Harald Michael Hammon

Harald Michael Hammon is a senior academic and research leader at the Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), where he serves as Head of the Department of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner", Deputy Institute Director, and Head of the Working Group on Metabolic Health. He holds a habilitation in Animal Physiology from the University of Bern and has been a key figure at FBN since 2004. He also contributes to academic teaching at the University of Rostock, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

His research is centered on the metabolic and endocrine regulation of growth, development, and energy metabolism in cattle, with a strong focus on the critical periods of neonatal calves and transition dairy cows. Key interests include glucose metabolism, the role of colostrum, nutritional programming, and the metabolic impacts of fatty acid supplementation.

His recent publications (2022–2025) demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach, integrating proteomics, transcriptomics, immunology, and artificial intelligence to study calf health, dairy cow metabolism, and disease detection. A recurring theme is the interplay between nutrition, metabolism, and immune function, particularly during vulnerable physiological transitions.

• Metabolic Health in Calves: Research on rumen development, Cryptosporidium infection, glucose metabolism, and immune system maturation.
• Nutrition and Metabolism in Dairy Cows: Studies on fatty acid supplementation, backfat dynamics, oxidative stress, and metabolic adaptation during the transition period.
• Innovative Methodologies: Application of deep learning for early disease detection in calves using automated feeding data.

Dr. Hammon has a long-standing collaboration with researchers such as Cornelia C. Metges, Björn Kuhla, and Manfred Mielenz. He has authored or co-authored over 100 publications, contributing significantly to the fields of ruminant nutrition and physiology.

He has mentored numerous students and early-career researchers, though specific names are not listed in the provided texts. His work is supported by national and international research collaborations and funding bodies, enabling impactful research on farm animal health and productivity.

Dr. Hammon leads a dynamic research group focused on advancing the understanding of metabolic health in farm animals, with the goal of improving animal welfare and sustainable dairy production.