Investigator: Iona Riley (Bachelor of Veterinary Science)
Supervisor: Matthew Barden, Lecturer
Diarrhoea and respiratory disease are common in neonatal calves and reflect a failure to provide a high standard of animal welfare on dairy farms. There is increasing interest in the potential benefits of probiotics on gut health in all species, with some promising indications that probiotics can improve the health of dairy calves. This project will randomly allocate dairy calves to receive either an oral probiotic supplement or a placebo for the first 30 days of life. The impact of this supplement on disease incidence (diarrhoea and respiratory disease) and growth rates will be monitored over the first 6 weeks of life.
I am passionate about animal welfare and my ambition is to become a livestock vet. I would also like to continue to be involved with research to improve the health and welfare of livestock. I have previous experience in several research projects but this will be the first time I am involved in a field trial, which is very exciting. This project will allow me to build on my existing knowledge of infectious diseases from my Honours programme, to better understand the impact of infectious disease on calf welfare. I will gain essential practical skills for a livestock vet, such as assessing calf health. I will be able to continue to develop my professional skills such as project management and confidence in working with new people in an interdisciplinary team.
Funding for the 2025 student grants was made possible thanks to a large grant from the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards.