Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
I have a background in metabolic diseases of cattle and sheep and the use of precision technologies – such as rumination/activity collars and pH boluses – to allow early detection of diseases. My research interests focus around bovine health and production, the use of precision livestock farming (PLF) tools to study health and nutrition problems of ruminants and innovative dairying.
My interests include:
- PLF technologies for monitoring health, welfare and prodution in cattle
- Rumen function
- Metabolic disorders (particularly ruminal acidosis)
- Ruminant nutrition
- The ruminal microbiome
- Dairy production (innovative systems, including cow with calf)
Supervision
I currently supervise both undergraduate and postgraduate (MSc) level students during their dissertations.
Previous student dissertation topics include:
Undergraduate
- An investigation into patterns in the occurrence of specific mastitis pathogens in lactating dairy cows
- Lactation performance: outwintering on kale versus housing Holstein Friesian heifers
- How does outwintering affect lameness of replacement dairy heifers?
- Early and late weaning in dairy-beef cross calves and the effect on growth and health at turnout
MSc
- An investigation into the effects on finishing cattle performance of feeding a Maxammon-based diet as a total mixed ration (TMR) versus feed components fed separately
Projects
Current:
Holoruminant
Understanding the microbiomes of the ruminant holobiont.
Dairy Sensors
Identifying best sensor technologies to deliver verifiable health and welfare, environmental and processing benefits for dairy products.
GrASTech
Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity of pasture based systems.
RESAS: Precision Livestock Farming
Use of PLF technologies and combinations of sensors to increase early detection of health and nutrition problems in dairy cows
Interreg Atlantic Area: Dairy-4-Future
Quantifying the effects of innovative dairy farming practices in the Atlantic Region from a social, economic and environmental impact
Horizon 2020: SMARTCOW
Creating an integrated infrastructure for increased research capability and innovation in the European cattle sector.
Commercial Projects
Design, costing, management and analysis of projects; primarily feed and feed additives.
Previous:
KTIF Keeping Cow with Calf (CWC)
Using a current commercial CWC system to investigate issues around CWC (economic costs, finding markets for the product, health benefits, environmental outcomes) to create a blueprint for others and encourage others to trial the system.
Cow Health Monitor
Diagnostic components of milk headspace in an automated milking system – headspace acetone as a proxy for ketosis in dairy cows, measured through AMS.
Dairy Cattle Health, Welfare and Nutrition
Improving lameness in British dairy cattle: claw health, claw horn disruption and lameness in cattle of standard and high genetic merit.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Studies of the responses of cattle and sheep to rapidly fermentable carbohydrate challenges , University of Glasgow
Nov 2013 → Jun 2018
Award Date: 22 Jun 2018
Bachelor, Zoology, University of Glasgow
Sep 2009 → Jun 2013
Award Date: 22 Jun 2013
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Network
-
The impacts of selenium sources on blood and milk selenium levels in lactating cattle
14/10/22 → 28/02/23
Project: Commercial
-
Tackling tick-borne disease in Tanzania with low-cost animal sensing (TBD)
1/09/22 → 31/08/23
Project: Research
-
RESAS 22-27: SRUC-b2-1 Feeding And Breeding Strategies For Climate Resilient And Sustainable Dairying
Dewhurst, R., Bagnall, A., Dickinson, J., McCubbin, I., Ferguson, H. & Banos, G.
Scottish Government: Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
-
RESAS 22-27: SRUC-b2-4 Data Driven Innovations For Improved Sustainability Of Ruminant Productions Systems
Duthie, C., Nicoll, L., Broadbent, C., Miller, G., Ferguson, H. & Morgan-Davies, C.
Scottish Government: Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
-
RESAS 22-27: Unc Maintenance And Development Of Key Long-term Data Sets Of National Significance
Dewhurst, R., Bagnall, A., Archibald, I., March, M., Dickinson, J., McCubbin, I., Ferguson, H. & Wall, E.
Scottish Government: Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
-
Light microscopic observations of the ruminal papillae of cattle on diets with divergent forage to cereal ratios
Ferguson, H. J., Koh-Tan, H. H. C., Johnston, P. E. J., Wallace, R. J., Andonovic, I., Michie, C., McCartney, C. A., Stachan, E. M., Snelling, T. J., Harvey, C. D., Thomson, W. & Jonsson, N. N., Mar 2022, In: Animal. 16, 3, 100462.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Downloads (Pure) -
Opinion paper: How can we achieve standards and common guidelines for experimental studies with cattle?
Kuhla, B., Dewhurst, RJ., Dijkstra, J., Ferguson, HJ., Humphries, DJ., Kennedy, E., Lund, P., Martin, C., Munksgaard, L., O'Donovan, M., Reynolds, C., Terre, M., Veissier, I. & Baumont, R., Jul 2022, In: Animal. 16, 7, p. 100563 3 p., 100563.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
Open AccessFile30 Downloads (Pure) -
A history of lameness and low body condition score is associated with reduced digital cushion volume, measured by magnetic resonance imaging, in dairy cattle
Wilson, JP., Randall, LV., Green, MJ., Rutland, CS., Bradley, CR., Ferguson, HJ., Bagnall, AH. & Huxley, JN., Jun 2021, In: Journal of Dairy Science. 104, 6, p. 7026-7038 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Citations (Scopus)4 Downloads (Pure) -
Methods in cattle physiology and behaviour research – Recommendations from the SmartCow consortium
Mesgaran, S. D. (ed.), Baumont, R. (ed.), Munksgaard, L. (ed.), Humphries, D. (ed.), Kennedy, E. (ed.), Dijkstra, J. (ed.), Dewhurst, RJ. (ed.), Ferguson, HJ. (ed.), Terre, M. (ed.) & Kuhla, B. (ed.), 29 Jan 2021, Online - e book: PUBLISSO.Research output: Book/Report/Policy Brief/Technical Brief › Book › peer-review
Open Access -
Identification of the rumination in cattle using support vector machines with motion-sensitive bolus sensors
Hamilton, A., Davison, C., Tachtatzis, C., Andonovic, I., Michie, C., Ferguson, HJ., Somerville, L. & Jonsson, N. N., 7 Mar 2019, In: Sensors. 19, 5, 1165.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile27 Citations (Scopus)41 Downloads (Pure)