Podcast

Listen to the episode here.

Opening in May 2024, the Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre (RAVIC) is SRUC’s new £12.5m facility developing new links between science and industry to help address planetary health challenges and grow the natural economy.

In this episode, William Ancell, Head of Content and Digital at SRUC, speaks with Professor George Gunn about the importance of RAVIC and how it relates to his own career.

RAVIC will provide critical expertise and infrastructure to better manage planetary health challenges including antimicrobial resistance, zoonoses, and the effects of climate change through applied research, innovation, education, and consultancy.

RAVIC is an SRUC flagship initiative at the interface of farming, aquaculture, animal and human health, creating opportunities for collaborative entrepreneurship, commercial development and education.

It will complement the vibrant, thriving life sciences sector already established in Inverness, providing opportunities for synergy and collaborations between local knowledge-based institutions, regional businesses and national partners looking to develop activity in the region.

Professor George Gunn is Director of the Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre. He is Professor of Population Medicine and Zoonoses and has helped win over £50M for SRUC and collaborating institutions, leading research projects in Scotland and internationally. His range of expertise includes livestock disease control with an overarching interest in population medicine and the dynamics of infectious inter-herd diseases and zoonoses.

Learn more about RAVIC here.

Listen to the episode here.

GreenShed, which has received nearly £3 million in funding from the UK Government, will use cattle waste products to power a methane capturing system and grow indoor crops.

Led by SRUC and supported by partners at the University of Strathclyde, Agri-EPI Centre, No Pollution Industrial Systems Ltd, Galebreaker Agri, Organic Power Ireland, N2 Applied and Saturn Bioponics, the shed has been built at SRUC’s Easter Howgate farm.

It addresses the need for the livestock farming sector to reduce its GHG emissions while improving productivity, by developing an integrated low carbon, circular, cattle and vertical farming system, bolstering green technology for UK agriculture.

Following on from our Introduction to the GreenShed project podcast, find out more about how the technology will benefit farmers in the future in this new episode with Rosie Free and George Baikie as they discuss the project from a farmer's viewpoint.

You can learn more at the dedicated webpage for the project.

Listen to the episode here.

The Enterprise Challenge is an annual competition run by the SRUC Enterprise Academy for the Rural and Natural Environment that provides all students the opportunity to test, validate and fund new ideas.

In this podcast, SRUC Website Officer Lacey Ward speaks with international student Eneyi Oshi - Mastercard Scholar and SRUC student studying Food Security, on her experience of coming to Scotland, studying at SRUC, working with the the Enterprise Academy, and ultimately winning the 2024 Enterprise Challenge.

For more information about the MSc Food Security programme at SRUC (awarded by the University of Edinburgh), click here.

Find more information about the SRUC Enterprise Academy (including the Enterprise Challenge), click here.

Listen to the episode here.

Scottish Apprenticeship Week stands as a beacon of celebration, illuminating the invaluable contributions of apprenticeships across all sectors. It's a time when institutions like SRUC champion the virtues of hands-on learning, fostering a culture where individuals of all ages and backgrounds can thrive.

Our guest of honour on this episode are two alumni apprentices. Nia Hunter who won modern apprentice of the year and agriculture learner of the year at last year’s Lantra ALBAS awards. She did her apprenticeship with Shetland Livestock Marketing Group and studied agriculture at SRUC Barony campus. She is joined by Ryan Yuille, a finalist in this years ALBAS who studied Sports Turf at SRUC Elmwood and is a Greenkeeper at North Berwick Golf Club.

The podcast also features Sharon Gooding-Hill, Senior Marketing and Student Recruitment Officer who focuses on work based learning and apprenticeships.

Sharon is joined by Chris Dickson, lecturer in Sports Turf and greenkeeping at our Elmwood campus - who taught Ryan - and James Orr, senior consulting with our SAC consultancy division who works out in the field with a variety of farms across the central belt of Scotland.

Links to the various topics/areas discussed in the episode:

Scottish Apprenticeship Week

ALBAS Awards

LANTRA

SRUC Apprenticeships

SRUC Apprenticeship information for students

Alumni Stories

Listen to the episode here.

In this episode, we talk to Annette Boerlage, Research Fellow at SRUC, who talks us through Aquaculture - what it is and what it entails.

We learn about her academic journey through the Netherlands, Vietnam and Canada, and her work in epidemiology. In particular, Anette talks about the devastating impact of microscopic jellyfish on salmon farming in Scotland.

