CellCheck Programme - Technical Working Group

Simon is originally from Australia and is now based at University College Dublin.

He qualified in 1984 from the University of Sydney. He is a Veterinarian with specialist skills in National and International animal disease control with the following qualifications: BVCs (Hons 1), MVB, PhD, MACVSc, FACVSc, DipPM, DiplECBHM, DiplECVPH. Simon has worked/consulted in a number of countries (Australasia, southeast Asia, Europe, South America) with both government and industry on national animal disease control issues.

In Ireland, he leads the National Resource Centre , and with his fellow colleagues provides information to support national decision-making on animal disease control, by both government and industry.

His involvement with AHI is important as Simon feels that “prior to the formation of Animal Health Ireland, there was no leadership or coordination of non-regulatory animal health issues in Ireland. As a consequence, Ireland has slipped behind a number of competitor countries in dealing with issues such as BVD, mastitis and calf health. AHI is a special organisation, bringing together all the key stakeholders, enabling Irish farmers and the broader rural industry to shape its own future in this area. I am extremely happy to contribute to AHI, given the importance of its work”.

Finola graduated from University College Dublin in 1997 with a degree in veterinary medicine.

She spent the following 10 years working in various mixed practices in Ireland, UK and New Zealand, and during this time developed a keen interest in the dairy industry. Working with large dairy herds in New Zealand provided an invaluable insight into some of the challenges associated with herd expansion and disease control. While working in practice she undertook a Masters in Science in Livestock Health and Production through the University of London, which she completed in 2006.

Finola joined the Teagasc research team in Moorepark in 2008, as the mastitis research officer. She co-ordinated and managed a pilot study evaluating a team based approach to mastitis control, as well as collaborating on other research projects. She has a keen interest and experience in international models of mastitis control.

She is now Programme Manager for the AHI-led national mastitis control programme CellCheck, which is being developed and delivered in partnership with industry stakeholders.

Contact Finola by email here.

Alan is originally from a dairy farm in Rathkeale Co. Limerick.

He is now based in the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Limerick working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

He graduated from UCD in 1991 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. In 2004 he completed a Masters degree in the field of bovine herd health.

His qualifications include MVB MVM. Initially after qualification he worked for five years in general practice in Derry and Tyrone.

Alan is “happy to be involved with Animal Health Ireland, trying to improve animal health and welfare standards in the island of Ireland”.

Brendan is currently based in Portlaoise with Glanbia as a Mastitis/Cell Count Manager.

He completed a BSc from NUI Maynooth, and is a member of IMQCS (as a milking machine technician), and a member of FMA (Farm Managers Association). He is a Mastitis Manager with Glanbia and has previously worked with Premier Dairies as a milking machine technician for 12 years. Prior to this he worked as a farm manager in Wicklow for 3 years. He is pleased to be involved with the AHI CellCheck program. His main driver to becoming involved was his experience of the EuroMilk programme. He feels that for too long farmers were receiving differing advice from different sources and believes that this can only lead to confusion.

Brendan feels that “there needs to be a holistic approach to cell count problems and it needs the involvement of all stakeholders (vets, milking machine technicians, Teagasc advisers, co-op advisors). If we can get the farmers to participate in this program we will greatly reduce cell count problems and both farmers and processors will benefit from this”.

Damien is originally from a cattle farm (originally mixed, now beef) near Killala in North Mayo. He is based in Sligo working with the Sligo Regional Veterinary Laboratory as a Research Officer.

He graduated from UCD Veterinary College in 1996 with an MVB. He has also completed a Master’s thesis by research on mastitis in Irish dairy herds. He was awarded the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) certificate in Cattle Health and Production in 2003. He was conferred with a Master in Science (in veterinary epidemiology and public health) from the University of London in 2007. He also became a Diplomate of the European College of Bovine Herd Health Management in 2007, based on his experience of and contribution to herd health management.

He spent four years in farm animal practice in Kilkenny and Bandon. From 2000 until 2003 he was clinical lecturer in large animal clinical studies in UCD’s Veterinary College, where he was involved mainly in on farm teaching.

