Author Spotlight: Mirka Thorsteinsson on Methane Mitigation, Feed Additives, and Publishing In Vitro Results

Caption: Mirka Thorsteinsson
(Credit: Aarhus University)

Today’s trailblazing dairy science innovations are built on the incredible work being done by a diverse, interconnected, global scientific community. Get to know a fellow community member in our ongoing Author Spotlight series.  

Mirka Mølgaard Thorsteinsson, PhD, is a postdoc in the ruminant nutrition group of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Science at Aarhus University. Her research explores the potential of novel feed additives, particularly seaweeds, within the context of organic dairy production.

In this spotlight, Mirka shares her insights on the most fascinating questions remaining around methane mitigation for dairy cows, enjoying the paper review process, and her favorite colleague from her PhD program.  

Connect with Mirka and her department on LinkedIn.  

What specific questions or challenges within the field of dairy science are you currently working on?

My main research area is methane-mitigating feed additives for dairy cows, focusing on seaweeds and halomethanes. Around 20% to 25% of milk sold in Denmark is organic, and seaweeds are currently the most promising antimethanogenic feed additive for organic dairy production. However, the high mineral content in seaweed and halomethanes might have adverse effects on animal health, which is another focus of my research.

In your experience, what aspects of dairy science are the most fascinating or enjoyable?

I find nutrition to be the most interesting aspect of dairy science, as it does not only affect productivity but also product quality, animal health, and well-being. While antimethanogenic feed additives show promise, their consistent efficacy can vary based on factors like diet composition, animal genetics, and environmental conditions. Additionally, there is still a lot to understand about the long-term effects of these additives on cow health and product quality. Another challenge is finding solutions that are practically implementable, both in terms of cost for the farmers and current feed legislation, especially for organic dairy production.

Scientific publishing plays a crucial role in advancing our shared knowledge as well as individual dairy science careers. Do you have any tips or advice for navigating the world of scientific publishing?

Always start with reading the author’s guide, as it helps you adjust your manuscript to the targeted journal, and be prepared for the peer-review process, which can be tough but ultimately strengthens your work. Personally, I really enjoy the reviewing process. Also, don’t hesitate to seek feedback from colleagues and/or mentors to improve the quality of your manuscript before submission.

You can access the JDS Communications instructions for authors here and the Journal of Dairy Science instructions for authors here. 

Caption: Mirka Thorsteinsson
with Betinna, a lovely
fifth-parity, multicannulated
cow and valued coworker,
during Mirka’s PhD work
(Credit: Aarhus University)

Collaboration and mentorship often shape a scientist’s journey in the profession. Do you have mentors or colleagues who have positively impacted your career? How have they influenced you and your approach to dairy science?

I am fortunate to have a lot of good and inspiring colleagues in my section, but I will need to highlight my PhD supervisors, Mette Olaf Nielsen, Martin Riis Weisbjerg, and Peter Lund. They have and continue to teach and inspire me.

Mette has taught me never to take “no” for an answer. Martin always has time to answer everybody’s endless number of questions, and if he does not have an answer, he will return the next day with a paper addressing the question. Peter sees the bigger picture and has broad knowledge on enteric methane emissions.

However, my younger fellow postdoc colleagues should also be mentioned. They have a huge positive impact on my career, as they make the daily work much more enjoyable. 

We know authors have many options for which journals they submit to. What benefits do you see to publishing in a society journal, such as JDS Communications?

I mainly work with novel antimethanogenic feed additives, which often involve in vitro testing prior to in vivo trials. Publishing in JDS Communications gives me the ability to publish my data, in particular in vitro results, which might not be the largest dataset, in a scientific journal with a short publication time but with a thorough reviewing process. Moreover, JDS Communications is an open-access journal, ensuring the availability of the results to a broader audience.

Strengthening our shared dairy science community means celebrating more than just our professional selves. Outside of work, what activities or hobbies bring you joy?

When I’m not in the cattle barn at work, I enjoy spending time in the barn with my horses.