Latest news with #HarperAdamsUniversity
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Top Harper Adams student collects award at Royal Welsh Show
A scholar aiming to use his graduate career to 'advocate for Welsh agriculture' has won the 2025 Harper Cymry/Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Student of the Year award. Osian Richards, who grew up on his family's dairy farm in Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, spoke of how much the prize – and the show – meant to him after receiving his prize. He said: 'Receiving the award at the Royal Welsh Show was an enormous honour. I've been attending the show since I was a child in a pram, and the show truly represents the heart of Welsh agriculture - and remains a highlight of my year. 'That personal connection made the award all the more meaningful. 'The award was established in memory of Bill Ratcliffe, who had deep ties to South Wales and the agricultural sector, and whose contributions were recognised with the Royal Welsh Silver Medal. To be associated with his award is incredibly special.' Mr Ratcliffe, who was renowned for his outstanding contribution to the agricultural industry, was a Harper Adams University Fellow – and founder of the Harper Cymry alumni association. Osian – himself a member of the Harper Cymry student society - has just completed the final year of his BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management degree. He added: 'The award carries a bittersweet note, marking the end of my Harper Adams journey. But for me, it also stands as recognition of the dedication and hard work I've poured into my degree and university life over the past four years. Now, I'm excited to begin the next chapter, armed with the skills and support Harper and Harper Cymry have given me.' Looking back at his time at Harper Adams, Osian added: 'The University has offered much more than an academic qualification. 'It created a unique atmosphere built on friendship, encouragement, and a real sense of community. 'From my lecturers to fellow students, I've felt supported throughout my journey. I'd especially like to acknowledge the REALM lecturers in my second and final year; their dedication and guidance went far beyond expectation. 'Academically, the course was both challenging and rewarding. Its emphasis on practical application and real-world scenarios means I've gained knowledge and skills I know will serve me well professionally. 'The placement year also played a key role in strengthening this foundation.' It was while on placement that Osian discovered a taste for auctioneering – something which he is hoping to hone further in his first graduate role. He added: 'Having grown up on a pedigree dairy farm in South Wales, I'd heard of Gwilym Richards & Co. The firm - and Gwilym Richards himself - are well respected within the dairy industry, so the choice felt natural. 'My placement offered a wealth of experience, from handling compensation claims to managing rentals and conducting valuations. I also had the opportunity to auctioneer under Gwilym's guidance, a skill that has since shaped my career ambitions. 'The placement allowed me to apply classroom theory to practical scenarios and ultimately helped me secure a graduate role. The placement year gave me a taste of industry and made me want to work harder in my final year to secure a place within the industry.' Having returned to University, Osian applied himself keenly to his final year studies – and during that final year, also secured his first graduate role. This gives him both a chance to test his auctioneering skills, and an opportunity to speak up for Welsh farming. He added: 'During my placement year with Gwilym Richards, I worked in conjunction with Greenslade Taylor Hunt, a property and auction specialist - and from there, I have secured a graduate surveyor and auctioneer position which starts this August at Sedgemoor. 'In the future, I'm particularly keen to stay connected with the dairy sector and hope to specialise in dairy cattle due to my dairy upbringing. 'I'll be based near Redhill, close to Bristol and Sedgemoor Market, one of England's largest livestock markets - which gives me a great platform to advocate for Welsh agriculture in a dynamic setting.'
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Headbutting goats wrecking dairy researchers' study
BBC Researchers at a university hope that ear tags that track movement and behaviour will help to improve the welfare of dairy goats, however the animals are doing their best to thwart the project. The study is led by Harper Adams University in Shropshire, alongside Reading University and technology company SmartBell. The tags are already used in calves across the agricultural industry to provide early detection of health issues. But Dr Holly Vickery admitted the technology support team were struggling to understand why the tags kept on resetting and think it could be "because the goats are headbutting each other". "I'm surprised that the goats haven't eaten them," she said. The tags are orange and oblong shaped, and sit in the animals' ear with their normal numbered tag. "It's a bit like a Fitbit... it's got an accelerometer in it, and what it's doing is... it's tracking movement," said Dr Vickery. Behaviours that can be detected include lying down time, rumination, eating behaviours and general activity. The tags could also be used for the early detection of health issues and better responses to environmental factors like extreme heat. In cows, more "lying time" could signal that the animal is lame. "The goats are very different to work with, but broadly the behaviours that we want to look at are the same," said Dr Vickery. "The algorithms have to be tweaked because the goats display the behaviours in a slightly different way." This project involves a trial with 40 of the ear tags fitted to goats on a farm in Somerset. Dr Vickery said she would like to see the technology incorporated into animal welfare assessments in the future. "It would give much clearer data to consumers who want to make really informed decisions," she said. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Agriculture Goats
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Harper Adams study hopes ear tags will improve goat welfare
