control

  • Bad breath products for companion animals (canines)

  • Microbial feed additive for methane reduction

  • Bedding additive for ammonia reduction in poultry houses

  • Methane and nitrous oxide reduction in manure lagoons

  • Microbial feed additives for monogastric (porcine) and ruminant gut health

Publications

  1. Rottman, L.W., Ying, Y., Zhou, K., Bartell, P.A., and K.J. Harvatine. The daily rhythm of milk synthesis is dependent on the timing of feed intake in dairy cows. 2014. Physiological Reports.

  2. Rottman, L.W., Ying, Y., Zhou, K., Bartell, P.A., and K.J. Harvatine. The effects of feeding rations that differ in neutral detergent fiber and starch concentration within a day on production, feeding behavior, total-tract digestibility, and plasma metabolites and hormones in dairy cows. 2015. Journal of Dairy Science.

  3. Ying, Y., Rottman, L.W., Crawford, C., Bartell, P.A., and K.J. Harvatine. The effects of feeding rations that differ in neutral detergent fiber and starch concentration within a day on rumen digesta nutrient concentration, pH, and fermentation products in dairy cows. 2015. Journal of Dairy Science.

  4. Salfer, I.J., Crawford, C.E., Rottman, L.W., and K.J. Harvatine. The effects of feeding rations that differ in neutral detergent fiber and starch within a day on the daily patterns of key rumen microbial populations. 2021. JDS Communications.

  5. ABSTRACT. Sarmikasoglou, E., Sumadong, P., Dagaew, G. Johnson M.L., Vinyard, J.R., Salas-Solis, G.K., Siregar, M.U., Rottman, L.W., and A.P. Faciola. Effects of direct fed microbials on in vitro ruminal fermentation, methane production, and ruminal microbial communities. 2023. ASDA Abstract.

Other Collaborations

  1. Dr. Darryl Hadsell (Baylor College of Medicine) - up and down regulation of circadian genes during different nursing frequencies.

  2. Dr. Gregorio Valdez (Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC) - the effects of neuro-muscular diseases on the circadian system.

  3. Dr. DiLorenzo (University of Florida) - the effects of feeding direct-fed microbes (DFM) on enteric methane in beef cattle.

  4. Dr. Faciola (University of Florida) - the effects of feeding direct-fed microbes (DFM) on in vitro enteric methane in dairy cattle.

  5. Dr. Ermias Kebreb (University of Davis) - the effects of feeding direct-fed microbes (DFM) on enteric methane in dairy cattle.

  6. Dr. Hristov (Pennsylvania State University) - the effects of feeding direct-fed microbes (DFM) on enteric methane in dairy cattle and in vitro fermentation.

Microbiology

I have experience in basic and applied microbiology, spore physiology, and precision fermentation. Some of the scientists that mentored me in these areas:

Dr. Jared Heffron, Dr. Joseph Gredell, Dr. Dave Drahos, Dr. Domenic Paone, Dr. Jennifer Nelson, and Dr. Casey Seward

I specialized in understanding the underlying microbial physiology to deduce the mode of action. We then leveraged the mode of action in regenerative agriculture systems.

Key Accomplishments

  • Revamped shelf-life stability through robust statistical methods.

  • Established a new plant pathogen program which enabled the new plant pathogen lead to integrate quickly and ramp up the program. I reduced the onboarding process by >6 months.

  • Developed proprietary microbial screening assays that aided in product development.

  • Developed novel ways to measure microbial modes of action.

Applied Microbiology Gallery

Greenhouse Research

Crop list

  • corn

  • soybeans

  • canola

  • bell peppers

  • cherry tomatoes

  • cotton

  • peas

  • cucumbers

  • lettuce

Key Accomplishments

  • Complete experimental design overhaul that increased reliability and decreased uncertainty. Lead to greater decision making power and decreased project timelines by >6 months.

  • Developed an early plant development suite of assays to compliment the long-term plant assays. Increased decision making power and kept project timelines.

  • Developed quality assurance assays for field trial material to detect major deviations. The result was over $100,000 in field trial cost savings and increased reliability in field trial data.

  • Created greenhouse mode of action screening assays to further product development.

  • Assisted team in creating differentiated greenhouse assays that targeted specific project team requests.

  • Combined principles of regenerative agriculture with greenhouse research.

Greenhouse Research Gallery