Later on, we cover the approach to Aquaculture at SRUC, how the subject is being baked into courses at the new veterinary school in Aberdeen, and a range of short courses developed for industry practitioners.

You can find out more about all of the above via the links below:

Find out more about our courses

See Anette's research profile

Listen to the episode here.

In this latest episode in our beekeeping series, SRUC's Bee Advisory Officer Lorraine Johnston takes us through Varroa - the scourge of many a beekeeper. Lorraine goes through the basics of what Varroa is, how to spot it and what it can lead to.

We’ll be doing more on Varroa in later episodes, as it is quite a detailed subject and a big one for beekeepers to be aware of.

Lorraine is going on the road in the Highlands to spread the word about bee keeping to farmers, crofters and beginners. These are in-person events delivered in partnership with the Farm Advisory Service. You can find out more at the link below to the FAS website.

Links:

FAS events on beekeeping - Nairn and Dingwall

Starting Up Small-Scale Beekeeping – Dingwall

Starting Up Small-Scale Beekeeping – Nairn

FAS resources

Managed pollinators such as honey bees

National Bee Unit

National Bee Unit

Register for the National Bee Unit

National Bee Unit - managing diseases and pests

Listen to the episode here. 

To place SRUC in the strongest possible position as we advance and develop our plans, to address a number of retirements from the Board, and to accelerate the pace of transformational change, the Board is seeking to recruit up to five new Non-Executive Directors. These roles present an opportunity to become involved and contribute to the future success of an organisation of strategic national importance at a period of exceptional change within the Tertiary Education Sector and the natural economy in Scotland and beyond.

In this podcast, Caroline Bysh, SRUC Vice Principal for External Relations and Student Experience speaks with Linda Hanna, Chair of the SRUC Board about these Non-Executive Director vacancies open for applications to give listeners a feel about the role, the board, and SRUC.

Learn more about SRUC: About SRUC | SRUC

Applying for a Non-Executive Director Role:

SRUC is working with Aspen to recruit for these roles. If you’re interested in learning more about the roles available, visit their dedicated microsite: SRUC - Non-Executive Directors - Aspen People

Should you wish to have an informal, confidential discussion about the post, please contact either Donogh O’Brien or Gillian Blackadder at Aspen People on 0141 212 7555.

Listen to the episode here.

Lacey Ward, Website Officer at SRUC speaks with Damson Ellen (Central Co-President) and Jeroen van Herk (Student Community Coordinator) at the SRUC Students’ Association, or SRUCSA, about how to give you - whether you’re an SRUC student, potential student, alumni, staff, researcher, or simply an interested community member, a better idea of what the SRUC Students’ Association is, why it’s such an important part of the SRUC student experience and - importantly, how you can get involved in SRUCSA and the help and support it offers to our student community.

SRUCSA events mentioned in the podcast:

• Festive pub quiz: Saturday 9 December, 6-10pm @ The Cabaret Bar, The Plesance (Edinburgh)
• Speak Week: www.srucsa.org.uk/speak-week

Available clubs and societies by campus: www.srucsa.org.uk/clubs-societies

 Key SRUCSA contacts:

• Damson Ellen (Central Co-President) - Damson.Ellen@sruc.ac.uk
• Jeroen van Herk (Student Community Coordinator) - jeroen.herk@sruc.ac.uk
• Catherine Stewart (South & West Co-President) - Catherine.Stewart@sruc.ac.uk
• Jeremiah Chibueze (North Co-President) - Jeremiah.Chibueze@sruc.ac.uk

Learn more about SRUCSA, ask a specific question, or discover more about how to

get involved by visiting www.sruc.ac.uk/srucsa or www.srucsa.org.uk

Listen to the episode here.

Guests:  

Dr Ana Vuin is a research fellow who has worked around the world in the areas of rural communities and population migration.  

Alexa Green is an early career researcher interested how we can create transformational changes in our society to ensure a sustainable way of living for people and the planet. 

Claire Donaldson has been a lecturer in tourism at SRUC for the last decade. Claire’s area of expertise is rural tourism and how this is utilised as a form of economic development to improve the lives of rural communities.  

The podcast was hosted by Michelle Flynn, Communications Officer at SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre. Ana and Alexa are both members of SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre. 

Information on the Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament   

Click here to visit the Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament 2023 website (srip.scot)  

For more information on the Youth Parliament 

Information on the European Rural Parliament  

Home (europeanruralparliament.com) 

European Rural Parliament - leaflet - 2023.pdf 

Listen to the episode here.

Sean Cameron is SRUC's very first dedicated Student Communications Officer, and in this podcast he is in conversation with William Ancell, Digital Manager at SRUC.

Sean joins us with not only a wealth of experience working in education but also a grand plan for how to improve student communication.

In this podcast Sean talks about:

• His background
• The challenges facing SRUC in terms of student communication
• The upcoming student elections
• The Student Voice campaign
• The achievements the student body have had recently
• The student mental health and wellbeing strategy
• The upcoming works at our Edinburgh Campus

This is a great listen for any new students at SRUC, or anyone interested in studying with us. If you work for SRUC you may find it interesting too!

Visit www.sruc..ac.uk/study to find out more about studying at SRUC.

Visit www.sruc.ac.uk/studentlife to learn more about life as a student with us.

Visit www.sruc.ac.uk/pathways to explore all the ways you can learn at SRUC.

Listen to the episode here.

Recruitment is a hot topic in the dairy industry right now, and this conversation features an interesting panel discussing the options open to recruiters, job seekers and those looking to upskill in the sector.

In this episode, William Ancell, Digital Manger, hosts a panel featuring:

• Mary Thomson, Vice Principal for Skills and Lifelong Learning, SRUC
• Lynne Somerville, Skills Lead, Digital Dairy Chain
• Stuart Martin, Programme Director, Digital Dairy Chain

Interested in learning more about the Digital Dairy Chain and how they can help with skills and training? Visit their website.

Want to learn more about the training you can get from SRUC? We can offer bespoke training packages for your dairy business, tailored to your needs and with access to our facilities. Visit our training courses pages, or email us to request more information about our offering or book a place. The best way to do this is to contact the training team at the relevant campus closest to you. You can find more information about our campuses here.

aberdeentraining@sruc.ac.uk

ayrtraining@sruc.ac.uk

baronytraining@sruc.ac.uk

elmwoodtraining@sruc.ac.uk

oatridgetraining@sruc.ac.uk

Listen to the episode here

SRUC Podcast Show Notes: Hemp: the super crop episode from the Rural Policy Centre 

Guests:  

• Professor Vijay Kumar Thakur who heads up SRUC's Biorefining and Advanced Materials Research Centre. Click this link to find out more information on the IGS and Cambond project - looking into the use of hemp for insulation applications to replace traditional stainless steel or other materials - Vijay refers to during the podcast. Along with colleagues, Vijay has also recently published two papers on hemp: linked to here and here. Email: vijay.thakur@sruc.ac.uk 
• Mark Bowcher-Gibbs, a Principal Consultant with SAC Consultancy. Email: mark.bowsher-gibbs@sac.co.uk 
• Anna Mitchell of Castleton Farm. Anna and her husband Ross grow hemp and sell hemp-based products like hemp seed oil from their farm shop on the outskirts of Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire.   

The podcast is hosted by Alexa Green, a Research Associate with SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre.  

Information on licencing process for growing industrial hemp in the UK 

• To find out more about the licensing process for growing industrial hemp there is a dedicated section on the Home Office website - Industrial hemp licensing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
• A new licence application to cultivate hemp (for three growing seasons) currently cost £580. If a farmer has previously grown in the season prior to the licence expiring, then a ‘renewal’ fee of £326 will apply. If a compliance visit is required the fee will be £1,371 (not applicable in most instances).  
• The important dates for prospective applications for the 2024 growing season have not yet been announced. This gives information on the dates for the 2023 growing season.  

 Hemp 30 Project 

• Roadmap plan to boost UK industrial hemp production and processing - News and events, University of York 
• Phase 1 report 

More information on hemp growing in Scotland 

• Why hemp is a field of dreams for Scottish farmers (thetimes.co.uk) 
• www.scottishhempassociation.com 

Listen to the episode here.

Join us for a lively panel discussion on the future of agricultural policy in Scotland chaired by agriculture communications specialist Claire Taylor. It features SRUC's Steven Thomson, John Kerr of the Scottish Government, independent agricultural economist Andrew Moxey, former NFU Scotland President Nigel Miller and Jonnie Hall, who is head of policy at NFU Scotland.

The panel conversation and audience question and answer session took place at SRUC's stand at this year's Royal Highland Show. The subjects covered ranged from the recent agricultural reform route map published by the Scottish Government and the importance of technology in the future of agriculture to a discussion around diversity in the sector and much more.

