Pride in Agriculture

Author: Stefan Yerby (he/him) 

Bio: Stef is an R&D fellow working in the Farming Science Team. Coming from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, Stef spent a decade farming sheep, beef and dairy before moving into research.  

I don’t come from a farming family, but I’ve always loved animals. At thirteen, I started my own enterprise collecting as many livestock as I could. By sixteen, I had accumulated over 200 sheep, cattle, pigs and goats. I had plenty of time, as I’d mastered the art of bunking off school and not getting caught! School – like church, the other main pillar of my home life – was not particularly tolerant of LGBTQ+ people, and consequently much of my childhood was tumultuous. Farming became my escape – I was quite good at it, and it felt safe. But as I got more involved in the sector, I quickly realised how very different I was from almost everyone else working around me. So, like many queer teenagers, I presented two versions of myself. The first, a bull wrangling, tractor driving, straw-chewing farmer; the second, who usually only appeared after dark and in the company of a few close friends, was far less masculine, enjoyed donning big jewellery, eyeliner and sparkling jumpsuits. Neither of these personas really embodied who I was, but compartmentalisation is a survival tactic employed by many queer youth struggling with identity and acceptance. But, as I'm sure some of you reading this will know, pretending to be something that you are not is exhausting, and unsustainable… I quit farming when I was in my early twenties and now whenever I'm introducing myself, I usually use the one liner: "I moved from farming into research to have a rest". It is true that farming is incredibly hard work, but it wasn't just the long hours that tired me out - I was exhausted of trying to fit into a hyper-masculine industry where I felt like I didn't belong.

When I was pushed out of the closet a few years before I stopped actively farming, some of my peers made it quite clear that they believed homosexuality and farming was an unwelcome juxtaposition (more colourful language was frequently used). So, I set about trying to prove them wrong, rearing cows that won best in class at the shows, and being meticulous in the parlour to make sure the herd was always on the top of the dairy leader board for having the cleanest milk. Yet this made little difference to the opinion of those that believe that sexuality and identity impact someone's ability to do a job. (The truth is, some of the best stockmen I've met later in my career are queer, so maybe it does…)

Since leaving Guernsey eight years ago I've had the privilege of travelling, working, and studying in several countries across Europe and North America, and I've realised that LGBTQ+ folk are everywhere. It's easy for people to assume that we don't exist in farming communities because, often, we don't have great visibility - but that doesn't mean we're absent. Queer invisibility in farming probably stems from the fact that discrimination can be particularly pronounced in primary industry and the fear of being rejected from a small, tight-knit community can cause us to hide pieces of ourselves away.

I'm not going to propose a solution to this problem because I don't have one, but I do think those of us working in agriculture-adjacent fields can play a part. In my experience, people in academia and the civil service are generally fantastic at celebrating diversity. So, let's keep showing up for ourselves, our LGBTQ+ colleagues with boots on the ground, and especially, let's show up for those who would prefer it if we kept our diversity behind closed doors. Happy Pride month!

Stefan is completing a PhD at the University of Glasgow, works for Defra and is Chair of the BSAS Early Career Committee. We wish Stef continued success in his career and thank him for sharing his story.

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Evaluation of reactivity and learning ability of Icelandic horses in comparison to Haflingers and Shetland ponies reared in Austria.

This study was shortlisted for the 2024 Thesis of the Year Award and was completed as part of Maja Guenther studies for a BSc (Hons) in Equine Science at the University of Limerick supervised by Soraya Morscher. The research aimed to evaluate the differences in reactivity  learning and problem-solving ability of Icelandic horses compared to Haflingers and Shetland ponies raised in Austria.

Temperament of horses is a heritable trait and differs between breeds and learning is linked to behaviour, meaning that breed differences are common. Previous studies have assessed the behaviour in horses of performance breeds such as thoroughbreds. Little is known about how Icelandic horses compare to other native breeds of similar temperaments in comparable management and environmental conditions.

