Michael Allen

Michael Allen is a retired faculty member and University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University (MSU), part of the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. His career focused on dairy cattle nutrition, ruminant physiology, and gut microbiota interactions. Allen has contributed significantly to understanding feed intake regulation, ruminal digestion, and energy metabolism in lactating cows. He has received notable awards, including the ADSA Fellow Award (2019) and the 2018 MSU Graduate School Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award.

His research spans topics such as corn silage-based diets, optimal body condition management for dairy cows, and the effects of dietary starch on inflammation and oxidative status. Allen has also explored tick microbiomes, Lyme disease pathogenesis, and the gut-brain axis in morphine self-administration models. His work integrates animal science with microbiology, immunology, and neuroscience.

Publications highlight his interdisciplinary approach, covering feed formulation, microbial succession in hemp processing, and the role of gut microbiota in behavior. Allen’s mentorship and teaching contributions are evident through his awards and involvement in graduate student programs. His research has been supported by grants such as the 2018 M-AAA funded projects in ANS and collaborations with MSU Extension.

Awards:

• ADSA Fellow Award (2019)
• 2018 MSU Graduate School Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award
• ANS Graduate Student Awards 2019 (Advisor)

Grants & Outreach: Key projects include the Alliance to boost Michigan’s animal agriculture research and the M-AAA funded initiatives. He also contributed to MSU Extension programs and farm facilities projects.

Labs/Teams: Part of MSU’s Department of Animal Science research groups focusing on ruminant nutrition, microbiology, and applied dairy science.