Costa comes from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where he was an assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Food Science. His expertise is in precision dairy and dairy cattle management as related to behavior, nutrition, One Health, welfare, and sustainability. He received his PhD in animal sciences, with a focus on animal welfare and behavior from the University of British Columbia (UBC), and M.Sc in agroecosystems with a focus on dairy science, ethology and animal welfare from the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil.
Costa has a very active research program supported by significant extramural funding, has received numerous faculty and graduate student research awards, and has close to 100 refereed publications, besides being an active internationally and nationally recognized speaker.
At Dr Costa’s Research laboratory, we are dedicated to advancing the fields of animal science, with a particular focus on animal behavior and welfare, dairy calf and cow management, applied nutrition, and precision livestock farming. Our mission is to make a positive impact on the well-being and productivity of dairy animals, with the ultimate goal of advancing the dairy industry and contributing to the global knowledge in our field.
The majority of our research has focused on the effects of housing on dairy animals and the use of precision technology on dairy farms. I led a world-recognized dairy science program, with extension, teaching, and research mandates. The Applied Dairy Ruminant Research Group under my leadership at the University of Kentucky and now at the University of Vermont, is a multidisciplinary and collaborative research and extension program in the field of dairy science and precision livestock farming. Currently, the research program investigates dairy calf and heifer applied nutrition and feeding behavior, animal welfare metrics and measurement of animal welfare on-farm, health and management decision support tools based on dairy precision tools, precision nutrition algorithm and management tool development and basic animal behavior science.
One of the cornerstones of our work is strong collaboration in research, recognizing that working together is fundamental to driving meaningful progress in the dairy sector. We are proud to have established extensive collaborations with renowned national and international universities, research institutions, and industry stakeholders. These collaborations have been vital in our endeavors to improve the housing of dairy cattle and implement precision technology for greenhouse gas reduction in dairy systems. We also recognize the importance of close cooperation with stakeholders in the dairy industry, and as a result, we work closely with farmers associations, milk processors, and multiple feed, pharmacological, and technology companies. This extensive network of collaborations has led to active participation and co-authorship on numerous projects, fostering a diverse range of research interests. Our commitment to knowledge dissemination and engagement with the dairy community is evident through invited presentations to producers, nutritionists, and veterinarians on dairy cattle management and nutrition in various countries. With a strong foundation of collaboration and a focus on addressing key challenges faced by the dairy sector, our laboratory strives to be at the forefront of innovation, advancing animal welfare, and promoting sustainable dairy farming practices.