The panel was chaired by Claire Taylor (Claire Taylor (@cjtaylor92) / Twitter), a freelance writer and agricultural communicator. Claire is a current Nuffield scholar (Claire Taylor | Nuffield Farming Scholarships (nuffieldscholar.org)) and her study is titled turning the Tide on the Anti-Farming Agenda.  

Panel members: 

Steven Thomson (Steven Thomson (@StevenGThomson) / Twitter), a Reader in agricultural economics and policy at SRUC. He is also a Commissioner on Scotland's Independent Just Transition Commission and sits on the academic advisory panel that supports the Agricultural Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB).

John Kerr, Head of the Agricultural Policy division at The Scottish Government    

Andrew Moxey, an independent agricultural economist and policy adviser as well as a Director at ScotEID, the livestock traceability system for Scotland.   

Nigel Miller, a livestock farmer in the Scottish Borders and the previous President of the National Farmers Union of Scotland. Nigel was also Co-chair of the independent farming for 1.5 Degree inquiry and is also a board member of the Morden Research Institute.  

Jonnie Hall( Jonnie Hall (@nfusjonnie) / Twitter or NFU Scotland (@NFUStweets) / Twitter), Director of Policy at the National Farmers Union of Scotland. 

Rural Exchange

Rural Exchange by NISRIE 

Agriculture Bill

Latest information on the Agriculture Bill, due to be introduced into the Scottish Parliament later this year:

Agriculture Bill: consultation analysis - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) 

Agricultural Reform Route Map (ruralpayments.org) 

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 

Cross Compliance 

Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) (ARIOB) 

The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019: BRIA - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) (LFASS)

Listen to the episode here.

This is episode 3 of our series on bee keeping. Now that we are almost into summer, swarming is a hot topic for bee keepers and we’re going to make sure you have the right advice so you don’t get stung by it, if you pardon the pun.

Join William Ancell, Digital Manager at SRUC, and Lorraine Johnston, SRUC's Bee advisory Officer, as they form a hivemind (sorry) and look at the top questions around swarming.

1.       What is swarming?

2.       Why do bees swarm?

3.       What does a swarm look like?

4.       What should you do if you see a swarm?

5.       How does a beekeeper try to prevent swarming?

6.       What is swarm control?

7.       Why is it important to control swarming?

8.       What’s a simple method of swarm control that might help beekeepers?

Listen to the episode here.

This podcast discusses a knowledge network started by researchers at SRUC which focuses on supporting rural women entrepreneurs who are leading low-carbon transitions in Arctic areas.

Listen to the episode here.

Lorna Pate from SRUC's Rural Policy Centre speaks with Stuart Martin from the Digital Dairy Chain. Tune in to learn more about the origins and future aims of this project.

Listen to the episode here.

There is a reason why the apprenticeship has endured through the ages - it is an essential gateway to countless trades, and a formative experience for many professionals.

The modern apprenticeship scheme is a critical feature of the contemporary vocational landscape and a proven path for young people to learn a trade that will set them up for life in their chosen industry.

Join a panel of experts from SRUC, industry and a modern apprentice for a discussion on how this is a great route for young people to "earn while you learn".

William Ancell, Digital manager at SRUC, hosts the following guests:

• Drew Easton, Learning and Development Manager, Jas P Wilson.
• Kalli Burr, Horse Care Modern Apprentice.
• Chris Stockwell, Training and Work-Based Lead, SRUC.
• Sharon Gooding Hill, Senior Marketing and Student Recruitment Officer for Skills and Lifelong Learning, SRUC.

Want to learn more? Follow these links.

SRUC apprenticeships

SRUC website

Lantra website

Jas P Wilson website

Listen to the episode here.

This is the second episode of our beekeeping series.

Lorraine Johnston, SRUC’s Bee Advisory Officer gives advice on beekeeping in the spring now that we're in March – there is a lot to be aware of if you keep bees.

The podcast covers what changes for the bees are happening as they head into spring, what beekeepers can do to help bees survive the spring, what to do on that crucial first inspection and a whole lot else bee-sides.

Listen to the episode here.

Jillian Gordon has a fascinating and original story to tell. She left school with hardly any qualifications, and she struggled due to her dyslexia (and lack of support for it). She got a place on an HNC with SRUC, and discovered a passion for agriculture and animals. She also started receiving support for the first time for her dyslexia from SRUC.

