Anna Johnson

Dr. Anna Johnson is a Professor and Artz Chair for Faculty Excellence in Animal Science at Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Texas Tech University (2001), an M.Sc. in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Edinburgh (1997), and a B.Sc. in Animal Science with Honours from the University of Reading (1995). Her research focuses on livestock welfare, with particular emphasis on swine and poultry behavior, environmental enrichment, and humane handling practices.

Key research areas include optimizing thermal conditions for feeder pigs, improving transport welfare for market pigs, and developing enrichment strategies to mitigate stress during weaning. She has pioneered methods for assessing cattle disease through novel tools like cotton ropes and investigated social buffering effects in weaned calves. Dr. Johnson also advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic and agricultural settings, conducting studies on DEI within her department.

Her recent publications highlight advancements in laser-based enrichment for broilers, validation of welfare assessment techniques, and characterization of chronic conditions in feedlot cattle. She collaborates on projects addressing sow lameness, toe overgrowth, and the economic impacts of welfare improvements.