SOUTHBURN-based JSR's first ever Student Press Release Competit-ion tempted students with a unique prize - the opportunity to present their work at the JSR Press Dinner on the eve of the 19th Technical Conference, entitled '50 Years of Excellence in Breeding.'
An initiative aimed at helping talented, skilled individuals to enter the pig industry, the competition - in which entrants had to supply a 'mock' press release detailing their aims and ambitions - produced two clear winners, Dagmar Kapell and Claudi
a Richards.
Dagmar, 27, who studied animal science at the Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands, and is now in her second year of PhD studies at the Scottish Agricultural College, will present her paper on the genetic improvement of piglet survival.
"My ambition in the pig industry is to improve piglet survival in current production systems," she said.
"Piglet survival has a large influence on both economics and welfare. Also consumers have become increasingly aware of animal welfare, so I feel that traits related to animal welfare will play an important role in future breeding programmes. My goal is to contribute to the development of pig breeding programmes that focus on both production and piglet survival traits."
Claudia Richards, a qualified vet who completed her first degree at the University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru - and is now undertaking an MSc in Meat Science and Technology at Bristol University - became joint winner by submitting research on a topic equally vital to the future of the pig industry: boar taint compounds.
"My project involves the measurement of these compounds in pork fat and the use of a sensory panel to assess any abnormal odour that the public would find unacceptable," she explained.
"I am working towards establishing the levels of boar taint compounds that allow separation between tainted and untainted carcases."
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