Researchers at a university hope that ear tags that track movement and behaviour will help to improve the welfare of dairy project is led by professionals from Harper Adams University in Shropshire alongside Reading University and technology company tags are already used in calves across the agricultural industry to provide early detection of health Dr Holly Vickery admitted there had been a technical issue. "At the minute, I've got my tech team, and they're working really hard on figuring out why the tags keep resetting, which we actually think might be because the goats are headbutting each other," she said. "I'm surprised that the goats haven't eaten them."The tags are orange and oblong shaped, and sit in the animals' ear with their normal numbered tag. "It's a bit like a Fitbit… it's got an accelerometer in it, and what it's doing is… it's tracking movement," said Dr that can be detected include lying time, rumination, eating behaviours and general activity. The tags could also be used for the early detection of health issues and better responses to environmental factors like cows, more "lying time" could signal that the animal is lame."The goats are very different to work with, but broadly the behaviours that we want to look at are the same," said Dr Vickery."The algorithms have to be tweaked because the goats display the behaviours in a slightly different way."This project involves a trial with 40 of the ear tags fitted to goats on a farm in Vickery said she would like to see the technology incorporated into animal welfare assessments in the future."It would give much clearer data to consumers who want to make really informed decisions," she said. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Powys County Times
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Shearer to attempt British solo shearing record in Powys
A 27-year-old Mid Wales shearer will attempt to beat a solo shearing record in Powys next month. Huw Jones, from Abergynolwyn, near Tywyn, will attempt the eight-hour solo ewe British record. Huw's record attempt will take place at Hendreseifion Farm, Llanwrin, near Machynlleth, on Saturday, July 5, beginning at 5am. Live streaming will be available through the Huw Jones - 8 hours British Shearing Record Attempt Facebook page, where Huw explains that he will try to beat the solo record currently held by Martin Howlett. In recent years, many shearing record attempts have been attempted, including Lloyd Rees in 2022, who broke the nine-hour British solo record at Blaenbwch Farm, near Builth Wells. These feats have inspired Huw, who said: 'Seeing Matt Smith, Rowland Smith, Gareth Daniel and Ian Jones achieve their records planted a thought in my mind that I would like to do something like that one day, but realised I was years away from it. 'I finally achieved a long-term goal two years ago in New Zealand, shearing 554 lambs in eight hours. 'But I still wasn't satisfied. I wanted to do 600, so when I got home, I asked my brother if I could try and do a personal best on his sheep. He agreed and in July 2023, I shorn 704 ewes in nine hours. 'That was the big motivation to attempt a record. I set my goal for about two years and chose the record I wanted to attempt to break.' For approximately six months of the year, Huw's normal shearing routine sees him split time between the UK and New Zealand. The rest of the year he is on the family farm, along with some contract sheep dipping alongside his brother. 'Farming has always been my main passion,' said Huw. 'I would always be outside farming with my parents and when staying with my grandparents. Luckily for us, mum and dad have always included me and my brother in a lot of farming decisions from a young age (sometimes too young), but it helped us learn how important it is to consider all aspects before making a decision.' Shearing normally starts for Huw at the end of April, in England, before coming back home to Wales to shear from the end of May. Huw shears with his friend Gwydion and they've shorn together for several years on local farms. The aim is always to finish shearing at the Royal Welsh Show just outside Builth so he can enjoy the week. An agricultural engineering graduate from Harper Adams University, Huw added: 'I have a few proud moments in shearing, and winning the Senior Championship in Corwen Shears was a personal highlight. 'There are many shearers and people outside of shearing who have inspired me in different ways, but for me, Rowland Smith has always been a big inspiration. 'Not only is he an outstanding shearer in shows, records and in the shed, but he also has an incredible work ethic. 'I could never manage lamb shearing until I watched 'Rowly' shear lambs in front of me; that is when I finally stopped making excuses of being too tall for lambs and found a way to get it done.' Proceeds from the event will be shared between the Wales Air Ambulance and Aberdyfi Search and Rescue charities.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for £6m chicken farm near university
A proposed new £6m chicken farm with 180,000 birds would be used to help teach university students, according to a planning application. The four proposed poultry units would be built on land near Harper Adams University, close to Newport, Shropshire. Meese Farming, a Lilleshall-based firm, submitted the plans to Telford and Wrekin Council and a public consultation has begun on them. The university itself "expressed strong support for the scheme", planning agent Ian Pick said, in his report for the council's planners. Harper Adams will not build or run the farm but it favours the plans due to their "significant value as a teaching and research resource for both agricultural and veterinary students", he added. The university specialises in agriculture and the rural economy. The proposed farm includes a teaching facility and a viewing area which will be able to be used by students from schools, colleges, and universities, Mr Pick added. Meese Farming also has a poultry unit at Deepdale Farm in nearby Chetwynd. The proposed farm will see about £6m spent on the buildings and other facilities at the site, planning documents show. The business will also need an Environment Agency permit in order to operate. Meese Farming proposed that the water on its new site would drain through a sealed network, filter drains and filter strips "in order to minimise the risk of contamination to the final watercourse". Their plans come as river campaigners in Shropshire and Herefordshire have in recent years called for action to protect local waterways from the potential effects of chicken farming and chicken manure. Campaigners in June won a High Court battle to overturn planning permission for an industrial-scale chicken farm in Felton Butler, near Shrewsbury. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. River campaigners win chicken farm legal challenge Rural cinemas holding film nights for farmers Farmers' tractor demo over tax row goes to council Telford & Wrekin Council
