- Director, Veterinary Medicine Extension
Craig McConnel grew up on a diversified crop and livestock farm in central Idaho. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University in 2002. Following an internship in ruminant medicine at the University of Sydney, he completed a Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies. Craig’s research interests led him to Colorado State University where he completed a PhD exploring the epidemiology of adult dairy cow mortality on Colorado dairies. In 2010, he joined the staff of Charles Sturt University’s School of Animal and Veterinary Science in Wagga Wagga, Australia, as a Lecturer in Ruminant Health. Craig returned to Colorado State University in 2013 as an Assistant Professor in Dairy Population Health Management where he provided clinical instruction in dairy field service, and oversight of elective rotations in dairy production medicine and herd health assessments. In 2016, Craig moved to Washington State University as an Assistant Professor in Veterinary Medicine Extension. He is the course coordinator for Veterinary Epidemiology and continues to pursue his varied research interests including efforts to develop more effective classification strategies for dairy cow removals, and to more fully understand the ecology of E. coliO157 on dairies, the influence of calf housing strategies on lifetime performance, and the impact of dairy cow diseases on animal well-being and associated economic opportunity costs.
Education
- PhD, Colorado State University, 2010
- MS, University of Sydney, 2005
- DVM, Washington State University, 2002
- BS, Cornell University, 1994
Research
- My early scholarly output was based on research I completed at the University of Sydney, Australia.In a successful attempt to introduce a developed vaccine against bovine keratoconjunctivitis (pinkeye) into Australia, we isolatedMoraxella bovisstrains present within Australia for identification of fimbrial antigens, antimicrobial susceptibilities, and cytotoxin/hemolysin gene profiles.
- During my time at Charles Sturt University, I began working with a team in Australia exploringE. coliO157 colonization and shedding in extensive beef cow systems.Upon my return to Colorado State University I continued researchingE. coliO157 in dairy cows.Our team analyzed data related to shedding in intensive dairy systems and examined the dynamics of farm ecology on the prevalence ofE. coliO157, as well as the underlying bovine microbiome influencing colonization and shedding.
- My Ph.D. research focused on the epidemiology underlying increasing rates of adult dairy cow death on U.S. farms.We introduced novel concepts for on-farm record keeping including a dairy cow death certificate.Work in this area continues with a focus on the lifetime impacts and opportunity costs associated with disease and death on dairies.
More research details at WSU’s Veterinary Medicine Extension