Meet Dr. Wendy Fulwider

Organic Valley Animal Husbandry Specialist

B.S. Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
M.S. Dairy Management, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ph.D. Animal Behavior, Colorado State University

Dr. Wendy Fulwider has worked with Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative to outline humane animal treatment standards and policies since 2007. Graduate research on cow comfort at the University of Wisconsin’s Arlington Research Station led to her interest in animal behavior and welfare. Fulwider earned her doctorate under the tutelage of renowned humane livestock treatment animal scientist Temple Grandin. There, her research included a field study of more than 90,000 cows on 113 dairies in five North Central and Northeastern states.

At Organic Valley, Fulwider advises co-op management on animal husbandry at all levels: on the farm, at the plant and in making recommendations for national organic policy. She also works with producers to improve animal well-being through handling, comfortable and appropriate housing and outcome-based audits.

A dairy farmer before pursuing higher education, Fulwider currently practices humane animal treatment on a farm transitioning to organic. Her areas of expertise include organic animal husbandry, dairy cow comfort, animal behavior, animal welfare, international animal welfare issues, and animal housing.