Join us for The Bill Gatton Foundation Speaker Series: The Human-Animal Bond. The series kicks off on November 4 with Dr. Kate Shoveller's talk: From Hooves to Paws to Hands: Interconnectivity in the Pursuit of Innovation.
The Bill Gatton Foundation Speaker Series is made possible thanks to University of Kentucky alum and former trustee Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, who bestowed a transformational $100 million gift to the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment through The Bill Gatton Foundation. It is the largest gift to the university in its history.
From Hooves to Paws to Hands: Interconnectivity in the Pursuit of Innovation
Speaker: Dr. Kate Shoveller
Date: November 4, 2024
Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m., with a light reception to follow
Location: Gluck Auditorium, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center building
Shoveller’s talk will explore the increasing need for collaboration across multiple sectors—government, industry, healthcare, academia and the public—to improve the lives of companion animals and, consequently, human life. The evolving relationship between humans and animals extends beyond just dogs, cats and horses, as our lives become more intertwined with various species. The growing demand for data-driven decision-making highlights the need for deeper expertise and relationship-building across different fields. Now more than ever, collaboration is essential!
Checking our Pulse: The Use of Pulses in Dog Food
Speaker: Dr. Kate Shoveller
Date: November 6, 2024
Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: TBD
The Pursuit for an Alternative Oil: Comparing the Dietary Supplementation of Camelina, Flax and Canola Oils to Dogs and Horses
Speaker: Taylor Richards
Date: November 6, 2024
Time: 12-1 p.m.
Location: TBD
About the Speakers
Dr. Kate Shoveller
Dr. Kate Shoveller, a Ph.D. graduate from the University of Alberta, is a professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph. Before joining academia, she worked at Procter & Gamble and Mars Pet Care, where she contributed to dog and cat nutrition research, focusing on energy metabolism and amino acid requirements.
Dr. Shoveller currently teaches Companion Animal and Equine Nutrition and leads a comparative nutrition research group. Her current research focuses on amino acid, fatty acid and energy metabolism in dogs and cats. Dr. Shoveller is also a co-host of the Pet Food Science Podcast, which aims to innovate the pet food industry by sharing scientific insights.
She has published over 160 peer-reviewed papers, contributed to book chapters, applied for multiple patents and secured over $8 million in grants and contracts since joining Guelph.
In recognition of her impact, Dr. Shoveller was named the Champion Petfoods Research Chair in Canine and Feline Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism in 2021, and in 2024, she was honored as a University of Guelph Research Leadership Chair. In her free time, she enjoys riding horses, gardening and spending time with family and friends.
Taylor Richards
In 2015, Taylor Richards began studying Animal Biology at the University of Guelph and quickly developed an interest in nutrition and metabolism, leading to a minor in Nutrition and Nutraceuticals. During this time, she became a Research Assistant under Dr. Kate Shoveller. This experience introduced her to laboratory techniques and resulted in a publication on the relationship between starch source, gastric emptying rate and its impact on diabetes and obesity in sled dogs, sparking her passion for research.
After earning her B.S., Taylor pursued an M.S. by thesis under Dr. Shoveller, focusing on the effects of camelina oil supplementation on skin and coat health in dogs and horses. Taylor assessed the effects of camelina oil on trans-epidermal water loss, inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers, and changes in skin and coat health using a 5-point Likert scale.
Additional aspects of the project, such as serum fatty acids, body weight, food intake and biochemical and hematological analytes, are being evaluated by her colleague, Scarlett Burron, to assess camelina oil's safety. Early data, published in Animals, suggests that camelina oil is comparable to canola and flaxseed oils, which are already approved for canine and equine diets by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). The remaining results will support the approval of camelina oil as a recognized ingredient in pet diets.
Looking ahead, Taylor aims to continue improving the health of companion animals through research on nutritional supplementation, inflammation and metabolism.