Ph.D. Project: "Addressing Pain at Parturition in the Pig"
During my Ph.D project at SRUC, I conducted experimental studies to identify indicators of pain at farrowing, investigated the welfare and production consequences of post-farrowing pain relief, and conducted a survey study to UK farmers and vets, investigating attitudes towards pain and use of pain relief and sow management at farrowing. Results of the survey component are now published and the experimental studies are under review or in preparation. During my Ph.D., I undertook training to develop as a researcher, including: presentation skills, statistical analysis, and survey skills, I also attended an Animal Pain course in Copenhagen, Denmark. To improve my science communication skills, I also took part in the Access to Understanding science writing competition and the University of Edinburgh Three Minute Thesis competition. Additionally, I was also awarded first prize for oral presentations at both the SRUC and R(D)SVS postgraduate research student conferences. Supervised by: Dr. Kenny Rutherford; Dr. Susan Jarvis; Prof. Alistair Lawrence and; Prof. Cheryl Ashworth.
During my Ph.D project at SRUC, I conducted experimental studies to identify indicators of pain at farrowing, investigated the welfare and production consequences of post-farrowing pain relief, and conducted a survey study to UK farmers and vets, investigating attitudes towards pain and use of pain relief and sow management at farrowing. Results of the survey component are now published and the experimental studies are under review or in preparation. During my Ph.D., I undertook training to develop as a researcher, including: presentation skills, statistical analysis, and survey skills, I also attended an Animal Pain course in Copenhagen, Denmark. To improve my science communication skills, I also took part in the Access to Understanding science writing competition and the University of Edinburgh Three Minute Thesis competition. Additionally, I was also awarded first prize for oral presentations at both the SRUC and R(D)SVS postgraduate research student conferences. Supervised by: Dr. Kenny Rutherford; Dr. Susan Jarvis; Prof. Alistair Lawrence and; Prof. Cheryl Ashworth.
Post-Doctoral Project: "Reducing Production Losses using Behavioral and Genomic Tools to Identify Pigs Suited for Group Living"
This project is led by Dr. Janice Siegford in the Animal Science Department at Michigan State University (MSU), and involves a multidisciplinary team of researchers and graduate students from MSU and SRUC. I have a dual role, working on this project, and alongside the MSU pork extension team, to communicate information to Michigan pork producers, in order to assist with the transition to group sow housing by 2020. As part of the project I am conducting a survey of US pork producers, investigating the use of behaviour in the day-to-day management of pigs, and, as part of MSU extension, I am conducting an educational project, funded by the Michigan Animal Health Foundation, to provide 'real farm' case studies on the transition to group sow housing.
This project is led by Dr. Janice Siegford in the Animal Science Department at Michigan State University (MSU), and involves a multidisciplinary team of researchers and graduate students from MSU and SRUC. I have a dual role, working on this project, and alongside the MSU pork extension team, to communicate information to Michigan pork producers, in order to assist with the transition to group sow housing by 2020. As part of the project I am conducting a survey of US pork producers, investigating the use of behaviour in the day-to-day management of pigs, and, as part of MSU extension, I am conducting an educational project, funded by the Michigan Animal Health Foundation, to provide 'real farm' case studies on the transition to group sow housing.
Pig aggression
Supported a variety of projects involving: the genetics of aggressive behaviour, mixing aggression as a prenatal stressor, and behavioural and physiological consequences of mixing. Published articles as first and co-author.
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Alternative farrowing environments
Acted as lead research technician on the "PigSAFE project" led by Dr. Emma Baxter. The project involved redesigning the farrowing environment to optimise welfare and performance. Published articles as first and co-author.
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Transport in hot climates
Supported a project with Prof. Malcolm Mitchell, involving the transport of breeding gilts from Scotland to the south of Spain. Collected behavioural and physiological data to monitor the ability of gilts to adapt to the hot conditions during transport.
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