This research involves six Icelandic horses, five Haflinger horses, three Shetland ponies using and three different tests. Certain temperaments or behavioural characteristics make a breed more suitable to a certain task than other breeds, and a horse's ability to learn implies what training method would be the most effective. Icelandic horses have been primarily bred as a riding horse and commonly compete in gaited competitions, where the outputs of this study could highlight other disciplines in which Icelandic horses could thrive. It was hypothesised that due to the adaptation of the breed to succeed in harsh environmental conditions, the breed could be extremely versatile, with low reactivity and a good learning ability.

To minimise external environmental influences, all equines included in the study were raised in Austria under similar management and training regimes.

- Reactivity Test: The horses and ponies were exposed to a novel object, a blue bag, introduced into their enclosures. Over a five-minute period, researchers recorded behavioural responses, including object fear and play behaviours.

- Learning Ability Test: The equines underwent an operant conditioning task where they were trained to touch a target following a verbal cue using positive reinforcement. The time required for learning and distractions during the task was measured.

- Problem-Solving Test: Each horse and pony were given a box-opening task to assess their ability to focus, explore, and successfully solve a problem.

In the reactivity test, Icelandic horses were more focused on their handlers compared to the other breeds. Shetland ponies demonstrated the highest interest in the novel object, while Haflingers showed the least engagement. Additionally, geldings focused more on the novel object than mares. Haflingers required more time to learn and showed the highest level of distraction across breeds. Icelandic horses, while less distracted, displayed a similar learning rate to Shetland ponies. Interestingly, mares took longer to learn, but this did not affect their ability to provide correct responses. During the problem-solving task, Icelandic horses exhibited the greatest focus on their handlers, possibly indicating heightened cooperation. Haflingers were significantly less engaged in this task, while Icelandic horses had the highest success rate and showed more exploratory behaviours such as sniffing, biting, and touching the problem-solving object. As observed in previous tasks, older horses were less engaged, while geldings generally showed more focus than mares.

The study showed that Haflingers were the least focused across tasks, indicating a lack of engagement, which is a detrimental factor to learning, affecting the breed's ability to perform. Shetland ponies displayed differing levels of performance across tasks, and performance was increased by feed motivation. Across tasks, Icelandic horses were the most focused on the handler, indicating greater cooperation or awareness of the handler’s ability to help in the task.   Whilst they also showed greater problem-solving abilities, the study highlights that Icelandic horses display favourable behavioural characteristics and could be trained to perform in multiple equine disciplines.

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University of Surrey: Data Analytics and Digital Tools Applied to Animal Husbandry

Course Description

This intensive short course is designed for advanced graduate students (PhD and MSc) and professionals in animal husbandry and veterinary sciences, including specialties such as genetics and breeding, nutrition, physiology, management, and reproduction—whether in academia or industry. It is particularly relevant for those interested in applying data analytics and modern machine learning techniques to precision livestock management. The course introduces key concepts and methods for applying statistics and machine learning to high-dimensional livestock data, including data from sensors, imaging technologies, and farm management systems. The program combines lectures with hands-on demonstrations using real-world data and practical software tools developed specifically for course participants.

Schedule

Lecture 1: Big Data and Data Science in Livestock

Lecture 2: Multidimensional Regression and Classification

Lecture 3: Machine Learning Techniques

Lecture 4: Cross-validation and Predictive Metrics

Lecture 5: Primer on Image Processing and Analysis

Lecture 6: Precision Livestock Management Applications

Lecture 7: Mining Operational Farm Data

Lecture 8: Planning Research Studies in Animal Sciences

* Each lecture will last approximately 1 hr 30 min and will be primarily expository, supplemented by demonstrations of Python code and practical examples. Concepts and theory will be illustrated through applications in areas such as wearable sensor technology, computer vision, spectroscopy, and genetics/genomics, among others.

Course Fees: Free

Dates & Place: Tuesday 24th (13:00 – 17:00; Room 15 HSM 00), Wednesday 25th (09:00 – 17:00; Room 15 HSM 00) and Thursday 26th of June 2025 (09:00 – 12:00; Room 24 HSM 00), Kate Granger Building – School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Surrey University, 30 Priestley Road, Surrey Research Park, GU2 7XH Guildford.

Contact: Please forward your requests for information to Dr. Christos Dadousis (c.dadousis@surrey.ac.uk)

Acknowledgements: Prof. Rosa’s visit to the School of Health Sciences was made possible through a Fellowship awarded by the University of Surrey’s Institute of Advanced Studies.

