UK students heads to USA to investigate genomics in cattle breeding
Asda/ABP BeefLink is supporting one young farmer as she heads across the Atlantic to investigate the use of genomics in modern cattle breeding.
Staffordshire-based Sammie Wilson, a student at Harper Adams University College, Shropshire, is currently studying for a foundation degree in agriculture and will be travelling to the USA for a 12 month placement as part of her studies.
While in the USA, Wilson, who comes from a beef and sheep farming background, hopes to work with a leading dairy herd to fully understand the use of genetic evaluations in sire selection and breeding programmes. "I would like to work within a progressive family dairy farming business to learn more about sire selection and its importance to produce efficient, highly productive and high yielding females within a herd," she explains.
"I would like to see how the use of Genomic Estimated Breeding Values (GEBV’s) has accelerated the rate of genetic improvement in dairy cattle in the USA and how the UK could benefit from increased use of GEBV’s/EBV’s to add value and produce more efficient livestock."
ABP's Asda agricultural manager Elwyn Pugh says Miss Wilson's trip and studies in the USA will be of significant value to the UK industry. "The UK livestock industry is desperately short of motivated, skilled young people wanting to forge their futures in farming.
"Sammie Wilson is an excellent young farmer and she has identified a clear need for the UK livestock sector to make better use of genetic evaluations in the pursuit of efficient livestock production. Taking time to understand these technologies in the USA will undoubtedly help her appreciation of them and enable her to inform others about them when she returns to the UK."
Pugh said Asda/ABP BeefLink was delighted to be supporting Miss Wilson's travels as part of its commitment to encouraging more young people in to farming.
"Through a number of initiatives we actively encourage young people to pursue careers in agriculture at all levels and are always delighted to support the next generation of British farmers whenever we can."
Following her degree studies Miss Wilson hopes to pursue a career in cattle genetics while helping drive the family business forward. "I hope to adapt experience and knowledge gained from university and work in industry, to implement efficiencies at home and provide foundations to pursue a successful career.
"I feel that gaining experience in another country will be vital towards accomplishing this and that the US is a perfect place for me to achieve this," she added.
