91快色

A career in cattle health was an unexpected choice for .

She surprised many of her friends and family in the Netherlands when she enrolled in veterinary school at the age of 18. But Orsel鈥檚 determination to enter the field of animal care was never in doubt. 

鈥淚鈥檓 not from a rural background, but the complexity of pathogens has always intrigued me. It became the base of my research,鈥� says Orsel, DVM, PhD, now a professor (teaching and research) at the 91快色鈥檚 (UCVM). 鈥淚t forces you to think about the complexity of the environment the animals are in and the management they are under. My brain is always going to: what does that mean for the rest of the herd?鈥�

As a bovine epidemiologist, Orsel studies the transmission and risk factors of diseases that affect beef and dairy cattle. With herd health as the main driver, her work aims to translate research findings into practical prevention and control strategies to help producers improve cattle welfare.

Understanding cattle health challenges

Cattle lameness 鈥� a serious condition significantly affecting animal welfare and productivity 鈥� has been one of Orsel鈥檚 primary research areas for more than 15 years. She was initially driven by challenges in the dairy industry but later expanded her research to beef cattle.

鈥淒airy cows are housed indoors, which is not the most natural environment for them,鈥� says Orsel. 鈥淲e had a lot of challenges with an infectious foot disease called digital dermatitis. We realized that the lameness problems in the beef industry are of a decent magnitude, as well. The most important health disorder in beef cattle is pneumonia, so much so that we forgot about lameness, which is a concern.鈥�

Despite its lower profile, lameness is a major cause of animal suffering and suboptimal production.

In beef cattle, Orsel鈥檚 research also focuses on how animal behaviour can indicate disease and overall health. She has conducted several studies looking at the impact of disease transmission and pain-related components on cows in feedlots and pasture.

Community and sustainability

For Orsel, sustainability is a vital concept and a driver for many research questions posed by the dairy and beef industries.

鈥淧art of sustainability is to strive for healthier populations. Animals can still be productive despite being affected by diseases,鈥� says Orsel. 鈥淲e can have a sustainable, but also a very good production system that allows people to consume products from agriculture in a very ethical way. I鈥檝e always been interested in the balance between animal welfare, productivity and economics.鈥�

Orsel鈥檚 research at UCVM is not conducted in isolation. It鈥檚 deeply intertwined with the community through partnerships with industry stakeholders such as Alberta Milk, Western Milk Pool and Alberta Beef. This support is complemented by provincial funding agencies that focus on putting research into practice.

Orsel鈥檚 interdisciplinary approach involves collaboration with microbiologists, immunologists and welfare experts to tackle these multifaceted challenges. Her colleagues include fellow UCVM professors Dr. , PhD; Dr. , DVM, PhD; and Dr. , PhD.

鈥淲e work as a multidisciplinary team to help the industry move forward and strive for healthier cattle, which ultimately contributes to fewer welfare challenges and better productivity,鈥� she says.

The way forward

Orsel highlights the importance of activities that showcase the work of researchers to the community, such as , an event happening as part of Aggie Days at Stampede Park on April 12. Her participation in other events like helps connect urban residents with the realities of food production and the essential role veterinarians play in it.

As a member of the organizing committee of the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar and chair of the at U91快色, Orsel contributes to UCVM鈥檚 mission to meet the veterinary, animal and public health needs of Alberta. She also highlights as a vital resource, offering access to a working cattle ranch for people to learn about the beef industry firsthand.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such an amazing tool for us to host events and tell people about the industry,鈥� Orsel says.

Through her work, Orsel not only advances our understanding of animal health, but also showcases the impact that collaboration and community engagement have in tackling important research questions.