Masahito Oba

Masahito Oba is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta, affiliated with the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on ruminant nutrition, dairy production systems, and animal physiology, particularly investigating feed efficiency, rumen fermentation dynamics, and calf health. He teaches AN SC 472: Applied Dairy Production Science, emphasizing practical applications in dairy industry management.

Key research interests include optimizing dairy cow nutrition, mitigating subacute ruminal acidosis, and understanding the impacts of dietary supplements (e.g., butyrate, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on ruminal health and milk production. His work also explores genetic traits like anogenital distance as potential indicators of reproductive and metabolic performance in livestock.

Recent publications highlight advancements in understanding rumen microbial ecology, methane reduction strategies, and the physiological effects of dietary interventions. His studies often bridge basic science with applied agricultural practices to improve livestock productivity and sustainability.

Oba has collaborated on projects addressing calf starter formulations, postpartum cow management, and the development of noninvasive health indicators for dairy herds. His research has implications for reducing environmental impacts (e.g., methane emissions) and enhancing animal welfare in modern dairy systems.