Advances in Sheep Production

Lesley Stubbings is an independent consultant and a former Principal Sheep Consultant with ADAS in the UK. She is recipient of both an OBE from the UK Government and the George Hedley Memorial Award from the UK National Sheep Association for her outstanding contribution to the British sheep sector. She is an Honorary Life Member of the Sheep Veterinary Society and a leading figure in the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) Group which is acknowledged as a world leader in integrated parasite control. Kate Phillips is an independent consultant for the UK sheep sector and former Principal Livestock Consultant with ADAS. She is also a Regional Advisor for the Moredun Foundation and was a Senior Lecturer at Harper Adams University teaching ruminant production and nutrition. She is widely recognised for her expertise in aspects of sheep nutrition, welfare and health issues such as lameness and scab. Dr Cathy Dwyer is Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare at SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) and has a joint appointment with the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh where she is the Director of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE) since 2016. In 2019 she was also appointed by Scottish Government to Chair the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission which provides independent scientific advice on animal welfare to Ministers. Professor Dwyer has published more than 150 papers and book chapters on animal behaviour, welfare and early life development and sits on the scientific advisory committees for Dog’s Trust, the Horse Trust, British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation and University of Vienna Veterinary School.

Part 1 Challenges facing sheep production



1.Understanding consumer and societal attitudes to sheep production: Raffaele Zanoli, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Italy;
2.Sustainability issues affecting sheep production: Hollie Riddell, Bangor University, UK;
3.One Health issues affecting sheep production: Neil Sargison, University of Edinburgh, UK;

Part 2 Improving breeding and reproduction



4.Advances in understanding the genetics of production and non-production traits in sheep: Samir Id-Lahoucine, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), UK;
5.Improving ewe management for lifetime production: Nerys Wright, AHDB, UK;
6.Advances in improving lamb survival and health: Cathy Dwyer, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), UK;

Part 3 Improving flock health and welfare management



7.Improving disease surveillance in sheep flocks: Rudolf Reichel, Animal and Plant Health Agency, UK;
8.Advances in understanding, preventing and managing parasitic infections of sheep: Eric Morgan, Queen’s University Belfast, UK;
9.The use of precision livestock technologies in managing sheep health and welfare: Claire Morgan-Davies, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), UK;

Part 4 Managing grazing systems and nutrition



10.Advances in sustainable sheep pasture and grazing management: David Barker, Ohio State University, USA;
11.Improving pasture/grassland for optimised sheep nutrition and health: Liz Genever, Consultant, UK;
12.Developments in feed supplements for improved sheep nutrition and health: Alison Bond, Rumenco, UK;
13.Advances in understanding and optimising gastrointestinal function in sheep: Zhongtang Yu, The Ohio State University, USA;

Part 5 Improving sustainability and product sustainability



14.The use of sheep in mixed farming systems for improved sustainability: Jude Capper, Harper Adams University and Livestock Sustainability Consultant, UK;
15.Advances in understanding and optimising sheep meat eating quality and nutritional value: Nichola Schreurs, Massey University, New Zealand;
16.Advances in understanding and optimising sheep wool quality: Ningtao Mao, University of Leeds, UK;