Biography
Dr. Jennifer Hurlbert joined the Department of Animal and Dairy Science in October 2026 as a Beef Extension Specialist based out of the Athens campus. She is a reproductive physiologist/ruminant nutritionist with expertise in cow-calf herd management. At UGA, Dr. Hurlbert’s primary responsibilities include Extension and research efforts that serve the beef cattle industry in the Southeast and beyond.
Dr. Hurlbert is the sixth generation growing up on her family’s diversified farm and ranch in northeastern South Dakota. Her family owns and operates a commercial black Angus cow herd and raises corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Her major degree work at North Dakota State University focused on beef cattle nutrition during pregnancy and how management decisions made during gestation can influence not only the cow, but also the growth, health, and performance of her calf. Her work has also included evaluating vitamin and mineral supplementation, protein and energy supplementation, forage utilization, and developmental programming in beef cattle and sheep.
Academic Background
Ph.D., Animal Sciences/Reproductive Physiology and Ruminant Nutrition, North Dakota State University, 2026
M.S., Animal Sciences/Reproductive Physiology, North Dakota State University, 2023
B.S., Animal Science, South Dakota State University, 2020
Research and Extension Interests
At UGA, her primary goal is to build a collaborative Extension and research program that is responsive to the needs of Georgia cattle producers and the county agents who serve them. She plans to work closely with county agents, program coordinators, producers, and stakeholders across the state to identify challenges facing Georgia beef operations in order to develop practical, research-based resources that can be applied on-farm. Her Extension programs will emphasize beef cow nutrition and management throughout the cow cycle, including forage and supplemental feeding strategies, mineral nutrition, replacement heifer and bull development, and reproductive strategies. A major focus will be helping producers make informed decisions based on their cattle, available feed resources, and production objectives. She also intends to use questions and opportunities identified by Georgia cattle producers and Extension agents to guide applied research projects. Areas of interest for research projects include improving supplementation strategies for cows and heifers, understanding mineral status of Georgia beef herds and forages, evaluating nutritional management during gestation and lactation, and determining how those decisions influence cow and calf performance and ultimately the profitability and sustainability of the beef operation. Her overarching objective is to develop a centralized program in which research, Extension, and producer experiences work together to answer practical questions and provide information that cattlemen can use to make confident, informed management decisions on their own operations.
Publications
View publications on Google Scholar
Courses Taught
ANSC 486 Beef Production Systems (NDSU)