Backes’ work focuses on beef cattle nutrition, including working with cattle producers and supporting sales staff. Growing up on a small cow/calf operation in Saint Thomas, Mo., Backes learned to appreciate animal agriculture and developed her interest in a career in the beef cattle industry.“I’ve always been passionate about agriculture and the impacts nutrition has on reproduction and health,” says Backes. “My work with Purina will help contribute to the technical side of the beef industry and provide cattle producers the knowledge they need to provide optimal nutrition to their animals.”Backes’ expertise and interests include: Impacts of parasitology on nutrition and performance, Cow/calf production, Ruminant nutrition. Backes graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture with an emphasis in animal science from Lincoln University. She continued her education at the University of Arkansas, receiving her master’s degree in animal science with an emphasis in ruminant nutrition. Her master’s work focused on evaluating animal management practices in small ruminants. Backes pursued her Ph.D. in cow/calf parasitology from the University of Arkansas evaluating various commercial anthelmintics in cow/calf production.   

 Impacts of parasitology on nutrition and performance, Cow/calf production, Ruminant nutrition.