December 2005
Welcome to the Autumn/Winter edition of our newsletter. We hope that you will find something that will interest you. The lecturing staff in the Department of Biological Sciences wish you a happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year
*Stop press*
Inaugural Lectures
By Professor Stephen Hall on the 4th April 2006
Title: Our living heritage: Britain's livestock biodiversity
Britain's agriculture is changing in ways which often seem bewildering. Connections between farming and the rest of society are probably weaker than they have ever been. It is easy, today, to forget that for millennia farm animals have been fundamental to, and have shaped, our society and culture. Our wealth of native breeds reflects the range of uses to which farm animals have been put, and the diversity of the biological, social and commercial environments that they inhabit. In this lecture I consider how this biodiversity arose, why it is of value for our present and future, and how its conservation and sustainable development can be achieved.
If you would like to attend either of these lectures please contact Alex Gray on 01522 837003 or email her at algray@lincoln.ac.uk to book a place.
Equine Programmes at Riseholme Park
Equine education is currently based at the Riseholme campus which gives our students the advantages of both the quality of a rural life style and the opportunity to take advantage of a developing Cathedral City.
We offer a full range of courses in the Further Education and Higher Education areas from Work-based NVQs through to Undergraduate and Postgraduate qualifications.
There is also the opportunity to study BHS qualifications as a secondary learning goal.
There is a well-qualified team of specialist academic and technical staff to support the students’ learning. We have close contacts with local and national equine industries and make a world-wide impact in equine research.
The Equine Unit, which has been completely redeveloped over the last few years, has a purpose built unit, which includes two outdoor schools and an indoor arena. The main unit was designed with input from the researchers of the Dept to maximise the welfare of the horses and has eliminated many problems common on other more standard yards. There is also a DIY yard so that students can bring their own horses if they wish. There is ample grazing available, plus a range of cross-country fences.
If all this
sounds interesting why not come and see us on one of our Open Days
or have a look at our website
www.lincoln.ac.uk for further details of what we can offer.
News from the Animal Unit
Marmosets settling in
Riseholme Campus offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to work with primates. In addition to a wide range of exotic pet species including snakes, lizards, spiders and frogs, Riseholme also houses common marmosets. These New World monkeys are the only primates that can be owned in the UK without a special licence. Even so, their specialist husbandry requirements need to be met before considering taking responsibility for their care. We currently house two non-breeding pairs in purpose built enclosures that many zoos would envy.
The four marmosets, all re-homed from primate laboratories, have access to both a large, heated indoor enclosure and an outdoor run all year round. As well as supporting teaching of animal care and behaviour, the marmosets have been used by students in environmental enrichment projects to investigate novel means of further enhancing the monkeys’ lives.
In
addition to the marmosets the Animal Care Unit manages a wide
range of familiar and more exotic companion animals, including a
kennels and cattery, ferret enclosure, rabbits and guinea pigs.
The main facility was purpose built in 2002 with the aims of
demonstrating good design practice in terms of the needs of the
animals as well a good working environment for students studying
on the unit.
Horse profile
Dublin is a 16.1hh Bay gelding born in 1983 and was imported into this country from Ireland in 1987 as a four year old. He started Eventing in 1989 at Novice level and during his career has competed at Advanced three day event level, qualifying to go to Burghley Horse Trials, as well as competing in dressage and show jumping competitions. He has always been a strong, fast horse cross-country but a careful jumper. He competed in partnership with riders other than his owner Tania Bridgeman during his career. This includes Matt Ryan with whom he apparently ran off! He has had his share of injuries that may have stopped him reaching his full potential. He retired to the University of Lincoln‘s Equine Unit in 1998 and has settled well to his new life training students although he does have moments when he reverts to old ways!!
Professor Stephen Hall
Head of Biological Sciences
Stephen
Hall came to the Lincolnshire School of Agriculture in August
1997, and is now Professor of Animal Science at the University of
Lincoln. Previously he held research appointments at the Overseas
Development Institute, London, the Department of Clinical
Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge and CNRS Centre d’Etudes
Biologiques de Chizé, France. He has maintained research interests
in behaviour of wild, feral and domesticated mammals; conservation
and sustainable development of livestock genetic resources, and
aspects of the genetics of domesticated animals.
News from the Farm
New Arrivals at Riseholme Farm
2005 has been a successful year at Riseholme Park Farm with many new arrivals in the farm herds of red deer and cattle, as well as the extensive lowland sheep flock. The first new arrivals, from March through to April, were our spring lambs with over 200 lambs born to our pedigree Lleyn flock over this period of time. Undergraduate students volunteer to act as assistant stock people during this busy period of the year, supporting the farm staff with delivery and care of the new born lambs and their dams. Late spring saw the birth of the majority of our Lincoln Red calves. Riseholme Park Farm houses a pedigree herd of these robust beef cattle, and is now successfully showing our own cattle at agricultural shows. Finally, the deer calves are normally born in June, but this year we had a late arrival in October, when deer would normally be rutting and more likely to be mating than giving birth. Despite the late arrival both mother and fawn are doing well.
