First EBLEX-sponsored Nuffield scholarship focuses on calf management

Sophia will begin her project, entitled Evaluation of calf management practices in early life which can impact on long term survival and productivity, in spring 2015, completing her study in the summer of 2016.

Sophia’s scholarship will look at different beef-rearing practices in a number of countries including New Zealand, Australia and Canada, gaining baseline production data on cattle survival and mortality at both farm and national herd levels. She will also investigate the potential of using big data for informing the different beef-rearing sectors on improving survival and reducing mortality.

In addition, Somerset-based Sophia will look at colostrum management and evaluate calf mortality associated with management practices and events prior to and during birth, such as breeding policies, calving interventions and the management of ‘high-risk’ calves post-calving.

Sophia said: “I hope to gain an understanding of the impact of various approaches on calf survival, growth and the long-term impact on future production potential in cattle originating from the beef suckler sector.

“My project will also engage with farmers, industry, academia and government in different countries to assess how they have been successful in translating knowledge transfer messages into real changes to beef-rearing practices on farm. Learnings from this will hopefully inform future knowledge transfer activity.”

Clive Brown, EBLEX head of regional development, said:

“Calf mortality is a significant issue for the beef-rearing sectors in and an area in which more work needs to be done.

“I look forward to seeing how Sophia’s scholarship develops and am confident that the outcomes will be of tangible benefit to the UK beef industry.”

For more information about Nuffield scholarships and the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, visit http://www.nuffieldscholar.org/.