معرفی
Dr. Lawton Stewart serves as a Professor and Extension Coordinator in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. With over 15 years of experience at UGA, Dr. Stewart leads statewide extension and applied research initiatives focused on beef cattle production systems in Georgia, building a synergistic program that leverages knowledge, collaboration, communication, and technology to improve the livelihood of Georgia's beef cattle producers.
Dr. Stewart's educational background includes:
- B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Georgia
- M.S. in Agronomy with emphasis in Forage Management from the University of Florida
- Ph.D. in Animal Science with emphasis in Ruminant Nutrition and Forage Utilization from Virginia Tech
- Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Kentucky investigating nitrogen metabolism in ruminants
Dr. Stewart's research and extension program focuses on beef cattle nutrition, management, and forage systems, with particular emphasis on improving production efficiency in Georgia's diverse beef operations. His work integrates fundamental animal science research with practical extension programming to address challenges specific to southeastern US agriculture. Key areas include optimizing beef-forage systems, evaluating preconditioning and backgrounding strategies, developing sustainable parasite control methods, and investigating the impacts of nutrition on reproductive performance. He actively explores opportunities in beef cattle production such as stockering and retained ownership to enhance producer profitability.
Analysis of Dr. Stewart's recent scholarly output reveals a strong thematic focus on integrated beef-forage systems, with particular attention to alfalfa-bermudagrass mixtures, nutritional impacts on reproductive physiology, and innovative management strategies for southeastern production environments. His publications bridge fundamental research with practical applications, addressing challenges like cotton byproduct utilization, baleage production, and sustainable grazing systems while maintaining scientific rigor through collaborations across multiple institutions.
Dr. Stewart has received recognition for his contributions to student development:
- Student Career Success Influencer Award (2023)
As an active researcher, Dr. Stewart manages a substantial portfolio of funded projects totaling significant grant support, primarily through the Georgia Commodities Commission for Beef, Cotton Incorporated, Merck & Co., and the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. His research program includes studies on parasite control, forage improvement, cotton byproduct utilization, and sustainable beef production systems. He coordinates the UGA Beef Team, providing travel and educational support for student competitions including the Elite Stockman Short Course and Top Hand Stockmanship and Stewardship Contest, demonstrating his commitment to developing the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Dr. Stewart participates in multiple interdisciplinary research teams focused on beef-forage systems across the southeastern United States, collaborating with agronomists, animal scientists, and extension specialists to address complex challenges in beef production. His program maintains strong industry partnerships that ensure research addresses practical on-farm challenges while advancing scientific understanding of beef cattle production systems in the southeastern agricultural environment.
