Robert Jacobs

Biography

Prior to working at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center, Jacobs worked as a graduate teaching and research assistant in the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, at Virginia Tech. Jacobs’ research expertise and interests include: Equine reproductive physiology, Effects of nutrition on equine reproduction and growth, Omega-3 fatty acids. “I believe nutrition provides us with the greatest opportunities to impact the lives of our equine companions,” Jacobs says. “We feed our horses on a daily basis, and providing them with the best feeds and supplements truly enables us to better their lives. The unique nature of the horse, in which they are considered both a livestock species and a companion animal, allows me to not only impact the life of the animal, but also of the owners who invest a great deal of emotion into the care of their horses.” Jacobs has a Ph.D. in animal science from Virginia Tech. He wrote his dissertation about the influences of omega-3 fatty acids on equine uterine health and embryonic development in obese, metabolically compromised horses. In 2012 he earned his master’s degree from the University of Florida, where he wrote his thesis about the effects of arginine supplementation on equine uterine health. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 2010 from the University of Florida, where he majored in animal science and pre-veterinary medicine.

Research Interest

Equine reproductive physiology, Effects of nutrition on equine reproduction and growth, Omega-3 fatty acids