Biography:

Dr. Steele joined the IMGC Scientific Advisory Committee in 2026. He is a Full Professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences at University of Guelph, with his research aiming to explain ruminant physiology through a systems approach from the molecular to whole animal level. His research program is inspired by his upbringing on a progressive dairy farm in Southwestern Ontario, where he became fascinated by the integration of advanced scientific technologies and livestock production systems. The global hypothesis of his current research program is that during early-life, gastrointestinal function and health in the ruminant are regulated by specific interactions among diet and microbiota that can impact gastrointestinal physiology later in life. As such, the overall objective of his research program is to develop a better understanding of how pre-weaning nutritional and management factors that are common in livestock production can impact gastrointestinal development and metabolism during the pre-weaning phase and later in life. His research program is summarized into the following four areas:

1. Uncovering the bioactivity of colostrum and factors influencing transfer of passive immunity
2. Elucidating effects of feeding elevated planes of milk nutrition and milk replacer composition on gastrointestinal function, development and metabolism of dairy calves
3. Understanding how weaning strategies influence calf gut function
4. Determining alternatives to antimicrobials