On the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, globally celebrated on February 11, we speak to published DairyNZ scientist, Dr Lucy Hall about a day which recognises the vital contributions women and girls make to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Among the women helping shape the future of agricultural science is Dr Lucy Hall, a post-doctoral scientist at DairyNZ. With a deep passion for providing research that not only supports dairy farmers but also considers the entire farm system, Lucy’s work has positioned her at the forefront of research aimed at keeping New Zealand’s dairy industry internationally competitive.
With an undergraduate degree in animal science and agriculture from Massey University and a PhD from Lincoln University, alongside experience working on dairy farms and as a consulting officer, Lucy brings practical, hands-on experience to her research, and a strong farm systems understanding. Her field knowledge and scientific expertise makes her an invaluable asset to the industry.
“I am lucky to work in a role which brings together my passion for animals, science and wellbeing. The science allows us to look at things in new ways while also giving back to farmers, the sector and the wider country, which is important to me,” says Lucy.
"If you’re interested in grass-based dairy farming systems, there is no place like home. You won’t get access to more impactful projects or credible people anywhere else in the world.”
Lucy’s research focuses on areas vital to the wellbeing and productivity of dairy farmers, including workplace productivity, flexible milking schedules, the impact of safety improvements on farms, and the relationship between farmers' sleep and milking frequency.
This is part of DairyNZ’s accelerating on farm productivity strategic priority, with research focused on increasing workplace productivity. Other current research includes 24 month extended lactation to reduce the spring workload peak, understanding workplace productivity practices of leading farmers and assessing the impact of wearables on herd reproductive performance.
One of Lucy’s most recent achievements was having her PhD journal article, a novel study on sleep deprivation in dairy farmers, selected by the leading peer-reviewed international publication Journal of Dairy Science as a featured article. The study was the first of its kind, offering quantitative data on the sleep patterns of dairy farmers—an area that had been largely overlooked in research until now.
“With dairy farmers working with machinery and large animals, sleep deprivation can have serious implications for their health and safety,” Lucy explains. “Farmers often work in isolated conditions, which only increases the risk of severe consequences after an accident.”
The work looked to determine whether farmers were getting sufficient sleep quantity and quality over the spring calving period and identify how different factors affected the sleep quantity and quality as well.
The research findings will have wide-reaching benefits, providing critical data that could influence the design of safer and more effective working conditions for dairy farmers.
"I’m looking forward to progressing this research more, with our next project using Garmin watches to better understand farmer sleep and energy exertion over a full day, rather than focusing on evening sleep.”
From 2020 to 2023, Lucy was a DairyNZ PhD scholar. Today, she continues her important work as a post-doctoral scientist, focusing on further investigating factors affecting workplace productivity including farmers’ sleep, energy exertion, and technology use.
As we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Lucy’s pioneering work in agricultural science is a shining example of the importance of women in shaping the future of science and technology.
Media contact
Celine Walters-Gray
Media specialist
p: 027 247 9876
e: celine.walters@dairynz.co.nz