Research News
RUGS WITHOUT BUGS
Students and staff at the University of Lincoln have helped develop a new type of pet bedding and horse rug, which kills unwanted bugs.
Veterinary microbiology research at the university’s Riseholme Park campus, which is led by senior lecturer Frank Ruedisueli, is focused on investigating novel anti-microbial compounds.
During the tests carried out by staff and students, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial fibres that were incorporated into textiles were tested against pathogenic skin microbes, including ringworm, Malassezia and Staphylococcus.
The research was sponsored by manufacturers Equimed UK, who have used it in the development of a series of new products for animals.
Following
successful inhibition of these organisms, fibres were then
incorporated into
pet bedding, horse rugs and travel bandages to prevent
contamination of such materials by the pathogens. The result was a
product range that aims to help prevent skin infections caused by
these pathogens, including the super bug MRSA. A recent article
in the Mail on Sunday warned that the bug, which kills around
5,000 NHS patients every year, could become widespread in
veterinary clinics.
“I am always thrilled to see research results make it to practical applications, even more so when it allows students to participate in applied research, something we consider to be a vital element in our courses” said Mr Ruedisueli.
Equimed
spokesman Roland Cox added: “We are keen to see these products
make a difference and look forward to more research collaboration
with the University of Lincoln.
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HORSE FEED
Research
at the University of Lincoln’s Department of Biological Sciences
at Riseholme Park has contributed to the development of the new
Dodson and Horrell Ltd feed ‘Safe and Sound’. The research led by
Dr Rachel Neville, the department’s animal nutritionist, and
sponsored by Dodson and Horrell Ltd, was published recently in the
Equine Veterinary Journal*.
Free
radicals are implicated in a wide range of disorders and are
associated with injury and the inflammatory response. The
objectives of the study were to evaluate free radical damage in
chronic laminitic ponies and to compare these values with the
normal non-laminitic pony.
The study showed that
chronic laminitics demonstrated significantly higher levels of
free radical damage compared to normal ponies. In light of these
results it is thought that antioxidant supplementation in these
animals would be beneficial. Subsequently, plant based
antioxidants were added to the new feed which has been developed
for horses and ponies at risk from laminitis.
·Neville, R.F., Hollands, T.,
Collins, S.N., Keyte, F.V. (2004) Evaluation of urinary TBARS in
normal and chronic laminitic ponies. Equine vet. J. 36
(3), 292-4.
What have our students been up to after leaving us...
Laura Antcliff (AMW, 2004) Works at a Guide Dogs for the Blind breeding centre.
Emma Banfield (ESS, 2003) Gained a research internship at Kentucky Equine Research. Is now in her 2nd year of a PhD on metabolic enzyme activity and equine exertional rhabdomyolysis (Lincoln University).
Jennifer Baxter (ESS, 2003) Worked for the Yorkshire Riding Centre where she gained her BHSII. Now the North East area representative for Baileys Horse Feeds.
Sarah Baron (ES, 2004) Completed a PGCE and is now a secondary school biology and social science teacher
Abbey Bedford (ES, 2002) Worked as a competition yard groom and then a BSJA administrator before starting her competition horse yard providing livery, tuition and schooling.
Natalie Benson (AMW 2004) Worked for the PDSA veterinary charity before gaining a post as health and care information specialist for Binleys
Adam Berral (ABS, 2004) Assistant manager at Oakwood Park Kennels.
Rose Bolton (ES, 2004) Works for a veterinary territory sales manager for Fort Dodge Animal Health.
Cheryl Bone (ES, 2003) Gained a placement on Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud (Newmarket) and Kildangan Stud (Kildare) through the BHB graduate development programme. This led to Cheryl’s current job of breaking yearlings and pre-training 2 yr olds before they go into full training with the Sheikh’s trainers around the world.
Sarah Burrows (ES, 2001) Gained a year’s research assistant post at Kentucky Equine Research. Then worked for George Best Racing (Yard Manager) followed by Southern Water (Microbiologist). Sarah has now obtained a PhD studentship on equine tendons (Royal Veterinary College).
Helen Chapman (ABS, 1999) Completed 3 months voluntary work in Cyprus before gaining a post as scientific officer at Cancer Research UK.
Nina Cracknell (ABS, 2005) Research assistant (Lincoln University).
