NZ scientists make breakthrough in Facial Eczema research
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
AgResearch senior scientist Sue McCoard has been named 2022 winner of the prestigious McMeekan Memorial Award from the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
“I am truly honoured to receive the McMeekan Memorial Award,” said McCoard, who is the first female recipient in its 47-year history. “It is an even greater honour to be placed in such distinguished ranks as those of the past honourees.
“Science is a team effort and I have been very lucky to work with a whole bunch of wonderful people, both within AgResearch and around New Zealand and the world”.
In a 20-year career at AgResearch, McCoard has conducted both fundamental and applied research, mainly in the area of early life nutrition and its impact on lifetime performance of ruminants – including their survival, growth, health and meat/milk production.
McCoard believes the award also recognised the strong working relationships she has developed with stakeholders and end-users, including farmers.
She told Rural News that partnerships between industry and science are particularly important to enable robust relevant science to be undertaken, and to support its uptake on working farms. For example, the development of a range of lamb rearing system options for both the dairy and meat sheep industries. For the future, McCoard says her research interests fall into four key areas:
The NZSAP, recognised as New Zealand’s major forum for the presentation of research results on farmed animals. The award is to honour an outstanding recent individual or joint contribution to animal production or to the Society. It’s named after society foundation member Campbell Percy “Mac” McMeekan (1908-1972), who was instrumental in the development of Ruakura.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
A day after the ouster of PGG Wrightson’s chair and his deputy, the listed rural trader’s board has appointed John Nichol as the new independent chair.
Tributes are pouring in from across the political divide for former Prime Minister Jim Bolger who passed away, aged 90.
The iconic services building at National Fieldays' Mystery Creek site will be demolished to make way for a "contemporary replacement that better serves the needs of both the community and event organisers," says board chair Jenni Vernon.
Agri advisor Perrin Ag says its graduate recruitment programme continues to bring new talent into the agricultural sector.
Entries are open for the 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA).
OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…