Dr Kristy DiGiacomo graduated with a Bachelor of Animal Science and Management (honours) from The University of Melbourne. Kristy then received her PhD from The University of Melbourne examining the physiological and metabolic responses to heat and dietary betaine in ruminants under the guidance of Prof Frank Dunshea and Prof Brian Leury.
Kristy is a senior lecturer in production animal nutrition and physiology at The University of Melbourne and is a Veski sustainable agriculture fellow. Dr DiGiacomo’s current research involves a variety of production animal species including sheep, dairy cattle, dairy goats and pigs. Her research focuses on livestock nutrition, physiology and adaptation to the external environment. Dr DiGiacomo’s research examines the role of nutrition and nutritional supplements in managing and manipulating animal growth and production under various physiological and environmental conditions such as lactation and heat stress. The focus of this research is to understand the impact of nutrition on metabolism and nutrient partitioning in order to manage animals for improved productivity and environmental sustainability. As a Veski sustainable research fellow, Kristy is researching the sustainable production of animal feed via the bioconversion of food and feed wastes into edible insects. In this research, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are reared on waste sourced from food and feed production (such as supermarkets), before being processed and utilized as a protein and fat rich animal feed source. Kristy is researching the production of BSFL from various feed sources and investigating the growth, health and meat quality of production animals fed diets incorporating BSFL. Kristy is a passionate advocate for female leadership in STEMM and is a member of the homeward bound (HB5) leadership program.
Find out more about Kristy Digiacomo's experience
Kristy Digiacomo's highlights
FEATURED Journal article
Endocrine and metabolic responses to glucose, insulin, and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) infusions in early-lactation dairy goats of high and low milk yield.
Read moreKristy Digiacomo's selected work
Phenotyping of low and high RFI dairy cattle (DF CRC 2.4.4)
Research Contracts
Nano Chromium Picolinate Improves Gene Expression Associated with Insulin Signaling in Por..
Journal article
Strategies to breed dairy cattle for adaptation and reduced methane emissions
Research Grant
Short communication: Associations between nonesterified fatty acids, ?-hydroxybutyrate, an..
Journal article
Nutritional strategies to ameliorate heat stress in pigs
Research Grant
Endocrine and metabolic status of commercial dairy goats during the transition period
Journal article
Kristy Digiacomo's selected work
Projects
Displaying the 10 most recent projects by Kristy Digiacomo.
Project Types
7
Research Contracts
6
Research Grant
Scholarly Works
Displaying the 10 most recent scholarly works by Kristy Digiacomo.
Honours, Awards and Fellowships
Postgraduate Overseas Research Experience Scholarship
Melbourne Research Scholarship
Credentials
Positions
Positions
Research Fellow In Production Animals
Agriculture And Food
Treasurer
Australian Association of Ruminant Nutrition
Member
Australasian Pig Science Association
Member
American Dairy Science Association
Education
Education
Graduate Certificate in University Teaching
University of Melbourne
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Melbourne
Animal Science Management (Honours)
University of Melbourne