SRUC Agriculture student wins Norvite Scholarship for research into cattle welfare
An SRUC student whose award-winning research explored ways to improve cattle welfare has been recognised with the prestigious Norvite Scholarship as she graduates with a First-Class Honours degree in Agriculture.
Anna Craig, 22, from Peterhead, has been awarded the annual scholarship, including a £1,000 prize, for her Honours dissertation, The impact of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) on selected measures of production, behaviour and welfare of store cattle. Her research was also recognised with the Malcolm Castle Memorial Prize for the best fourth-year dissertation.
The scholarship is awarded each year to an outstanding student project related to Norvite’s business, which specialises in animal nutrition.
Previous studies investigating yeast supplementation have produced mixed results, with some reporting benefits and others finding little effect. Much of the existing research has also focused on dairy cattle or intensively finished beef cattle, leaving a gap in knowledge around store cattle managed on forage-based diets commonly used in the UK.
Anna's research aimed to address this gap by examining production performance, feeding and rumination behaviour and welfare indicators together, providing a broader understanding of how store cattle respond to yeast supplementation.
Anna said: “One of the most interesting parts of the research was that although the yeast did not significantly increase growth performance, the cattle were able to achieve similar growth while consuming less silage.
“The increase in rumination was also particularly interesting, as it suggests that the yeast may have influenced how the forage was processed in the rumen. Looking at behaviour alongside production performance gave a much broader picture of how the cattle were responding to the diet.”
Growing up on her family's mixed farm near Peterhead, Anna was keen to undertake research with practical relevance to the agricultural industry. Her interest in cattle production led her to explore the role nutrition can play in supporting animal performance, health and welfare.
David McClelland, Technical Director at Norvite Animal Nutrition Company Limited, said: “Congratulations to Anna and her fellow students on graduation - it’s a significant milestone. Anna maintains the high standard of Norvite Scholars and joins a long list of exceptional students since the inception of the Norvite Scholarship in 2013. We wish Anna well for a bright future, starting with some exciting travel plans.”
Neil Mackintosh, Agriculture and Business Management Lecturer at SRUC, said: "The research that Anna and her fellow student Amy took part in on SRUC's Tulloch farm has allowed us to understand how yeast can potentially benefit young cattle welfare, and how we can explore this further. This outcome would not have been possible without their dedication and hard work in designing and gathering the data, and the excellent quality of analysis and write up by Anna in her dissertation. I wish Anna and all her year the very best for the future."
Anna, who graduates with a First-Class Honours degree in Agriculture from SRUC's Aberdeen Campus, added: "I was delighted to win the Norvite Scholarship. A lot of time and effort went into the dissertation, so it’s really rewarding to have the research recognised.
"Having David McClelland’s expertise and guidance throughout the project was extremely beneficial. The research has given me valuable experience in carrying out trials and analysing results, which I hope to take forward into my career in agriculture."
Following graduation, Anna will travel to New Zealand to gain further practical farming experience before returning to Scotland to pursue a career in the agricultural industry.
The Norvite Scholarship recognises excellence in applied agricultural research and highlights the strong links between SRUC, industry partners and the next generation of agricultural professionals.
Find out more about studying Agriculture at SRUC.
Posted by SRUC on 28/08/2026
