Kayla Alward

Dr. Kayla Alward serves as an Assistant Professor of Animal Science within the Department of Agricultural Sciences at West Texas A&M University's Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, joining the institution in 2025.

Education:

• B.S. in Animal Science & Dairy Science, University of Georgia, 2017
• M.S. in Animal Science, University of Georgia, 2019
• Ph.D. in Dairy Science, Virginia Tech, 2023
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Virginia Tech, 2024

Research Focus: Her work centers on optimizing dairy cattle reproduction through advanced embryo technologies and pregnancy loss mitigation, while simultaneously advancing pre-weaned calf health via precision management protocols. Key methodologies include in-vitro embryo production refinement, early embryonic death prediction modeling, and evidence-based calf rearing systems.

Teaching & Professional Engagement: Dr. Alward instructs undergraduate courses in Reproductive Physiology and Dairy Cattle Management. She maintains active membership in the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR), and American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), contributing to national discourse in agricultural education and dairy research.