Research Dairy Scientist, Ruminant Nutrition
US Dairy Forage Research Center
USDA-Agricultural Research Service

BS, Dairy Husbandry, 1969, University of Missouri-Columbia
MS, Nutrition, 1970, University of Missouri-Columbia
PhD, Nutrition, 1973, Cornell University-Ithaca

Phone: (608) 890-0066
Fax: (608) 890-0076
E-Mail: David.Mertens@ars.usda.gov
 
Current Research
• Completing an expert system that will provide site-specific nutritive values for feeds.
• Impact of alfalfa hay NDF content and digestibility on dairy cow performance.
• Developing and analyzing a database of weather and soil information to be related to forage quality.

Link to scientist's current research