2019 Organic Dairy Field Day

Dr. Victor Cortese, DVM, PhD, Zoetis
Dr. Cortese serves as Director Technical Services—Cattle Immunology for Zoetis. He is widely recognized as an

expert in bovine immunology and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) diagnosis and control. Dr. Cortese earned a

doctorate in veterinary medicine from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the Western

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. He is a Diplomat with the American Board of

Veterinary Practitioners. With a vast level of training and years of hands-on experience in cattle immunology,

Dr. Cortese puts his expertise to work educating practitioners and customers about preventative medicine,

immunology and vaccinology. His numerous publications have earned him many awards including the AABP’s

Award for Excellence in 1997. In 2013 he was named as one of the 20 most influential cattle veterinarians in the

U.S. by Bovine Veterinary Magazine. Dr. Cortese lives near Simpsonville, Ky., with his wife, Joy. They have three adult children.

Santiago Utsumi, PA, MSci, PhD Animal Science

Santiago Utsumi graduated as Engineer in Agricultural Production from the Universidad Católica

Argentina in 1998 (UCA). Between 2000 and 2003 he completed his Master's Degree (MSci.) at the

Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNdMdP) with a thesis in ruminant nutrition and ingestive

behavior of cattle. Between 2004 and 2007 he earned his Doctorate (PhD) degree from New Mexico

State University (NMSU) with distinguished honors for his dissertation in ruminant nutrition, animal

physiology and grazing ecology. Between 2007 and 2008 he accepted a position as research associate

with NMSU and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and for the last 10 years

(2008-2018) he was Professor of Animal Science at Michigan State University (MSU). In this position

he was lead scientist of the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station's Robotic and Grazing dairy where he

conducted extensively applied research and extension on integrated crop-livestock systems, forage crops, robotics and AgTech and grazing ecology, including strategies for mitigation of greenhouse gases and enhanced carbon sequestration. During this position he worked as consultant both to state and federal agencies and privately owned companies, while achieving important recognition both nationally and globally. During his career he has published more than 70 technical notes, proceeding articles and papers in various scientific journals and has participated in numerous meetings and conferences in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and countries in Europe and Latin America, including UK and France, and Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile. For more than 20 years Dr. Utsumi has focused his research and consulting work on the production efficiency and sustainability of mixed crop-animal systems, both including extensively and intensively managed beef ranches and dairy farms. He has vast experience in the sustainable development and management of low-impact ranches and dairy farms that integrate high standards of animal nutrition and welfare, and working groups that promote team culture, wellbeing and shared success.