He joined the veterinary staff of the Dept. of Agriculture in 2003, working initially as Veterinary Training Officer, in CVERA (Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis) and as a Research Officer in Sligo Regional Veterinary Laboratory since 2006.

Don is originally from Cork. He is based in Clonakilty, Co. Cork with Teagasc.

He graduated from UCD in 1994 with a BAgrSc (Hons) degree from UCD. Previously he has worked with Riverview Veterinary Clinic in Bandon, Co. Cork as an Agricultural Consultant covering, nutrition and mastitis issues. He joined Teagasc in 2006 and worked on a joint program with Dairygold and Carbery specialising in milk quality issues such as SCC/mastitis, thermoduric control, TBC’s and sediment issues.

Don sees AHI as “an important vehicle to co-ordinate a multi-disciplined panel to deliver a consistent message for farmers and industry to manage milk quality issues”.

Edmond is from Kerry. He is the Technical Director of Dairymaster and is based in Causeway in Co. Kerry. He graduated from UL with a B Eng (Mechanical Engineering) in 1997.

He completed a PhD from UCD in 2002 where he developed a new method for the evaluation of milking units by measuring performance under flow conditions. He is also a member of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and the International Dairy Federation (IDF) expert groups on milking. He is a Chartered Engineer of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland. His qualifications include B. Eng. Ph.D Eur. Eng C. Eng MIEI MIET.

He is responsible for all technical matters within Dairymaster from new product development and production to technical training and after care service. He has pioneered a number of new products and has over 40 patents filed to date as a result of work on product development with devices ranging from vacuum regulators & electronic milk metering to state of the art animal feeding systems.

“I am happy to be involved with the CellCheck program with AHI because it helps ensure that the Irish dairy industry will be at the forefront internationally and is strategically important for the future of dairy farming”.

Fionnuala Malone is rapporteur / liaison to the various Technical Working Groups that underpin each of the work programmes.

She has a strong background in ruminant nutrition and business management and a combination of Irish and overseas experience, having spent 11 years working in the Australian Dairy industry. In her career to date, she has worked extensively as a dairy nutritionist in both Ireland and Australia, spending 6 years as a Farm Service Manager with National Foods in Queensland and New South Wales.

Fionnuala served on the board of Subtropical Dairy (Queensland), Dairy NSW and the Australian Dairy Conference. Her role as director on the boards of SDP and Dairy NSW focused on developing RD & E (Research, Development and Extension) capability for the industry to ensure that dairy farmers have access to leading edge development programs and research information.

Fionnuala has had extensive involvement in Australia in the implementation of national animal health programs such as CountDown Down Under, InCalf and programmes for the control of Johne’s Disease.

Fionnuala graduated from UCD with a BAg in 1995 and completed M Ag Sci in Dairy Cow Nutrition in 1998. She also has an MBA from University Western Sydney from 2005. She is originally from a dairy farm in Co. Kilkenny and lives in Co. Waterford.

Contact Fionnuala by email here.

Frank is originally from Meath and is a vet based in Trim in a general practice.

He graduated from UCD in 1983 with an MVB, MRCVS. He completed a Masters in Applied Science (Food Science), in UCD 1999 - part of which included a thesis entitled “Application of HACCP Systems: interface with GMP”. He completed a diploma entitled “Essential Trainer Skills” from NUI Galway in 2000 designed to provide key skills to deliver training and education in the food and agricultural industry. The practice in Meath provides veterinary clinical services and also promotes herd health and disease prevention strategies to farmer clients. Frank is also a part time lecturer at Dublin Institute of Technology delivering courses in meat technology, risk analysis and food safety.

He is the farm and food animal continuing editor of the Irish Veterinary Journal. He is a past president and currently the chair of the “One Health” committee of Veterinary Ireland.

Frank hopes “that CellCheck will provide farmers, vets and advisors with a roadmap to help reduce or manage cell count and mastitis issues on farm. Success will be rewarding not only through maximising farm profits by producing low cell count milk but also by providing milk processors with a premium raw material for high quality dairy products”.

