New Director

New Interim Director of the Idaho Ag Experiment Station. University of Idaho lactation physiologist Mark McGuire, Animal and Veterinary Science Department head, will serve as interim director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station with the retirement of Dr. Donn Thill. U of I science writer Bill Loftus on Dr. Thill: "Donn Thill was one of our great examples of an agricultural scientist. He grew up in a farming community, went through college, earned his doctorate in weeds science. He connected with growers but he always had science in mind."

McGuire joined the UI faculty in 1995 and has served as department head since 2012.

His research is focused around milk. Alterations in milk composition may enhance nutritional properties of bovine milk for the human consumer and may reduce the risk of mastitis for the cow. His projects have looked at topics as diverse as increasing the proportion of healthful components in dairy products and beef and their impacts on consumers, improving milk production through nutrition and technology, and identifying the microbiome of human and bovine milk.

McGuire works closely with the dairy industry conducting research and training students for employment.The United Dairymen of Idaho, Idaho Beef Council, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health have funded McGuire's research.