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Royal Agricultural University: Engaging Farmers in Research

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When: 17th July 1pm

Where: Online via Teams

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BSAS Operations Executive - Catherine Lowe

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Meet Dr Victoria Lindsay-McGee: Championing Equine Science and Early Career Excellence

Dr Victoria Lindsay-McGee wears many hats—and each one reflects her passion for advancing animal science, education, and the next generation of researchers. As a member of the BSAS Early Career Council (ECC) and Publications Committee, she is actively shaping the future of animal science while supporting others on similar career paths.

Currently based at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS), Victoria coordinates the postgraduate Equine Science programme and teaches on the undergraduate veterinary medicine course. Her academic journey has always revolved around scientific curiosity, collaboration, and a deep commitment to equine health and education.

Victoria’s research interests lie in equine genetics and the genomics of complex traits such as polygenic diseases and performance. She also applies advanced statistical modelling to better understand equine health data. Alongside this, she explores how pedagogy can be improved across veterinary and animal science education—proving her dedication to both discovery and delivery.

A former PhD student at the Royal Veterinary College, Victoria was awarded the 2023 McKeever Prize for Best Original Research Paper by a graduating student, recognising her groundbreaking work on the genomic architecture of equine exertional rhabdomyolysis.

Her involvement in BSAS extends well beyond membership. As ECC representative on the Publications Committee, she plays an important role in shaping how scientific work is shared across the community. She also contributes to initiatives like the BSAS Undergraduate Thesis of the Year Award, helping spotlight emerging talent in animal science.

Through BSAS, Victoria has found a platform to contribute to the wider scientific community and connect with peers, mentors, and leaders in the field. “Being part of BSAS gives me opportunities to engage with other researchers, broaden my understanding of current issues in animal science, and have a real impact early in my career,” she says.

Outside the lab and lecture hall, Victoria is equally energetic—riding horses, cycling, and even refereeing rugby matches in her spare time.

Whether in the classroom, field, or peer-review meeting, Dr Victoria Lindsay-McGee exemplifies the spirit of BSAS: passionate, collaborative, and committed to the progress of animal science.

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IUKBC: Knowledge Transfer Manager – AgriFood – Livestock and Aquaculture

Purpose of the role

Livestock and aquaculture are a key part of the £120 billion AgriFood sector in the UK. Livestock represents a significant proportion of the agricultural sector both by value and land use area, and aquaculture is an important industry sector producing high-value exports, and with strong growth potential around the world. Innovation is crucial to ensure success in the sector, and also to deliver targets related to Net Zero and key UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are looking to recruit a new team member that can enhance our deep expertise and powerful connections, and drive positive change in this important industry sector.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join us in driving innovation within the AgriFood sector, with a particular emphasis on supporting those companies working in livestock and aquaculture. The role will facilitate business growth and help promote and drive knowledge transfer between the science and technology base and industry, promoting networking and accelerating innovation relevant to AgriFood businesses. You will help catalyse the development of new technology enabled products and processes that will benefit businesses, the economy, the environment and society.

The post will be varied, working with businesses across the AgriFood sector but with a focus on opportunities driven by industrial challenges of the livestock and aquaculture industries. An appreciation of, or experience in the use of science and innovation within these industries is required.

