Megan Woodrum Setser

Assistant Professor

Dr. Megan Woodrum Setser is an Assistant Professor of Animal Science who joined the Department of Animal Science in 2025. Her research uses a multidisciplinary approach to improve animal welfare and production systems. Her research focuses on understanding behavioral drivers of livestock performance and developing welfare‑centered management strategies with an emphasis on dairy cattle production. She teaches Introduction to Animal Science, Livestock Management, Livestock and Carcass Evaluation, and Behavior and Training of Domestic Animals. She is also the faculty advisor for the Animal Welfare and Enrichment (AWE) Club.

Education

  • Ph.D., Animal and Food Science, University of Kentucky, 2023
  • M.S., Animal and Food Science, University of Kentucky, 2021
  • B.S., Animal Science, University of Kentucky, 2018

Teaching

  • ANSC 1001/SAAS 101. Introduction to Animal Science
  • ANSC 3273/SAAS 273. Livestock Management
  • ANSC 3674/SAAS 274. Livestock and Carcass Evaluation
  • ANSC 1602/SAAS 202. Behavior and Training of Domestic Animals

Research Areas / Expertise

  • Applied Animal Behavior
  • Animal Welfare
  • Dairy Production Science
  • Precision Livestock Technology
  • Calf Management

Selected Publications

  1. Woodrum Setser, M., Brown, D., Costa, J. H., & Creutzinger, K. (2025). Taste aversion as a motivation test of hunger in dairy calves. Frontiers in Animal Science, 6, 1602011. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2025.1602011
  2. Woodrum Setser, M. M., Neave, H. W., & Costa, J. H. C. (2024). Are you ready for a challenge? Personality traits influence dairy calves’ responses to disease, pain, and nutritional challenges. Journal of Dairy Science, 107(11), 9821–9838. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24514
  3. Woodrum Setser, M. M., Neave, H. W., & Costa, J. H. C. (2024). Can individual variation in food neophobia explain variability in dairy calf feeding behavior patterns and performance? Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 274, Article 106266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106266
  4. Woodrum Setser, M. M., Neave, H. W., & Costa, J. H. C. (2023). The history, implementation, and application of personality tests in livestock animals and their links to performance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 268, Article 106081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2023.106081

Professional Profiles

Megan Woodrum Setser
Contact Information
Emailmegan.woodrum_setser@uconn.edu
Phone(860) 486-1067
Office LocationWITE 103