Research Leader
USDA-ARS Livestock Behavior Research Unit
Dr. Jay S. Johnson is the Supervisory Research Animal Scientist (Research Leader) of the USDA-ARS Livestock Behavior Research Unit in West Lafayette, IN USA specializing in stress and nutritional physiology. The overall goal of Dr. Johnson’s research program is to identify and mitigate the effects of production-relevant stressors on livestock. Dr. Johnson’s research program uses an integrative physiology approach encompassing aspects of stress physiology, nutritional physiology, and applied ethology to develop and/or improve upon livestock husbandry practices that enhance animal health and welfare while maintaining or increasing economic return for producers. Specific areas of research include: 1) improving heat stress resilience in swine through improvements to management practices, nutrition and genetic selection to reduce the negative effects of pre- and postnatal heat stress in pigs, and 2) mitigating the effects of early life stressors on gastrointestinal function in pigs and dairy calves to improve health, performance, and welfare metrics.