Melissa Cantor

Assistant Professor Precision Dairy Science

345 Ag Science & Industries Bldg.
University Park, PA 16802

Areas of Expertise

Precision Livestock Farming
Precision Technology
Animal health
Calf Nutrition
Animal behavior
Animal welfare
Dairy cattle management

Education

University of Kentucky. BSc. Animal Science, 2011
UW-Madison. MSc. Dairy Science, 2015
University of Kentucky Ph.D. Animal Science, 2021
University of Guelph Post-doctoral fellowship, 2021-2023

Dr. Melissa C. Cantor is an Assistant Professor of Precision Dairy Science in the Department of Animal Science at Penn State University. Her research and extension program is dedicated to advancing health, welfare, and performance in dairy calves by combining innovative technology, nutrition, and practical on-farm applications. Dr. Cantor’s work centers on early disease detection using automated milk feeders, activity trackers, and machine learning algorithms, with a focus on conditions like diarrhea and bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Her sensor validation studies and diagnostic tools are helping producers make more informed, data-driven decisions to reduce illness and antimicrobial use. She currently has 32 scientific, peer-reviewed publications (24 journal articles, 6 conference proceedings, and 2 book chapters).

She also conducts applied research on calf nutrition, exploring strategies to enhance growth and immune development through colostrum management, feeding programs, and the inclusion of forages. Her recent studies have evaluated colostrum supplementation beyond day one and assessed how dietary fiber impacts gut health and abnormal oral behaviors in group-housed calves.

Extension and Outreach

Dr. Cantor directs the Calf Success program, which delivers hands-on training, bilingual workshops, and science-backed resources to dairy producers, veterinarians, and advisors nationwide. Flagship programs such as Dissect the Digestives and Colostrum is Liquid Gold have received widespread acclaim for making complex health concepts accessible and practical.

She also co-directs the annual Penn State Dairy Nutrition Workshop, one of the region’s premier dairy conferences, which convenes 450+ attendees to share the latest research and nutritional innovations. Her programming consistently supports Penn State’s land-grant mission by turning research into real-world impact for the dairy industry.

Publications

Evaluating the change in immunoglobulin G, serum total protein, and accuracy of assessing transfer of passive immunity over the first 7 d of age in dairy calves
Journal of Dairy Science, Goetz, Hanne, Steele, Mike, Nott, Kylie, McCarthy, Hannah, Lopez, Alberto, Cantor, Melissa, Renaud, Dave, 2025

An evaluation of the precision livestock farming landscape for dairy cattle management: what we know, and what the future holds, Cantor, Melissa, 2025

Effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on neonatal calf diarrhea when administered at a disease alert generated by automated milk feeders
Journal of Dairy Science, Welk, Allison, Cantor, Melissa, Neave, Heather, Costa, Joao, Morrison, Jannelle, Winder, Charlotte, Renaud, Dave, 2025

Heifers: An Opportunity and a Liability, Costa, Joao, Cantor, Melissa, Woodrum Setser, Megan, 2025

The association of lung consolidation and respiratory pathogens identified at weaning on the growth performance of beef-on-dairy calves
Journal of Dairy Science, Fernandes, Ingrid, Welk, Allison, Ranaud, David, Renaud, Dave, Sockett, Don, Felix, Tara, Cantor, Melissa, 2025

Backyard cultivation: 2025’s best states for hobby farms, Maive, Sav, Cantor, Melissa, 2024

Colostrum: A powerhouse nutraceutical for older calves, Plaugher, Gillian, Bone, Breanna, Cantor, Melissa, 2024

Calf scours: Simple preventions and interventions for optimal calf health, Cantor, Melissa, 2024

Investigating nutritional strategies during a rest period to improve health, growth, and behavioral outcomes of transported surplus dairy calves
Journal of Dairy Science, Bajus, A., Creutzinger, K. C., Cantor, M. C., Wilms, J. N., Gomez Nieto, D. E., Steele, M. A., Kelton, D. F., Renaud, D. L., 2024

