DairyNZ Hamilton-based scientist Charlotte Reed has received the 2024 Australasian Dairy Science Symposium Emerging Scientist Award in Christchurch last week. The Symposium brought together 140 science and extension professionals from across Australia and New Zealand who are committed to the future of the dairy sector.
Charlotte shared research on ‘What do milk urea concentrations tell us in temperate grazing systems?’ from a collaboration between DairyNZ, AgResearch, Lincoln University, and Fonterra under the Low N Systems research programme.
“I am really proud of the collaborative efforts of the research team to help farmers manage their nitrogen use efficiency and contribute to improving freshwater quality,” says Charlotte. “Our work relates milk urea concentrations to risk of surplus nitrogen in the herd’s diet. It’s part of a project developing an on-farm tool for managing nitrogen loss risks and prototyping it with a group of farmers across the country.”
Dr Charlotte Reed (Scientist, DairyNZ) accepts the 2024 Australasian Dairy Science Symposium Emerging Scientist Award from Grant Wills of the T.R. Ellett Agricultural Research Trust.
Milk urea indicates the crude protein level and therefore the amount of nitrogen in a cow's diet. If a cow's diet is rich in protein, it might produce more urea, which is usually excreted in the urine and higher levels can be detected in the milk. On the other hand, when the diet lacks nitrogen, the cow's body recycles the urea back into the rumen.
Bridget Maclean, DairyNZ General Manager Research & Science, underscored this achievement for one of DairyNZ’s early career scientists. “This is a well-deserved recognition of Charlotte’s exceptional achievements, including leading innovative and high-quality research, and her ability to convey the scientific outcomes to the audience,” she says.
Charlotte is a DairyNZ scientist specialising in cow physiology, reproduction and behaviour. She contributes to a wide range of projects, including environmental risk indicators and mitigations, novel traits to improve genetic gain in dairy cows, and cow wellbeing.
Working as part of a team and in a fast-paced environment is what motivates Charlotte every day. She enjoys collaboration, not just within DairyNZ but also with external partners, including farmers. Charlotte’s on-farm practical knowledge is rooted in her upbringing on a dairy farm in Northland, which enriches her research and insights.
Charlotte graduated from Victoria University in 2020 with a PhD in cell biology, focusing on how oocyte (egg) quality affects dairy cow reproduction. She also holds an Honours degree and a Bachelor of Science in physiology and animal science from Massey University.
The Low N Systems research programme is funded by New Zealand dairy farmers through the DairyNZ levy and by MBIE, with additional support received from Fonterra and CRV. The 2024 Australasian Dairy Science Symposium Emerging Scientist Award was sponsored by the Ellett Agricultural Research Trust.
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