George is originally from Co. Laois. He is currently working with Teagasc as a Dairy Specialist based at Oak Park in Carlow.

He graduated from UCD with a BAgrSc (Hons) in 1990, and completed a MAgrSc (Hons) in UCD in 1992. He then went on to complete a MAnSc UCD in 1998. In George’s current role he works with Dairy Advisers and farmers and liaises between research and the extension services. He has been in Teagasc since 1993.

“My involvement in the CellCheck program with AHI is to work as part of the group tailoring the mastitis tech notes and farmer guidelines for an Irish audience.”

Kevin is originally from a dairy farm in Whitechurch, Co. Cork.

He graduated from UCC in 1998 with a BA Economics and an HDip in Software Engineering in 1999.

He has also completed two years of the Farm Apprenticeship programme.

He has worked with ICBF since 2002 and is currently involved in the HerdPlus breeding program which is designed to provide a range of farm management aids including EBI reports, Eurostar reports etc to farmers. He is involved in the design/development and support of all the HerdPlus reports and web applications.

“My involvement in the CellCheck program with AHI revolves around the design and roll out of SCC/Mastitis reports which will help identify problem areas and point them to areas where corrective action needs to be taken”

Luke is originally from Glasgow in Scotland. He is currently a Lecturer in Population Medicine within the unit of Herd and Veterinary Public Health at UCD.

He graduated from Glasgow Veterinary School in 2003 (BVMS). In 2008, he attained further specialist qualifications by receiving a diploma from the European College in Bovine Health Management. After a short period in general practice he undertook an internship within the large animal clinical studies department at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in University College Dublin (UCD).

In 2005 he then embarked on a European College of Bovine Health Management residency-training program at UCD. In 2007 he took up his current role as a Lecturer in Population Medicine within the unit of Herd and Veterinary Public Health at UCD. Luke’s current areas of interests include the creation and delivery of dairy herd health management systems, disease investigation strategies, animal health economics and veterinary education.

He is currently working with Animal Health Ireland to develop control programs for infectious diseases and mastitis.

Patrick is originally from a dairy farm in South Tipperary and is now based in Munster with Munster Herd Health.

He graduated from UCD with a BAgrSc (Hons) in 2005. He completed a PhD with UCD and Teagasc, Moorepark in 2010. The PhD was titled the ‘A study of the somatic cell count (SCC) of Irish milk from herd management and environmental perspectives’, and included work on 400 dairy farms identifying management practices that were related to reduced SCC as well as work on the milk loss due to SCC. He currently works for Munster Herd Health, and is involved in the SCC reduction programme liaising with farmers in order to reduce SCC on farm.

Patrick believes that “AHI will be good for farmers as it has brought all aspects of mastitis control to the table for discussion allowing the putting together of best practices. The plan to move all personnel involved in mastitis control in one direction will be of great benefit to farmers and remove the confusion with regard to mastitis and SCC”.

Tom is originally from Emly, Co Tipperary, and is currently based in Kildalton College, Piltown as Farm Buildings and Machinery specialist with Teagasc.

Tom graduated from UCD in 1976 with a BAgrSc. Tom’s role is in providing backup support for colleagues on all aspects of farm buildings, especially good design, standard drawings, specifications and construction quality. He also conducts Irish Milk Quality Co-operative Society (IMQCS) certified milking machine technician training courses for the dairy industry.

Previously he worked as an adviser in South Tipperary, before taking up this role. He is pleased to be involved with AHI as it deals with all aspects of milk quality and related animal health issues.

Willie is originally from a dairy farm in West Cork.

He is based in Bandon, Co. Cork where he is a vet in a large animal practise.

He graduated from UCD Veterinary College in 1994. He has worked in general practice throughout Northern Ireland, Wales, England, New Zealand and Ireland. His primary focus over the last ten years has been on milk quality. “Our practice has been testing milking machines for 30 years and we have a laboratory which does cultures and sensitivities for our farmers, external veterinary clinics and co-ops.”

He is happy to be involved with AHI and the CellCheck program because “I believe this is a novel approach where all the stakeholders are working together to a common goal of creating ‘Food Ireland’".