Matias Aguerre

Associate Professor
Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department

Office: 120 Poole Agricultural Center
Phone: 864-656-3120

Email: maguerr@clemson.edu

Educational Background

Ph.D. Dairy Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison 2011

MS Dairy Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison 2004

Agricultural Production Engineer
Universidad Catolica Argentina 2000

Courses Taught

AVS 2030/2031 Dairy Techniques (Spring)
AVS/PES 4230-6230 Field Crops-Forages (Spring)
AVS 4500 Sustainability of Livestock Systems (Fall)
AVS 4910 Undergraduate Research Experience (Fall-Spring)
AVS 8220 Special Problems

Research Interests

The overarching objectives of my research program are:
Improve nutrient use efficiency in livestock production systems through novel (e.g. low lignin alfalfa, BMR forages, and cover crops), greater and more efficient use of high quality forages in livestock diets.

Although some scientific literature have shown that Jerseys may convert feed resources to milk components more efficiently than Holsteins, our knowledge about nutrient requirements of Jerseys and other breeds is incomplete. Thus, identifying differences in forage requirements and overall nutrient utilization efficiency between different breeds (e.g. Holstein vs. Jersey) is an area of considerable interest to increase the efficiency of milk production. In particular, I am interested in determining how changes in dietary forage concentration and type (i.e. corn silage, grasses, and legumes) affects lactation performance, nutrient utilization and excretion, between different breeds.

The outcomes of the proposed research activities will contribute to improving the efficiency of forage utilization by livestock (conversion of feed N and C into milk and meat) and reduce the release of labile C and N to the environment due to the inefficiency of production (conversion of feed N and C into animal waste). In addition, it will help protect air, water quality, and reduce consumers concerns about the environmental impact of animal production (e.g., carbon footprint of milk, and N-related water and air quality pollution from dairy farms).

Publications

Singh, J., A. B. Koc, M. J. Aguerre, J. P. Chastain. 2024. Biomass Estimation of Bermudagrass in Pastures: A Comparison of Sensor-Based Field Robotic Systems. (Under review)

Hussein, S.M., M. J. Aguerre, T. C. Jenkins, W. Bridges, G.J. Lascano. 2024. Screening dietary fat sources and concentrations included to low and high forage diets using an in vitro gas production system. Fermentation 10:506.

Singh, J., A. B. Koc, M. J. Aguerre, J. P. Chastain. 2024. Estimation of Aboveground Biomass of Alfalfa using Field Robotics. Smart Agricultural Technology 9:100597.

Davis, L., E. French, M. J. Aguerre, A. B. A. Ali. 2024. The Short-Term Effects of Altering Milking Intervals on Milk Production and Behavior of Holsteins Milked in an Automated Milking System. Dairy 5:403-418.

Toledo, M., S. Hussein, M. Pena, M. Aguerre, W. Bridges, G. Lascano. 2024. Effects of caffeine when mimicking rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility of a lactating cow using a continuous culture system. Ruminants 4: 406-417

Singh, J., A. B. Koc, M. J. Aguerre, J. P. Chastain, S. Shaik. 2024. Estimating Bermudagrass Aboveground Biomass Using Stereovision and Vegetation Coverage. Remote Sensing 16:2646.

Erickson, M., T. Barros, M.J. Aguerre, J. J. Olmos Colmenero, S. Bertics, M. Wattiaux. 2024. Reducing dietary crude protein: effects on digestibility, N balance, and blood metabolites in late-lactation Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 107:4394–4408.

Davis, L., E. French, M. J. Aguerre, and Ali, A. 2023. Impact of Parity on cow stress, behavior, and production in farms with automatic milking systems. Frontiers in Animal Science 4:1258935 doi: 10.3389/fanim.2023.1258935

Peña, O. M., Murphy, K., Long, N., Lascano, G. J., Jenkins, T.C., Aguerre, M. J. 2023. Evaluating the rumen degradation of novel protected gelatin capsules containing fish oil fed to lactating dairy cows. Animals 13:2555.

Aguerre, M.J., O. M. Peña, C. Velasquez, G. Ferreira. 2023. Nutritional composition and in vitro ruminal digestibility of crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) in monoculture or interseeded with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and lablab (Lablab purpureus). Animals 13:2305.

Peña, O. M., C. Velasquez, G. Ferreira, and M. J. Aguerre. 2023. Yield, nutritional composition, and in vitro ruminal digestibility of conventional and brown midrib (BMR) corn for silage as affected by planting population and harvest maturity. Agronomy 13:1414.

Compton, C., O. M. Peña, C. Hikita, T. Watanabe, T. C. Jenkins, G. J. Lascano, M. J. Aguerre. 2023. Effects of cashew nut shell extract on ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility under continuous culture conditions. Ruminants 3:92-99.

Koc, A. B.,B. M. MacInnis, M. J. Aguerre, J. P. Chastain, and A. P. Turner. 2023. Alfalfa Biomass Estimation Using Crop Surface Modeling and Vegetation Indices. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 39:251-264

Oskey, M., C. Velasquez, O. M. Pena, J. Andrae, W. Bridges, G. Ferreira, and M. J. Aguerre. 2023. Yield, nutritional composition, and digestibility of conventional and brown midrib (BMR) pearl millet as affected by planting and harvesting dates and interseeded cowpea. Animals 13:260.

Perron, B. S., W. C. Bridges, A. B. A. Ali, M. J. Aguerre, M. Burns, K. L. Vernon. 2023.Effects of Maneuvering Required Maintenance Elements To Monitor the Grazing Distribution and Behaviors of Horses. International Journal of Equine Science. International Journal of Equine Science 2:1-8.

