Susanne Meier

Areas of interest:

Increase reproductive performance of New Zealand dairy cows

• Increase conception rates
• Understand of uterine disease reduces reproductive performance
• Better fertility phenotypes to obtain greater gains in fertility through breeding
• Understand what is limiting reproductive performance

On-farm research (recent)

• What role does sub-clinical uterine infection play in reducing reproductive performance and can this be treated?
• Phenotypes for improved fertility and health traits through selection
• Low feed intakes at the start of mating: the impact on reproductive performance?
• Early pregnancy losses

 Animal research

• Specialist in reproductive physiology
• Mechanisms that contribute to sub-fertility in dairy cows
• Mechanisms associated with the establishment of pregnancy
• Understanding the relationship between feeding and reproductive performance
• Effect of low body condition on uterine health and reproduction
• Modulating health during the transition period
• Phenotypes for improved productivity: Improved genetic gain
• Interest in protein and nitrogen metabolism in dairy cows

Key projects:

• Research title: Pillars of a Competitive and Responsible Dairy System: Reproductive Performance
• Research Title: Optimising cow health and production through improved recommendations on nutrition and cow management during the transition period
• Research title: Increased genetic gain through improved phenotypic data
• Research title: Improving cow fertility
• Research title: Improving cow fertility by identifying specific nutritional supplements
• Research title: Pregnancy Enhancement/Sustainable Dairying

Key achievements:

Industry: 

• Research conducted on industry-relevant issues: understanding the impact of subclinical uterine infection on reproductive outcomes
• Research carried out in Taranaki focused on understanding how nutrition at mating affects reproductive performance. This project highlighted regional research and working in partnership with Fonterra
• Research highlights extended to industry through various media: newspapers, DairyNZ and Fonterra publications, including the DairyNZ Technical Series (August 2013).
• Provisional patent (PCT) application (2004) (PCT/NZ2004/000332): Oestrus Detection System in conjunction by Sharp, Burke, Chagas, and Meier
• Completed the InCalf Advisor Training (2009)
• Completed DairyNZ Foundation Training: Business Week (2011),
• Completed DairyNZ Foundation Training: Principle and Application of Grazing Management: Part 1 (2012) and Part 2 (2013).

Science:

• Develop and carry out farmer relevant, high quality research. This includes gaining funding, designing key questions to be answered, planning research to be carried out, presenting outcomes to science community and in internationally recognised publications. Role as sounding board for other research projects
• Current project manager across a DairyNZ Inc and Foundation for Research, Science and Technology co-funded project (2008-2013)
• Previously managed projects or objective for both DairyNZ Inc (Dairy InSight) and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Also acted as project manager and involved in research design for commercial clients
• Role in extension (Research to Adoption), getting research to farmers
  • Provisional patent (PCT) application (2004) (PCT/NZ2004/000332): Oestrus Detection System in conjunction by Sharp, Burke, Chagas, and Meier
  • Scientific partnerships and collaborations with Universities (New Zealand: University of Waikato, Lincoln University, Wellington University of Victoria  and Auckland University), AgResearch – Ruakura, providers and stakeholders (AbacusBio Ltd, Cognosco- Animal Health Centre, CRV-Ambreed NZ, Livestock Improvement Coop, and international collaborators (USA and Switzerland), Fonterra

Awards:

• Invited speaker to the 2010 Australasian Dairy Science Symposium (Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand)
• Recipient of a New Zealand/USA Scientific and Technological co-operation programme of the International Science and Technology Linkages Fund (ISAT) award (2010, 2002 & 2000)
• Recipient of a New Zealand Society of Animal Production travel award (2002 & 2000)
• Recipient of a New Zealand/FRG Scientific and Technological co-operation programme (NZ/FRG STC) of the International Science and Technology Linkages Fund (ISAT) award (2000).

Other roles:

• Ad hoc reviewer for Animal Reproduction Science, Journal of Dairy Science, Journal of Dairy Research, Reproduction, Fertility and Development, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Waikato University
• Member of the following societies: New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Society of Reproductive Biology, Society for the Study of Reproduction, International Embryo Transfer Society