Kate Williams is the inaugural recipient of the David Beever Memorial Award for the best academic performance of a Part 3 student with a focus on Dairy in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading.
Kate, from a mixed family farm in Cawthorne, South Yorkshire, received a First Class BSc Honours degree in Agriculture with Industrial Training at this years’ graduation ceremonies.
Her part 3 dissertation project examined the effects of calf jackets on dairy calf growth and health in a trial she organized at her home dairy farm.
She spent much of her industry placement year working for DairyCo (now AHDB Dairy) as a Research and Development Intern developing print and internet based guidance for calf rearing and helping with recruitment for the DairyPro certification programme.
The award is in honour of Professor David Beever, who passed away in 2014 after a brief illness.
Professor Beever was an internationally recognized nutritionist and a leading figure in the UK and global dairy industry. He was the first Director of the University’s Centre for Dairy Research (CEDAR) and his vision, drive, and leadership helped establish CEDAR’s international recognition as a centre of excellence for Dairy Research.
Professor Chris Reynolds, the current director of CEDAR at the University of Reading, said: “Very many congratulations to Kate, whose outstanding work deserves this recognition.
“Professor Beever was proud to be a farmer’s son from South Yorkshire, so it is fitting that the first recipient of the award in his honour goes to a student who also hails from a farm in South Yorkshire.”