Roles and Responsibilities

• To lead innovation and business growth in Livestock and Aquaculture, as well as other areas of AgriFood including farmer engagement, displaying significant technical expertise and experience in these key areas.
• Leading/supporting delivery of large and complex projects and programmes of activity, particularly the ongoing delivery of the Farming Innovation Programme in partnership with Innovate UK and Defra.
• Managing and motivating delivery teams, to ensure effective operational management, and cohesive delivery.
• Build and influence a strong and engaged community of UK innovators/innovation stakeholders within the AgriFood sector, with a particular focus on business. This includes leadership and delivery of the high-profile Advisory Groups, as well as management of relationships with key stakeholders such as Innovate UK and Defra.
• Directly engage with businesses providing support through access to investment and making new connections and collaborations.
• To engage businesses with UK research and innovation assets (including the UK AgriTech Centre/Catapults) and engage with business communities through our networks and sector development growth projects.
• Develop, maintain and monitor relationships with Innovate UK Business Connect members and key stakeholders including regular company visits.
• Develop a broad network of strategically aligned contacts and build senior level external partnerships.
• Identify and Champion defined areas of importance to the UK economy such as AgriTech in Livestock and Aquaculture, or areas of emerging potential.
• Deliver key business metrics, and track progress, capturing outcomes and success stories.
• Lead/manage a series of key programmes and/or events of relevance to a key UK industry sector or strategic technology.
• Act as a network facilitator within and across key, strategic communities.
• Engage across Innovate UK Business Connect to stimulate cross-sector collaboration and support/mentor colleagues.
• Undertake reporting obligations in line with Innovate UK Business Connect goals for impact measurement.
• Lead on workshops/programme delivery, with high levels of company seniority or complexity.
• Take responsibility for complex and new areas, scoping out the challenge and defining knowledge transfer activities to meet a defined outcome.
• Identify new opportunities that can support the specific project and subsequent projects.

Experience & Skills

Essential Experience

• A background in a relevant science, agriculture or related discipline is required to degree level, or equivalent experience.
• Experience at a technical, academic or business level with the agriculture sector (and preferably experience in livestock or aquaculture), with knowledge and experience in a business-relevant field in the private sector desirable.
• Experience of delivering projects for external customers or working with industrial collaborators would be advantageous.
• An awareness of innovation facilitation, knowledge transfer or business development processes would be beneficial.

Desirable Experience

• Familiarity with the UK innovation ecosystem and a strong network across government, industry, research.

Skills

• Highly motivated, self-starting and results oriented individual with leadership qualities and experience.
• Team player with good relationship building and influencing skills; enjoys working in a collaborative manner in an open and diverse environment.
• Strong communicator with well-developed written and verbal skills, able to translate complex topics for a broad audience.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with and understand the needs and capabilities with stakeholders across a range of technical and/or industrial disciplines.
• Knowledgeable about the challenges and opportunities in Livestock and Aquaculture, wider agricultural innovation needs, and farmer-led innovation support.
• High level of IT literacy and organisational skills.

Benefits & how to apply

• Salary £48,685 pa
• 28 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• Enhanced Pension Plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Wider Wallet employee benefits high street discounts scheme
• Opportunities for continuous professional development as part of our Talent & Development Programme.

This is a maternity cover until August 2026.

This advert will close on Sunday 8th June.

First stage interviews will be held w/c 16th June

Second stage interviews will be held w/c 23rd and 30th June.

Please apply by submitting a tailored cover letter outlining your suitability with specifics relating to the requirements of the role, and your CV outlining your experience.

Applicants must have the existing and ongoing right to work in the UK without restrictions as sponsorship for visas is not provided. Unfortunately, owing to the high number of applications received, we can only provide feedback to applicants selected for interview.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

Should you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the Recruitment Team by email to recruitment@iukbc.org.uk.

Innovate UK Business Connect strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in the industry: people of colour, LGBTQ+ community, women, disabled people, people of any age or family status. We know that diversity makes us stronger and we strive to create a working environment that is inclusive, and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to removing barriers for individuals with conditions, illnesses or disabilities and we will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, and in their future role.

If you would like to request any reasonable adjustment, for any part of the recruitment process (including application), please let us know by emailing recruitment@iukbc.org.uk

About Innovate UK Business Connect

We connect ideas, people, and communities to drive innovation that changes lives.

Innovation is complex. The journey from idea to market is not straightforward and requires a diverse range of know-how, investment, market knowledge and research. Innovate UK Business Connect exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking – accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.

The future holds both challenges and opportunities. We are passionate about working with innovative businesses to overcome these challenges and shape the opportunities and solutions that follow.

Our vision is to create a network of innovators so powerful its ideas will change the world.

While business is at the heart of our work, our diverse connections span government, funders, research and the third sector. This unrivalled overview and connectivity enable us to be a trusted guide through a complex global landscape of research, development, and innovation.

