By Andi Anderson
Edison Magalhaes, the first-ever innovative swine systems extension faculty member at Iowa State University's Department of Animal Science, is bringing a blend of data science and hands-on expertise to the Iowa Pork Industry Center. Starting his position on July 1, Magalhaes is eager to combine his skills in working with both people and data to benefit pork producers in Iowa.
"My primary responsibilities are extension and research, so I expect to be out in the field a lot to understand the needs of producers," he said. "Also, I plan to develop a robust research and extension program at Iowa State that advances scientific knowledge and has a practical impact on the swine industry."
Magalhaes, who has nearly a decade of experience in the field, began his journey with a DVM in Brazil in 2015. He spent over four years as a swine veterinary practitioner at Brazil Foods Company before moving to Iowa State in 2019.
There, he completed a master's degree in preventive veterinary medicine in 2021 and a doctorate in population sciences in animal health in 2023.
During his graduate studies, Magalhaes developed algorithms and used machine learning to create an automated platform for integrating and analyzing swine data.
This research aimed to identify, measure, and predict the major drivers of swine wean-to-finish mortality, supporting data-driven decision-making for swine producers.
"My work has involved extensive collaboration with swine companies, where I have developed a deep understanding of how to apply data science to real-world swine production challenges," he said. "Even though my research was mostly focused on health and wean-to-finish mortality, the foundation of the work was the application of data science concepts on swine big data."
Magalhaes plans to promote precision swine health and productivity through data science and field studies. He noted the abundance of data in the field as a valuable resource for the industry.
"My experience at the College of Veterinary Medicine has provided me with a solid foundation in swine health and production, which I will leverage in my new role," he said. "The animal science department at Iowa State is the right place to develop a nationally and internationally recognized precision swine health and productivity program, given its infrastructure, the renowned faculty team, the IPIC, and solid collaborations with producers."
Magalhaes is enthusiastic about speaking at meetings and workshops across the state, sharing his passion for using data to improve the pork industry.
"I am excited to start new collaborations, and I believe win-win-win partnerships are the key to successful research," he said. "I encourage everyone to contact me with any questions or ideas. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues and industry partners."
Photo Credit: gettyimages-seastock
Categories: Iowa, Livestock, Hogs