Ferreira, G., H. Galyon, A. I. Silva-Reis, A. A. Pereyra, E. S. Richardson, C. L. Teets, P. Blevins, R. Cockrum, and M. J. Aguerre. 2022. Ruminal fiber digestion kinetics within and among summer annual species as affected by the brown midrib (BMR) genotype. Animals 12:2536. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192536.

Keifer, T., T. Scott, M. J. Aguerre, G. J. Lascano, and D. Jachowski. 2022. Using multidisciplinary, conflict-based experiential learning to train students on how to address controversy at the public-private land interface: Teaching at the public-private land interface. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Volume 66.

Bougouin, A., A. Hristov, M. J. Aguerre, et al. 2022. Prediction of nitrogen excretion from data on dairy cows fed a wide range of diets compiled in an intercontinental database: a meta-analysis. Journal of Dairy Science 105:7462-748.

Ferreira, G., C. Teets, J. Huffard, and M. J. Aguerre. 2020. Effects of planting population, genotype, and nitrogen fertilization on nutrient composition, ruminal in vitro neutral detergent fiber disappearance, and nutrient output of corn for silage. Animal Feed Science and Technology Volume 268. Available on-line https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1bQMN1LwJ29nOk.

Aguerre, M. J., B. Duval, J. M. Powell, P. A. Vadas, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2020. Effects of feeding a quebracho-chestnut tannin extract on lactating cow performance and nitrogen utilization efficiency. Journal of Dairy Science 103:2264-2271.

Sun, F., M. J. Aguerre, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2019. Starch and dextrose at 2 levels of rumen degradable protein in iso-nitrogenous diets: Effects on lactation performance, ruminal parameters, methane emission, digestibility, and N balance of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 102:1281-1293.

Barros, T., J. M. Powell, M. A. C. Danes, M. J. Aguerre and M. A. Wattiaux. 2017. Short communication: Relative partitioning of N from alfalfa silage, corn silage, corn grain and soybean meal into milk, urine, and feces, using stable 15N isotope. Animal Feed Science and Technology 229:91-96.

Barros, T., M. Quaassdorff, M. J. Aguerre, J. J. Olmos Colmenero, S. Bertics, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2017. Effects of dietary crude protein concentration on late-lactation dairy cow performance and indicators of nitrogen utilization. Journal of Dairy Science. Journal of Dairy Science 100:5434-5448.

Powell, J. M., T. Barros , M. Danes, M. J. Aguerre, M. A. Wattiaux, K. Reed. 2017. Nitrogen use efficiencies to grow, feed, and recycle manure from the major diet components fed to dairy cows in the USA. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 239: 274-28.

Duval, B. D., M. Aguerre, M. Wattiaux, P. A. Vadas, J. M. Powell. 2016. Potential for reducing on-farm greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from dairy cows with prolonged dietary tannin additions. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 227:329.

Aguerre, M. J., M. C. Cappozolo, P. Lencioni, C. Cabral, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2016. Effect of quebracho-chestnut tannin extracts at two dietary crude protein levels on performance, rumen fermentation and nitrogen partitioning in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 99:4476-4486.

Arndt, C., J. M. Powell, M. J. Aguerre, P. M. Crump, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2015. Feed conversion efficiency in dairy cows: Repeatability, variation in digestion and metabolism of energy and nitrogen, and ruminal methanogens. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 98:3938-3950.

Arndt, C., J. M. Powell, M. J. Aguerre, M. A. Wattiaux. 2014. Performance, digestion, nitrogen balance, and emission of manure ammonia, enteric methane, and carbon dioxide in lactating cows fed diets with varying alfalfa silage-to-corn silage ratios. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 98:418-430.

Aguerre, M. J., M. A. Wattiaux, and J. M. Powell. 2012. Emission of ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide during storage of dairy cow manure as affected by dietary forage to concentrate ratio and crust formation. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 95:7409-7416.

Aguerre, M. J., M.A. Wattiaux, T. Hunt and N. E. Lobos. 2012. Effect of nitrogen content and additional straw on changes in chemical composition, volatile losses, and ammonia emission from dairy manure during long-term storage. Journal of Dairy Science 95:3454-3466.

Powell, J. M., M. J. Aguerre and M. A. Wattiaux. 2011. Tannin extracts abate ammonia emissions from simulated dairy barn floors. Journal of Environmental Quality 40:907-914.

Powell, J. M., M. J. Aguerre and M. A. Wattiaux. 2011. Dietary crude protein and tannin impact dairy manure chemistry and ammonia emissions from incubated soils. Journal of Environmental Quality 40:1767-1774.

Aguerre, M. J., M. A. Wattiaux, J. M. Powell, G. A. Broderick, and C. Arndt. 2011. Effect of forage to concentrate ratio in dairy cow diets on emission of methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia, lactation performance and manure excretion. Journal of Dairy Science 94:3081-3093.

Aguerre M. J., M.A. Wattiaux, T. Hunt and B.R. Larget. 2010. Effect of dietary crude protein on ammonia-N emission measured by herd nitrogen mass balance in a free-stall dairy barn managed under farm-like conditions. Animal 4:1390-1400.

Rastani, R. R., N. E. Lobos, M. J. Aguerre. R. R. Grummer, M. A. Wattiaux. 2006. Relationships between blood urea nitrogen and energy balance or measures of tissue mobilization in Holstein cows during the periparturient period. The Professional Animal Scientist 22:382-385.