My research interests have focused on the understanding and manipulation of gut ecosystems to improve animal productivity while reducing the environmental impact of animal husbandry.

I graduated from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne with BSc Honours in Agricultural Biochemistry and Nutrition in 1981. I then  went onto do a PhD on Microbial metabolism of lactic acid in the rumen at the Hannah Research Institute in Scotland. Prior to joining SRUC I was Professor of Animal Science and Director of Research and Enterprise at the Institute of Biological and Rural Sciences, Aberyswyth University, Wales.  Prior to joining the Aberystwyth University in 2003, I was based at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen for 16 years.

PhD Students Supervised  (19 successful PhD students to date, last 10 years)

Olga Lucia Mayorga Mogollon. Biofilms in the Rumen .Funded by Colombian Government. (awarded 2009)

Eric Pinloche. Molecular profiling of the bovine gut. Industrially funded. (awarded 2009).

Tina Blackmore. Microbial stability in the equine hindgut. University funded  (awarded 2012).

Tim Snelling Gene Transfer in Gut Protozoa.  University Funded.  (awarded 2011).

Florence Prive. Lipases in the rumen. University Funded.  (awarded 2012).

Kirsty McDougal. Is there a core metagenome in the equine hindgut. BBSRC Case studentship (awarded 2014).

Kate Waddams. Early life programing of the rumen. Industrially funded.  (awarded 2014).

Jolien Veneman. Methane mitigation in the rumen. Industrially funded.  (awarded 2015)

Francesco Rubino. Identification of the key rumen microbial communities contributing to methane production in cattle. Teagasc funded. (awarded 2016).

Simon Peter Gathira Muchira. Manipulating fibre digestion in the rumen. Commonwealth Scholarship. (awarded 20209).

Natalie Meades. Improving productivity whilst decreasing environmental damage in Pastoral Agriculture using Crystalyx Technology. Industrially funded (awarded 2020)

Research Income won competitively (last 10 years):

BBSRC

• Is there a stable core microbiota in the equine hindgut? (2010-2014) iCase Doctoral Training award with WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition
• Advanced Training Partnership for Sustainable and Efficient Food Production (2011-2018) £2.5 million, Director
• Co-PI BB/L026716/1, Characterization and exploitation of novel antimicrobials within the rumen microbiota (2014-2018)
• Co-PI BBS/E/W/10964A01D, Bio-mining the rumen for enzymes with industrial potential (2013-2017)
• Co-PI BBS/E/W/10964A01B, Functional dynamics of the microbiome (2012-2017)
• Co-PI BB/P004849/1 Process improvement to enable economic production of prebiotics and demonstration of efficacy in feeding trials (PIPP) (2016-2018)
• TS/P013007/1 Novel methods to identify and isolate bio-active iminosugars for rumen manipulation (2017)
• Co-Pi BB/P023967/1. The AgriFood Training Partnership (2017-2022)
• Co-Pi BB/P022499/1. Developing rice straw for animal feed (2017-2020)

DEFRA

• Estimates of future agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation in China. £568,844 (2010-2013) Joint with Aberdeen University, SAC, North Wyke Research

EU

• REDNEX Innovative and practical management approaches to reduce nitrogen excretion by ruminants (2008-2013)
• EU FP7 Animal Change: AN Integration of Mitigation and Adaptation options for sustainable Livestock production under climate CHANGE (2010-2015)
• EU FP7 SMethane: Technological platform to develop nutritional additives to reduce methane (2010-2012 )
• Climate KIC Reduced Methane Emissions from Ruminants – RuMeClean (2014-2016) 
• EU H2020-WATER- FLOWERED — de-FLuoridation technologies for imprOving quality of WatEr and agRo-animal products along the East African Rift Valley in the context of aDaptation to climate change. (2016-2019) 

Industry

• Technical Strategy Board, Ivy for Ruminants (2012-2015)
• Crystalyx Evaluation of mineral lick to decrease methane emissions (2013-2015
• Dairy Cattle Health, Welfare and Nutrition, Dairy Co (2010-2017).
• Mars Petcare UK Evaluation of controlled dietary interventions on the gastrointestinal microflora of normal, obese and geriatric ponies 
• Caltech-Crystalyx. Improving productivity in extensively managed grazing ruminants (2015-2018)
• Caltech-Crystalyx. Studentship (2016-2019)

Others

• Welsh Assembly Government Collaboration and Reconfiguration Fund. Centre for Integrated Research in the Rural Environment (CIRRE) (2006-2012) Co-director
• Welsh European Funding Office The WISE Network (2012-2015) Director
• British Council Newton funds, Using systems biology to improve feed conversion efficiency, lower the environmental impact and increase the profitability of beef production. 2015-2018)
• Welsh Government e-Fferm a flexible on line learning platform for Welsh Farmers framing connect (2015-2018).
• Welsh Government Farming connect Knowledge Hub (2015-2018)
• National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy & Environment Multi-Land Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Ecosystem Service Resilience in Multifunctional Landscapes (2015-2018)
• British Council Newton funds. Improving competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of dairy production in the High Tropics of Colombia. (2016-2018)
• Welsh European Funding Office  VetHub 1 (2017-2020)
• Welsh Rural Development plan. Climate Smart Agriculture in Wales (CSA Wales) (2017-2016)
• Innovate UK Small Ruminant Platform Center for innovation and Excellence in livestock (CIEL) (2017)