Common pathogens causing diarrhea in dairy calves, Plaugher, Gillian, Renaud, Dave, Cantor, Melissa, 2024

HPAI: What you need to know about dairy cattle and poultry, Cantor, Melissa, Lorenzoni Calvo, A, Holden, L, 2024

What is animal welfare?, Cantor, Melissa, Hodder, A, Monroe, Jennifer, 2024

Penn State Extension AI guidelines, Ladlee, J, Beresnyak, Tom, Butzler, T, Cantor, Melissa, Esker, P, Felix, T, Fetter, J, Grozinger, C, Long, He, Hines, E, Hirneisen, Andy, Krali, Richard, LaBorde, L, Onopa, Jenn, Schmidt, C, Snyder, Carla, Yutzy, Amber, Mahan, Wendy, Millet, Chris, 2024

The development and validation of a milk feeding behavior alert from automated feeder data to classify calves at risk for a diarrhea bout: A diagnostic accuracy study
Journal of Dairy Science, Cantor, M. C., Welk, A. A., Creutzinger, K. C., Woodrum Setser, M. M., Costa, J. H.C., Renaud, D. L., 2024

Effects of supplementing colostrum beyond the first day of life on growth and health parameters of preweaning Holstein heifers
Journal of Dairy Science, McCarthy, H. R., Cantor, M. C., Lopez, A. J., Pineda, A., Nagorske, M., Renaud, D. L., Steele, M. A., 2024

Purchasing guide for the dairy: Precision technology system, Cantor, Melissa, Bone, Breanna, 2024

Colostrum supplementation beyond the first feeding after birth
Tri-state Dairy Nutrition Conference Proceedings, Cantor, Melissa, 2024

Dairy farm transformation: Artificial intelligence, Bone, Breanna, Cantor, Melissa, 2024

Stop the suck: Avoiding cross-sucking with automated feeders, Cantor, Melissa, James, Robert, 2024

Why do dairy calves cross-suck each other: A success guide, Cantor, Melissa, James, Robert, 2024

Precision livestock farming: Dairy technologies, Cantor, Melissa, Monroe, Jennifer, 2023

Activity behaviors and relative changes in activity patterns recorded by precision technology were associated with diarrhea status in individually housed calves
Journal of Dairy Science, Guevara-Mann, D., Renaud, D. L., Cantor, M. C., 2023

The endemic calf parasite Cryptosporidium Parvum, Cantor, Melissa, Springer, H, 2023

A Machine Learning and Optimization Framework for the Early Diagnosis of Bovine Respiratory Disease
IEEE Access, Casella, Enrico, Cantor, Melissa C., Setser, Megan M.Woodrum, Silvestri, Simone, Costa, Joao H.C., 2023

Feeding behavior and activity levels are associated with recovery status in dairy calves treated with antimicrobials for Bovine Respiratory Disease
Scientific Reports, Cantor, M. C., Renaud, David L., Neave, Heather W., Costa, Joao H.C., 2022

Association of a green tea extract with serum immunoglobulin G status and neonatal vitality in newborn dairy calves
Journal of Dairy Science, Reis, M. E., Cantor, M., Bittar, C. M.M., Costa, J. H.C., 2022

Effect of supplementation with algae β-glucans on performance, health, and blood metabolites of Holstein dairy calves
Journal of Dairy Science, Reis, M. E., de Toledo, A. F., da Silva, A. P., Poczynek, M., Cantor, M. C., Virgínío Júnior, G. F., Greco, L., Bittar, C. M.M., 2022

Evaluation of an infrared thermography camera for measuring body temperature in dairy calves
JDS Communications, Cantor, M. C., Goetz, H. M., Beattie, K., Renaud, D. L., 2022

Daily behavioral measures recorded by precision technology devices may indicate bovine respiratory disease status in preweaned dairy calves
Journal of Dairy Science, Cantor, M. C., Costa, J. H.C., 2022

Evaluation of a point-of-care meter for measuring glucose concentrations in dairy calves: A diagnostic accuracy study
JDS Communications, Renaud, D. L., Hare, K. S., Wood, K. M., Steele, M. A., Cantor, M. C., 2022

