The annual Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Postgraduate Symposium was held recently in the Stormont hotel in Belfast. Over 120 delegates attended the event to hear postgraduate students deliver presentations and poster displays of the findings from their DAERA funded postgraduate research programmes.
Awards were presented to recognise the quality of the presentations and posters displayed by the students and it was a clean sweep for four county Down students.
Katie Lawther from Newtownards received the award for the best first year poster. Katie is researching the influences of agricultural practices on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). In this research 66 dairy farms have been surveyed.
Hillsborough research student, Paul Cottney received an award for the best second year poster. Paul is investigating how to maximise the benefits of cover crops through optimising the management of organic manures, rotations and nitrogen fertilisers.
Sophie Redpath from Moira received the award for the best second year presentation. Sophie is investigating the epidemiology of bovine TB and potential routes of infection.
Hillsborough research student, Naomi Rutherford received an award for the best third year presentation. Naomi is exploring the development of systems to improve the health and performance of dairy origin beef young stock.
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