CONSULTANTS
Experienced, networked, and industry recognized consultants.
Dr. John Goeser
Ph.D.
P.A.S., Dipl. A.C.A.N.
John Goeser grew up in the dairy industry as his family’s dairy near Plymouth, Wisconsin grew from 60 head in the 1980’s to now over 1,000 cows. Goeser holds several degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, including: B.S. degrees in Dairy Science and Agronomy, M.S. degrees in Plant Breeding & Genetics and Dairy Science, and a Ph.D. in Dairy Science.
Goeser has authored numerous peer reviewed publications, scientific abstracts and posters, popular press articles, white papers and has been invited to give dozens of invited talks.
Goeser has offered dairy nutrition and management expertise for over 11 years. In 2014, Goeser joined the UW-Madison Dairy Science department as an adjunct professor and also began consulting for agricultural businesses. Goeser maintains a nutrition director role with Rock River Laboratory, overseeings animal nutrition, technical support and research. Goeser’s focus with agribusiness clients is improving our understanding of field / farm management practices and technology impact upon carbohydrate digestion, feed management, sustainability, economic performance, and feed hygiene.
Goeser works abroad, having supported agribusiness clients in North America, South America, Europe and Australia.
Dr. Randy Shaver
Ph.D.
P.A.S., Dipl. A.C.A.N.
Professor Emeritus Randy Shaver was born and raised on a western Pennsylvania dairy farm. After completing a B.S. degree in Dairy Science at the Pennsylvania State University, Randy received an M.S. degree from the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Maryland. He then completed his Ph.D. degree in Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986 after conducting research at UW-Madison and the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center. Randy spent 1986-88 working in industry. Since then until 2019, Randy was on the faculty in the Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison with a 75% Extension and 25% Research appointment.
Randy's extension and research programs focused on applied nutrition of lactating dairy cattle. He advised or co-advised over 30 masters or doctoral students at UW Madison. Randy authored or co-authored over 100 peer-review journal publications, 200 scientific abstracts, over 100 popular-press articles in industry trade magazines, and several hundred newsletter articles, extension handouts or bulletins, and internet publications. He presented over 700 invited papers at industry conferences in 46 states. Additionally, he has been an invited speaker for dairy producer and feed industry audiences in Argentina, Brazil, Canada (9 provinces), Chile, China, Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.
Awards that Randy has received include: World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year, ADSA AFIA Dairy Nutrition Award, ADSA Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Award, ADSA De Laval Dairy Extension Award, ADSA Nutrition Professionals Applied Dairy Nutrition Award, and UW-Madison CALS Pound Extension Excellence Award.
Dr. David Combs
Ph.D.
Professor Combs specializes and researches forage utilization and ruminal digestion of fiber by dairy cows. He researches the utilization of pastures and development of energy and protein supplement programs for grazing cattle as well as the intake regulation in high producing dairy cow.