Havelah Carter

Role: HQP Scholar

Degree: M.Sc.

Program: Evaluation of the Efficacy of Colostrum as a Treatment for Diarrhea in Neonatal Dairy Calves

Department: Department of Population Medicine (OVC)

What inspired you to pursue your current degree? 

Growing up on a horticulture farm and working on a dairy farm and alongside large animal veterinarians, I have developed a lifelong passion for agriculture. I always knew I wanted to contribute to the agriculture industry which led me to peruse a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. My undergraduate degree and extracurricular activities fueled my interest in the dairy industry, motivating me to begin a Master’s in dairy calf health

What about your research area excites you? 

Most research on dairy calf health and nutrition is recent. There are so many answers left to uncover which stimulates innovation within the field. It is a privilege to work amongst so many passionate and creative minds.

What challenges do you find in your research, and how do you try to overcome them? 

Although it can be exciting to work in a research field that is relatively new, it can be challenging since some areas have yet to be explored. When previous research is lacking, it can be difficult to design a study. Discussing my ideas with other researchers has helped me overcome this obstacle.

How would you describe your research and the implications of your project? 

My research focuses on improving the health, welfare and productivity of dairy calves while minimizing the use of antimicrobials. Antimicrobial resistance is exponentially increasing. It is necessary that we work to find a practical alternative to antimicrobials to treat disease in livestock to help curb the expansion of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

What are three of your favourite activities outside the lab? 

If I’m not in the lab or research barns, you can usually find me at the barn with my horses or camping and hiking with my dog!

What is one important thing you have learned during the pandemic? 

Although the pandemic has been strenuous on everyone in so many ways, I believe that there have been some silver linings. I have become a lot more flexible with my schedule and have learned that it’s not always necessary to have an exact plan for everything that I do.