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Remembering Professor James France

James France, Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph (Canada), passed away in December 2024. James was a distinguished scholar, dedicated educator and cherished colleague whose contributions to mathematical modelling in agricultural sciences left an indelible mark on the academic community – Jim to all of us who had the pleasure and honour of knowing him.

Born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, UK, Jim obtained his BSc (honours) in Mathematics at Cardiff University in 1972. He excelled in mathematics and graduated with a PhD at the University of Hull.

After working as a research officer at the Research and Intelligence Unit of South Yorkshire County Council and Commission of the European Communities, he accepted a position with the Agriculture Research Council at the Grassland Research Institute at Hurley, near Maidenhead (UK), in 1979. There, he began his career as a specialist in mathematical modelling of all aspects of animal physiology, with a focus on rumen function, digesta passage and dairy cow nutrition, areas of research that he pursued throughout his career. At Hurley, Jim worked with John H.M. Thornley (1936–2023), his long-time scientific colleague and co-author of many scientific publications. Together, they published the first edition of their classic book Mathematical Models in Agriculture in 1984, followed by a second edition in 2007. Their work has been foundational in understanding and predicting the behaviour of agricultural and ecological systems through quantitative methods. They led the way in showing the value of interdisciplinary research. Following the closure of the Hurley site in 1992, Jim transferred to North Wyke, Okehampton (UK), as part of the newly formed Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, where he completed work on a dynamic simulation model of rumen function with colleagues from Wageningen University. During his time at Hurley and North Wyke, Jim served as Head of Biomathematics and Deputy Head of Animal and Microbial Sciences. Jim had a prolific and impactful academic career. In 1997, Jim was appointed Research Professor of Biomathematics at the University of Reading, where he established a biomathematics research group and developed compartmental models of protein turnover. In 2003, he received the Senior Canada Research Chair in Biomathematics in Animal Nutrition at the University of Guelph and moved with his family to Canada, where he founded and led the Centre for Nutrition Modelling. In 2011, Jim undertook a sabbatical in Spain to continue his long-standing collaboration on growth functions and feed evaluation systems with scientists at the University of Leon. Jim became Professor Emeritus at the Department of Animal Biosciences of the University of Guelph on his retirement in 2017 and continued to work as a scientist, ‘emptying the bottom desk drawer’ of in-progress work and contributing further articles to scientific journals up until the time of his death, with further articles to be published posthumously. From 1986 until his retirement, Jim was a visiting professor at the University of California – Davis, Wageningen University, University of León and Newcastle University. Throughout his career, Jim published 10 books and more than 865 journal articles. As of November 2024, his works have been cited more than 31,900 times.

Jim was one of the leading organisers of the workshops on modelling nutrient digestion and utilisation in farm animals (MODNUT). The international meeting is held every 3–5 years to discuss the application of modelling across multiple disciplines of animal nutrition and feeding of farm animals. He was also the coordinator for the Agricultural Research Modellers’ Group in the UK from the mid-1980s until 2003 and subsequently established an Animal Science Modellers’ Group following his move to Guelph. Jim’s ethos was that animal modelling should be based on scientific pluralism and data mining, with an emphasis on solving biological problems rather than applying mathematical techniques and collaborated with many scientists globally to progress this vision.

During the course of his career, he was known not only for his pioneering research in the mathematical modelling of animal nutrition but also for his unwavering commitment to mentoring students, globally, and fostering a passion for discovery in the next generation of scientists.

Jim was a very valuable member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of Agricultural Science, published by Cambridge University Press, and published several papers in the journal either as a senior or co-author.

Beyond academia, Jim was a devoted family member, a loyal friend and an active member of the scientific community. Jim met his wife, Judith, while they were studying at the University of Hull (UK), and they were married in 1976. He found joy in hiking, chatting over a coffee, travelling and reading books about history, philosophy and science. He was an avid football fan and enjoyed woodwork as well as gardening.

Jim left a mark that impacted the lives of many people. He is survived by Judith, their three sons and four grandchildren, as well as countless friends, former students and colleagues who will forever remember his warmth and brilliance. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered

Shared from - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-agricultural-science/article/obituary-james-france-phd-dsc-fima-cmath-csci/8915CFEFB46E6D263E3C8A92072322A7

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