Jill Davies (ESS, 2003) Gained a PG diploma in education. Is now studying for a PhD on the effects of grape seed extracts on the health and nutrient utilization of the exercising horse (Muresk Institute, Australia).
Rebekah Disney (ESS, 2005) Is still looking for a full time career but she has just bought a horse!!
Helen Dove (ES, 2002) Gained an internship on a stud farm in America. Now works as a biology laboratory technician at a 6th Form College and plans to start an OU MSc in science in January.
Jo Ebdon (ES, 2003) Worked in a sales and support marketing department of a plant hire company. Now a marketing support manager for a Pharmaceutical company with plans to eventually diverge into a similar role within a veterinary product company.
Emma Ferris (ESS, 2005) Has spent some time in Kentucky looking into equine job prospects. Currently works as an office administrator.
Jessica Glasow (ESS, 2005) Gained a post as a hotel manageress but has now moved to Germany (with her horse) for dressage training.
Rebecca Gosling (ES, 2003) Worked as a veterinary receptionist. Now gained a PhD studentship in ruminant microbiology (Writtle College).
Julia Gray (ESS, 2002) Full time FE and HE equine lecturer (Myerscough College).
Kath Gudgin (CB, 2005) Part-time lecturer in animal management (Askham Bryan College).
Veronica Heldt (ABS, 2004) Works as an animal keeper at London zoo.
Kirsty Hyslop (ES, 2004) Worked for an equine rescue centre. Now temping at a salmon farm head office with hopes of diverging into insurance.
Catherine Kelly (ABS, 2005) Currently undertaking a secondary school PGCE.
Brigitte Manship (ES, 2002) Gained an MSc in fish parasitology and vector biology in Salford. Worked on fish parasitology in Hannover. Is now in her 2nd year of a PhD on a fish parasite (Kingston upon Thames).
Susie Miller (ESS, 2002) Working as a trainer in Scotland.
Melissa McKay (ESS, 2003) Worked as a groom for Bloomsbury Stud, then as an event manager/venue Liaison for Prestige Promotions corporate hospitality. Now the rally and event manager / hospitality co-ordinator for de Havilland Moth Club (DHMC).
Joanna Ruddick (ESS, 2003) Working as an underwriter in the mortgage centre of the Nationwide Building Society, Newcastle.
Hannah Shooter (ABS, 2003) Currently completing her final year as a trainee veterinary nurse.
Sasha Smith (ES, 2001) Worked as a laboratory technician for Lincoln University before setting up her own eventing yard. Now combines eventing with training both horse and rider and writes a monthly equine column for a farming paper.
Tracey Hammond (ABS, 2002) Completed some voluntary research at Oxford University before gaining a post in the sales office at Dengie Horse Feeds. Now employed with Dengie as an equine nutritionist which she does alongside a part-time MSc in Equine Science (Writtle College). Tracey is also a tutor for the Compass Education and Training equine studies distance learning course.
Amanda Taylor (ES, 2005) Started a PGCCE (Nottingham) and has been accepted onto the MSc McTimoney Chiropractic course in Aberdeen.
Nicola Tucker (ESS, 2005) Part-time outreach-teaching assistant for Emotional and Behavioural Support Services alongside part-time training of event ponies.
Mary Tully (ABS, 2002) Working as a laboratory technician for Veterinary Laboratories Agency.
Lindsay White (ESS, 2005) Part-time work as a receptionist for Lincoln Nuffield Hospital. Planning to do some cover supervision in schools to decide if a PGCE is the next step.
Bethan Whitham (ABS, 2002) Currently studying for a MPhil on the effect of stereotypy on learning in horses at Lincoln University where she has also had the opportunity to work as a part time lecturer in environmental design.
Lisa Williams (ABS, 2000) nee Harling Has run the care unit of Battersea Dogs Home and implemented behaviour modification programmes, worked for disability support / amanuesis (Lincoln University), run her own behaviour consultancy business, worked as a personal advisor for Connexions, taught maths and English to the unemployed (ITEC training) and now works for timetabling / space planning (Lincoln University).
Samantha Woodward (ABS, 1999) (nee Bailey) Working as a veterinary nurse and plans to open a canine hydrotherapy pool next year.
The Animal and Equine Team would like to congratulate all ex-students on their achievements to date
Key:
AMW = Animal Management and
Welfar
ABS = Animal Behaviour Science
CB = Conservation Biology
ES = Equine Scienc
ESS = Equine Sports
Science
If you have any queries about your application to the University of Lincoln please contact Emma Jubbs who is our Marketing and Recruitment Officer you can email her queries at ejubbs@lincoln.ac.uk or telephone her on 01522 886286