Associations between Feeding Behaviors Collected from an Automated Milk Feeder and Neonatal Calf Diarrhea in Group Housed Dairy Calves: A Case-Control Study
Animals, Conboy, Meridith H., Winder, Charlotte B., Cantor, Melissa C., Costa, Joao H.C., Steele, Michael A., Medrano-Galarza, Catalina, von Konigslow, Taika E., Kerr, Amanda, Renaud, Dave L., 2022

Using Machine Learning and Behavioral Patterns Observed by Automated Feeders and Accelerometers for the Early Indication of Clinical Bovine Respiratory Disease Status in Preweaned Dairy Calves
Frontiers in Animal Science, Cantor, Melissa C., Casella, Enrico, Silvestri, Simone, Renaud, David L., Costa, Joao H.C., 2022

Using machine learning and precision livestock farming technology for early indication of health status in preweaned dairy calves, Cantor, M. C., Casella, E., Silvestri, S., Renaud, D. L., Costa, J. H.C., 2022

Cost-aware Inference of Bovine Respiratory Disease in Calves using Precision Livestock Technology, Casella, Enrico, Cantor, Melissa C., Silvestri, Simone, Renaud, Dave L., Costa, Joao H.C., 2022

Nutraceutical intervention with colostrum replacer: Can we reduce disease hazard, ameliorate disease severity, and improve performance in preweaned dairy calves?
Journal of Dairy Science, Cantor, M. C., Renaud, D. L., Costa, J. H.C., 2021

Supplementation of lysolecithin in milk replacer for Holstein dairy calves: Effects on growth performance, health, and metabolites
Journal of Dairy Science, Reis, M. E., Toledo, A. F., da Silva, A. P., Poczynek, M., Fioruci, E. A., Cantor, M. C., Greco, L., Bittar, C. M.M., 2021

Symposium review: Precision technologies for dairy calves and management applications
Journal of Dairy Science, Costa, Joao H.C., Cantor, Melissa C., Neave, Heather W., 2021

A comprehensive evaluation of microchips to measure temperature in dairy calves
Journal of Dairy Science, Woodrum Setser, M. M., Cantor, M. C., Costa, J. H.C., 2020

Technical note: Estimating body weight of dairy calves with a partial-weight scale attached to an automated milk feeder
Journal of Dairy Science, Cantor, Melissa C., Pertuisel, Charlotte H., Costa, Joao H.C., 2020

Effect of milk feeding strategy and lactic acid probiotics on growth and behavior of dairy calves fed using an automated feeding system
Journal of Animal Science, Cantor, Melissa C., Stanton, Amy L., Combs, David K., Costa, Joao H.C., 2019

Current perspectives on the short- And long-term effects of conventional dairy calf raising systems: A comparison with the natural environment
Translational Animal Science, Cantor, Melissa C., Neave, Heather W., Costa, Joao H.C., 2019

Key animal welfare issues in commercially raised dairy calves: Social environment, nutrition, and painful procedures
Canadian Journal of Animal Science, Costa, Joao H.C., Cantor, Melissa, Adderley, Nicola A., Neave, Heather W., 2019

Impact of observed and controlled water intake on reticulorumen temperature in lactating dairy cattle
Animals, Cantor, Melissa C., Costa, Joao H.C., Bewley, Jeffrey M., 2018

Validation of radio frequency identification with a current transducer to quantify the use of an automatic grooming brush in pre-weaned dairy calves. In: 10th International Livestock Symposium
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Falk, M., Cantor, Melissa, Hayes, M., Jackson, J., Costa, J., 2018

Bovine life history
Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior, Costa, Joao, Cantor, Melissa, Neave, Heather, 2018

Validation of radio frequency identification with a current transducer to quantify the use of an automatic grooming brush in pre-weaned dairy calves, Falk, Morgan, Cantor, M. C., Hayes, M., Jackson, J., Costa, J. C., 2018