Ella Henzel-Cronin, from Honeoye Falls, New York, is majoring in Agriculture and Food Systems with a minor in Animal Science. She is set to graduate in 2025.
Ella recently presented her research on reducing nitrogen pollution in the dairy industry at UNH’s Undergraduate Research Conference (URC).
Tell us about your research in as non-technical language as possible.
Ella Henzel-Cronin: Biochanin A, a phytoestrogen found in red clover, was fed to Holstein dairy cows to improve nutrient utilization and decrease ammonia excretion.
What challenge does your research seek to address?
Ella: This study hopes to decrease the amount of nitrogen excreted by cows in order to reduce the nitrogen pollution caused by the dairy industry.
Your work elevates research supported by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station. How will your work benefit people, communities and/or the natural environment in New Hampshire?
Ella: Reducing nitrogen pollution from dairy cow urine will decrease the amount of nitrogen accumulating in surrounding soils and waterways. Excess nitrogen can leach into waterways, disrupting chemical balances, leading to eutrophication, and contaminating bodies of water.
What are you learning as a result of your experience?
Ella: I have learned more about the metabolic pathways of nutrients and hormones, and how the microbial population in the rumen can be impacted by the dietary changes we made.
Measuring the Biochanin A into containers
Who are you working with?
Ella: I am working with Dr. Andre Brito and Muhammad Adeel Arshad as my advisors. I have also worked alongside Ph.D. students William Sims, Atikur Rahman, and Toyin Osuolale, as well as staff member Kleves Almeida.
What should prospective students know about UNH?
Ella: Research and internship opportunities are endless as long as you take the initiative to reach out to professors.
What do you love most about UNH?
Ella: All the opportunities for hands-on learning and semesters abroad have greatly enhanced my education. The EcoQuest SAFSA program was one of the most educational and eye-opening semesters I've had, and classes like CREAM, PEEP, and Dairy Selection have helped me gain skills in animal handling and management that I'll use in my career after graduation.
