Dr. Rebekah Stuart has been appointed by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) as its Flock and Herd Health Executive as part of the £9.2 million Red Meat Development Programme.
Rebekah, who was brought up on a beef farm in Ireland, completed her undergraduate degree in zoology at University College Cork.
Rebekah then completed a PhD at Aberystwyth University, where she focused on Veterinary Parasitology.
Dr. Stuart has previously worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth, and at the Wales Veterinary Science Centre.
Flock and Herd Health project
At HCC, she will be responsible for the Flock and Herd Health project within the Red Meat Development Programme, focusing on improving health planning on beef and sheep farms, whilst working collaboratively with farmers, veterinary practices and other industry organisations.
The project will be carried out as one of three strands of the Red Meat Development Programme – a five-year initiative to improve efficiency and profitability in the Welsh red meat supply chain.
The projects are being led by HCC and have been funded through the Welsh Government’s Rural Development Programme.
Speaking on her appointment, Dr. Stuart said: “I’m delighted to be undertaking this role at Hybu Cig Cymru and I’m particularly looking forward to the challenge of improving animal health planning and ultimately productivity on farms across Wales.
“We will be recruiting farmers to join the project at the Winter Fair later this month and I would encourage Welsh sheep and beef farmers to come to the HCC stand to learn more about the project.”
Industry development and relations manager John Richards added: ‘This is an important role within the Red Meat Development Programme and we are pleased to have Rebekah join the team.’
“The overall aim of the Red Meat Development Programme is to improve the profitability and efficiency of the whole red meat industry in Wales.
“Improving animal health planning is key both to ensure maximum returns for farmers and to continually reassure customers that Welsh red meat is reared to the highest welfare standards.”
