To date, Pillars has successfully trained 5 interns, 2 Masters students, 8 PhDs and 4 Post-Doctorates. Many of these emerging scientists have continued within the Pillars programme, enabling further career progression and capability growth for dairy science in NZ.
We are currently training 5 students (1 Masters, 4 PhDs) and 4 Post-Doctorate researchers. Find out more about their research below.
Stacey Hendriks
Stacey’s PhD studies at Massey University investigated the use of lying and activity behaviours as measures of animal health during the ‘transition’ period. “These 3-4 weeks before and after calving are when cows are most at-risk of ill-health,” says Stacey.
Olivia Spaans
Olivia’s PhD investigates how a dairy cow’s inflammatory state during the transition period affects their reproductive performance. “Some inflammation around calving is normal and it performs important functions, but it’s damaging if it is excessive or goes on too long.” says Olivia.
Jessica Dalton
Massey University Masters student Jessica has been a DairyNZ scholar for two years. Last summer, she worked as an intern on a Pillars transition cow health study into supplementing synthetic zeolite, pre-calving.
Charlotte Reed
Charlotte recently completed her PhD at Victoria University of Wellington in collaboration with DairyNZ. She examined how genetic merit for fertility affects the cow’s oocytes (unfertilised eggs). “Up to 30 percent of cows’ pregnancies are lost in the first week, and oocyte quality is a major factor driving this early pregnancy loss, which limits conception rates,” says Charlotte.