Author Spotlight: Matthias Wieland on Optimizing the Milking Process, Setting Achievable Writing Goals, and Making Applied Science Answers as Easy as Possible

Caption: Matthias Wieland,
DVM, PhD, DECBHM
(Credit: Matthias Wieland)

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.  

Matthias Wieland, DVM, PhD, DECBHM, is the Robert Hovey Udall Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. With a background in large-animal medicine, herd health management, and epidemiology, he leads an applied program that aims to improve and help us better understand the milk-harvesting process.

We chatted with Matthias to understand what’s exciting him about his latest research findings, his achievable advice on managing expectations around scholarly writing, and the joy of working with dairy producers.

Connect with Matthias on LinkedIn.

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

One research area of mine is the optimization of the milk-harvesting process in dairy cows. Another interest is the application of computer vision to facilitate cowside evaluation, including udder health–related assessments such as teat condition and udder hygiene, as well as animal welfare–related traits. An example of the latter is our recent work on automating hock scoring through computer vision in dairy cows. Recently, I have revived my passion for newborn calf management.

Catch Up on Matthias’ Recent Work  

The first, which I am particularly proud of, is “The effect of 2 different premilking stimulation regimens, with and without a latency period, on teat tissue condition and milking performance in Holstein dairy cows,” which was published in JDS. It was my first “last author” paper after starting my lab, and it was a collaborative effort of our field technicians and veterinary students at Cornell.

The second article is “A randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of intermittent and abrupt cessation of milking to end lactation on the well-being and intramammary infection risk of dairy cows,” which was also published in JDS. This work was a joint effort with researchers from several institutions and a great commercial dairy farm that belongs to our client base.

The third article is “Effect of oxytocin use during colostrum harvest and the association of cow characteristics with colostrum yield and immunoglobulin G concentration in Holstein dairy cows” (JDS). This article is the result of amazing teamwork with Sabine Mann, PhD, DVM, DACVPM, DECBHM, and her lab at Cornell and Prof. Dr. med. vet. Rupert Bruckmaier (University of Bern). The study was conducted with one of my favorite clients.

Caption: Matthias’ Cornell lab
team (from left to right)
John Armand Valdevieso,
Ajay Singh, Matthias Wieland,
and Madeleine Spellman
(Credit: John Armand Valdevieso)

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?

Being able to conduct statistical analyses has helped me overcome many hurdles when writing the methodology and results section.

My advice for those who are starting to write manuscripts would be to minimize your own expectations. I had to accept that it is OK to write only one to three sentences per day. Even if it is only small progress, it is still progress!

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?

Prof. Dr. med. vet. Wolfgang Klee taught me to trust in the results of a thoroughly conducted physical exam. From that, I have learned to approach questions in a systematic way and collect all available information.

Chuck Guard, PhD, DVM, has taught me to make the answer as easy as possible for applied questions in the field of dairy science: “yes” or “no.” Although I haven’t applied this approach to each question I have been trying to answer, I keep pursuing this approach.

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

The most enjoyable aspect of dairy science is working in close relationships with dairy producers. Growing up on a dairy farm myself, visiting dairy farms, and working with their family members feels like home to me.

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?

The ability to publish work that is pertinent to the dairy industry in a swift and uncomplicated way. The brevity of the articles allows for a focus on the methodology and results sections and facilitates excellent reviewer feedback in a timely manner.

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

Biking, hiking, and family activities.

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