Maggie Justice, Ph.D.

Maggie Justice, Ph.D.

  • Beef Cattle Extension Specialist
  • Assistant Professor
  • Department of Animal Sciences
(334) 752-1620
smj0059@auburn.edu
303C Upchurch Hall
Google Scholar
LinkedIn
Download CV
Alabama Beef Systems
Dr. Maggie Justice is an Assistant Professor and Beef Cattle Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University. She earned her B.S. and M.S. from Clemson University and completed her Ph.D. in Animal Science at Auburn, specializing in beef cattle nutrition and management. Before returning to Auburn, Dr. Justice served as the Beef Cattle Extension Specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, where she led statewide programming and supported on-farm decision-making in nutrition, weaning management, and forage systems. Her integrated research and extension program focuses on practical, data-driven solutions to improve efficiency and profitability for Southeastern cattle producers, particularly in forage-based systems, weaning practices, and the use of regionally available by-products in finishing diets. Dr. Justice is committed to bridging research and real-world application and is excited to support Alabama’s beef cattle industry through collaborative outreach, applied research, and producer-focused education.

Education

  • B.S. Animal Science Clemson University 2018

  • M.S. Animal ScienceClemson University 2020

  • Ph.D. Beef Cattle Nutrition and Management Auburn University 2023

Professional Experience

  • Extension Beef Cattle Specialist/Assistant Professor- University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture- 2023-2025

Research

Dr. Justice’s research focuses on beef cattle nutrition and management, with emphasis on forage-based and pasture-finished systems, weaning and backgrounding strategies, and the use of regionally available by-products in finishing diets. She is also interested in precision technologies for monitoring intake and performance, producer decision-support tools, and applied approaches that enhance efficiency, profitability, and sustainability in Southeastern cow-calf and finishing operations.

Extension Experience

Dr. Justice’s Extension program emphasizes accessible, producer-driven education that connects applied research to real-world decision-making. She provides training in beef cattle nutrition, forage and grazing systems, weaning and backgrounding management, economic considerations in finishing cattle, and Beef Quality Assurance. Through county programs, statewide conferences, webinars, field demonstrations, and collaborative partnerships, she supports agents and producers in implementing strategies that enhance herd health, efficiency, and sustainability across Alabama.