Abbigail Hines
Assistant Professor of Animal Science
Academic Affairs
College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
Cooperative Extension
Suite 105
105 University Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
Contact:
Email: Abbigail.Hines@kysu.edu
Bio:
Education:
Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition - Auburn University
M.S. in Herbivore Nutrition - Tarleton State University
B.S. in Animal Science, Minor in Biology - Tarleton State University
Biography:
Dr. Hines is an Assistant Professor of Animal Science at Kentucky State University. She earned her Ph.D. from Auburn University, where her dissertation examined the comprehensive digestive and metabolic profiles of bermudagrass cultivars in beef heifers. Dr. Hines has an extensive research background in forage analysis, forage-animal interactions, methane mitigation in livestock systems, and plant-soil nutrient cycling. Her expertise contributes to advancing sustainable forage-based production systems through innovative research and applied solutions.
Dr. Hines' current research focuses on nutrition within forage-livestock systems to improve pasture management, animal health, and digestibility. Current projects include evaluating native and commercially available legume species that can be economically incorporated into Kentucky forage systems to reduce gastrointestinal parasite loads in small ruminant or beef cattle operations through natural plant secondary metabolites without compromising animal performance or pasture productivity. Her interests include livestock management, ruminant digestibility, and metabolism.