Supatirada Wongchanla's journey in veterinary medicine has been a profound exploration that has enriched her understanding of animal health and management. Her interest in animal nutrition began to grow in her third year of studies when she took courses like Animal Disease Development and Nutritional Balance. After studying the values, metabolism, and impacts of nutrients on animal health, it strengthened her passion for learning more about this important area.

Post-graduation, she worked as a technical product advisor for the Smart Vet Group of Companies in Thailand, where her interest in animal nutrition was evident. She has since then immersed herself in innovative products—ZnO nanoparticles, Copper ion nanoparticles, Chito-oligosaccharides, living yeast, and inulin—that improve the performance of farm animals. Her area of expertise is collecting and analyzing data from commercial farms that use these ingredients and supplements for animal feed.

Through this work, she has confronted the pressing issue of antimicrobial drug resistance, which is thought to be caused by the improper application of antibiotics in agricultural animal industries. This concern has steered her focus towards researching feed additives as alternatives to antibiotics in monogastric animals, aiming to improve overall health and reduce antimicrobial drug resistance. Additionally, she is committed to researching feed supplements to enhance the growth and production performance of livestock, with a vision to elevate animal husbandry standards in her country for global competitiveness and increased profitability for stakeholders in the pig industry.

She was driven to attend the University of California, Davis' Animal Biology Graduate Group in order to support farmers and broaden her understanding of the scientific principles underlying animal feeding. Her goal of improving animal production practices is in line with UC Davis, which is well-known for its outstanding research and renowned faculty. It offers an optimal setting for investigating novel nutraceuticals and diets as substitutes for antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines. Currently, as a fourth-year Ph.D. student, she is immersed in researching functional amino acids as nutraceuticals, specifically focusing on their potential to mitigate complications associated with post-weaning diarrhea in piglets.

Her goal is to work as a nutritionist after graduation, giving farmers insightful guidance on animal nutrition. Her belief is that the knowledge gained, coupled with her working experience, uniquely positions her to accomplish her life goal—to contribute to the sustainable development of the agricultural animal industry and promote animal health globally.

Education and Degree

• Ph.D. in Animal Biology, University of California, Davis (in progress)
• DVM in Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand (2019)

Research Interests

• Seek alternatives to antibiotics in feed for livestock - Gut health (gut physiology, immunity, and microbiota)
• Effects of functional food components on swine health