Retired OVC Professor Dr. David Kelton named Professor Emeritus by the University of Guelph

Dr. David Kelton, an international expert in dairy cattle epidemiologic research, has been named University Professor Emeritus by the University of Guelph (U of G).  

A former professor in the Ontario Veterinary College’s (OVC) Department of Population Medicine, Kelton’s research focuses on maintaining a healthy and sustainable food supply using a One Health approach for the prevention of infectious diseases of dairy cattle. An OVC faculty member since 1994, he holds DVM, MSc, and PhD degrees from U of G and is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2021).   

Kelton has held an important liaison role with the University of Guelph and Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) through two successful dairy research chair positions funded by the DFO and is a founding member of Dairy at Guelph – The Centre for Dairy Research and Innovation. The Centre brings together more than 60 U of G faculty, including many internationally recognized experts, studying animal health and welfare, genetics, nutrition, reproduction, dairy foods, and human nutrition. He has over 290 peer-reviewed publications with a Google Scholar h-index of 65.  He has acquired over seven million dollars in research funding as principal investigator (PI) or co-PI.  

Kelton has received the Award of Excellence by both the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (2017) and the Ontario Association of Bovine Practitioners (2020).  In addition, he received the Journal of Dairy Science 100 club award in 2019 for publishing over 100 peer-reviewed articles solely in that journal.   

A leader in national and international dairy cattle working groups, including chairing the International Dairy Federation Standing Committee on Animal Health and Welfare, Kelton contributes to dairy cattle health, welfare and sustainability. His current work focuses on prudent antimicrobial use in animal agriculture, contributing to a safe and wholesome dairy supply and promoting public confidence. 

Kelton has advised or co-advised 10 postdoctoral fellows, 16  PhD, three DVSc, and 18 MSc students to completion. He continues to advise three PhD students and currently sits on the advisory committee of an additional five graduate students. 

Kelton will be recognized at the Ontario Veterinary College Convocation ceremony on June 16, 2023 at 4:30 PM. Review the full list of retired faculty members who will be honored this year on the University of Guelph website and watch the ceremony online.