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Dr. N.E. O'Connell

Dr. Niamh O'Connell
Dr. Niamh O'Connell
Farm Animal Welfare research

B.Agr.Sc.(Hons) University College Dublin, 1994;
MSc. in Animal Science (Distinction),
Wageningen Agricultural University, 1997;
PhD. in farm animal welfare, Queens University Belfast (2003).

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Contact Information
Tel:  +44 (0)28 9097 2744 (Direct line)
Fax:  +44 (0)28 9097 5877
Email:  niamh.oconnell@qub.ac.uk
Room:  Medical Biology Centre - 6.37.

Teaching
Degree Convenor for BSc. Agricultural Technology (with and without Professional Studies).

Lecturing and module co-ordination in the following undergraduate modules:
Farm Animal Health and Welfare (ALU 3031)
Advances in Crop and Animal Sciences and Technology (ALU 3032)
Agricultural Technology Project (ALU 3030).

Lecturing in the following MSc. Programme:
Animal Behaviour and Welfare.

Research Interests: Farm animal welfare
Manage a joint Queens University Belfast/Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute farm animal welfare research programme.  The programme currently involves research with dairy cows, pigs and poultry.

Dairy cow research
One of the key aims of our research programme is to identify methods of reducing lameness levels.  This involves on-farm survey work to determine key causal factors associated with lameness.  We are also involved in research assessing the importance of digital cushion characteristics, and the efficacy of different footbath solutions (for treating digital dermatitis).

Pig research
Our research focuses on reducing aggressive and harmful social behaviour through environmental modifications (i.e. environmental enrichment for growing pigs), through diet (i.e. high fibre diets for sows) or through management strategy (i.e. different regrouping strategies for weaned pigs).

Poultry research
We are currently involved in collaborative research with an industry partner to develop housing systems for free-range laying hens that maximise welfare, health and performance.

We will shortly be commencing research to assess the effects of access to natural light and environmental enrichment on the welfare of broiler chickens.

Funding
Our research is funded by a number of different bodies including the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland, Teagasc, AgriSearch and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Additional information
Manage Farm Animal Welfare Research Unit at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute at Hillsborough.  This unit consists of three core staff members and three PhD students and conducts applied farm animal welfare research under a joint AFBI/QUB programme.