Dr. Drew Cassens
Dr. Drew Cassens is an assistant professor in the department of Animal Science. His research interests include meat color, tenderness, and quality. Dr. Cassens focuses on industry applications to enhance the shelf-life of beef cuts, along with cooking or enhancements techniques to improve tenderness of meat products. Dr. Cassens received his B.S. and M.S. from Texas A&M University and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. In addition to his research appointment, Dr. Cassens teaches Meat Science courses and is the Meat Judging Coordinator at Tarleton. His passion for mentoring allows him to provide all his undergraduate and graduate students with the skills to be successful in the meat and food industry.
Dr. Jessica Leatherwood
The long-term goal of Dr. Jessica Leatherwood’s research program is to determine the influence of diet and differing conditioning methods on the joint health of young horses in training, and their eventual effects on joint health as an adult. Data generated from her program effectively contributes to the protection of competition integrity, less risk of musculoskeletal injury, and answers key questions regarding enhanced performance longevity for young horses in an effort to improve the welfare of horses.
Dr. Kimberly Wellmann
Dr. Kimberly Wellmann primarily researches the role of nutrition in ruminant and equine performance and muscle physiology. Previously, she investigated the effect of dietary amino acid fortification on topline development in growing horses in training. She later transitioned into beef cattle, evaluating the impact of dietary zinc and vitamin A on feedlot performance, myogenic gene activity, and muscle fiber type characteristics. Currently, Dr. Wellmann is interested in both beef and dairy cattle nutrition. In spring of 2022, she conducted a study evaluating the effect of different commercial yeast products on dairy performance and rumen parameters. In the summer of 2022, she collaborated with other faculty to look at the effect of dietary hempseed meal incorporation on rough-stock bull growth parameters. Dr. Wellmann also participates in project development for equine nutrition and exercise physiology.
Thesis Graduate Students:
- Michaela Plowman- Impact of a novel yeast product on performance and rumen parameters in multi-parous lactating dairy cows.
- Samantha McGovern- Effects of dietary hempseed meal inclusion on growth performance and blood metabolites in rough-stock bulls.
- Tyler Harmonson- ***Tentative*** Effect of mineral supplementation on reproductive performance in grazing beef cows.