Rate My Professor Adrian Barragan

Adrian A. Barragan, DVM, MS, PhD, serves as Associate Research Professor and Extension Veterinarian in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences within Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences. His academic journey includes a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the University of La Plata in Buenos Aires, Argentina, followed by a Master of Science in 2015 and a PhD in 2017, both from the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at The Ohio State University. Specializing in Agricultural and Veterinary Science, Barragan's expertise encompasses transition cow management, dairy cattle reproduction, farm personnel training and performance, dairy production medicine, and cow comfort. He is actively involved in translating educational materials into Spanish and advising the Penn State Pre-Vet Club.

Barragan's research program focuses on improving dairy cattle health and production through innovative interventions, such as prepartum anti-inflammatory therapies using acetylsalicylic acid to reduce metabolic stress, systemic inflammation, and enhance reproductive performance and milk yield in Holstein cows. Notable studies explore the effects on colostrum quality, calf health, and microbiome alterations. He has pioneered the use of intrauterine dextrose as an alternative to systemic antibiotics for treating clinical metritis, providing microbiome insights. Key publications include “Prepartum anti-inflammatory therapies in Holstein dairy cows blocked by parity and body condition score group: Effects on metabolic stress, systemic inflammation, performance, and health” (Journal of Dairy Science, 2024), “Use of intrauterine dextrose as an alternative to systemic antibiotics for treatment of clinical metritis in dairy cattle: a microbiome perspective” (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2024), “Exploring vaginal discharge scoring to assess clinical metritis severity” (British Veterinary Journal, 2024), and “The impact of beef sire breed on dystocia, stillbirth, gestation length, health, and lactation performance of cows that carry beef × dairy calves” (Journal of Dairy Science, 2023). In recognition of his efforts to advance diversity, he received the 2021 Dr. William Henson Diversity Achievement Award from the College of Agricultural Sciences. Through extension programs, Barragan trains farmworkers, addresses occupational health risks, and promotes better labor practices on Pennsylvania dairy farms, significantly impacting the agricultural community.