Jillian is now on track to complete her PhD and has aspirations to one day be a lecturer for SRUC. Her story of how she got there is fascinating and an inspiration to anyone who feels that further and higher education is out of reach for them.

Listen to the episode here.

SRUC's Rural Policy Centre delves into the world of crofting and common grazings with Janette Sutherland and Siobhan Macdonald of SAC Consulting.

For more information, check out the policy spotlight on 'Common Grazings in the Age of Conditionality'.

To register for an upcoming CPG on Crofting meeting, visit the Scottish Parliament website.

To speak with an SAC consultant about your croft, check out our website and reach out to us to have a chat.

Listen to the episode here.

Join Lorraine Johnston, SRUC's Bee Advisory Officer and William Ancell, Digital Manager as they chat about the challenges of beekeeping over winter. If you keep bees yourself, this episode is packed full of tips to make sure your bees are protected from the elements, how to shield them from common diseases and pests, and what products can come in handy to keep them healthy at a critical time.

Listen to the episode here.

If there is one thing we love at SRUC it is an exciting, innovative project - and this one is a cracker. Turning methane emissions and by-products from farming beef cattle into everything from a power source to beef with a lower carbon footprint.

Not to mention using this system to potentially power a versatile vertical farm - and all while ensuring excellent animal welfare standards & humane treatment of the animals.

Join William Ancell, Carol-Anne Duthie and John Farquhar as they introduce the project. You can learn more at the dedicated webpage for the project.

Listen to the episode here.

The Rural Exchange provides an exciting new platform for people living and working across Scotland’s rural and island communities to have their voices heard in both research and policy-making.

Jane Atterton, Senior Lecturer at SRUC and Project Leader offers insight into the Rural Exchange in this short introductory podcast.

Visit the dedicated website to learn more about the Rural Exchange.

Listen to the episode here.

In this podcast you can learn more about NISRIE by way of an interview with Steven Thomson, Project Lead.

NISRIE stands for "Novel Insights on Scotland's Island and Rural Economies". It is a project with four work packages:

• rural enterprises
• community wealth building
• agriculture beyond Brexit
• regional food economies

The aims and objectives of the project are discussed with Steven in this podcast. You can visit the dedicated website to learn more about NISRIE and the Rural Exchange.

Listen to the episode here.

Three representatives from SRUC and SAC Consulting recently visited Iceland to meet with food producers. They learnt a lot about how food is produced in Iceland, what new products are being developed, and how there is an emphasis on innovation and quality.

Join Ceri Ritchie (Head of Food and Enterprise), Alistair Trail (Principal Consultant) and Nicola Holden (Professor of Food Safety) as they chat about the surprising and wonderful discoveries they made on the trip, the networks they started building and what they learned.

Visit our safe and improved food pages.

Visit SAC Consulting's food & enterprise pages.

Listen to the episode here.

Wallace Currie and Perry Parkinson are joined by Kathryn Dick, for a chat about all things farm-y. Kathryn is from a farming family, and this informal chat covers some of the fun stuff that comes from growing up on a farm and studying/working at SRUC.

Listen to the episode here.

Join Lorna Pate and Pattanapong Tiwasing of SRUC as they talk about the use of insect protein in the UK, and some of the challenges facing the introduction of it as a food source.

Listen to the episode here.

This podcast is part of a series that is exploring the diverse range of ecosystem services are supplied by Scotland’s rural sector’s stock of natural capital. The topics included within the series are Arable and 3D Buffer Strips.

This episode is hosted by Stephen Briggs from Abacus Agriculture.

Stephen, an author of the Soil Association Agroforestry handbook and a consultant for Abacus Agriculture is also a first generation farmer. He discusses his experience of getting started with silvo-arable agroforestry on his farm.

Listen to the episode here.

This podcast is part of a series that is exploring the diverse range of ecosystem services are supplied by Scotland’s rural sector’s stock of natural capital. The topics included within the series are Agroforestry, Arable and 3D Buffer Strips.

This episode is hopsted by Mary-Jane Lawrie, SAC Consulting.

Mary-Jane Lawrie is an Agricultural Consultant at SAC Consulting and works in all aspects of agricultural consultancy, including financial and technical reviews, options appraisals, feasibility studies, budgeting, with particular interest in climate change, carbon foot printing, nutrient budgeting, habitat management and conservation, environmental advice and soil management.

Listen to the episode here.

This podcast is part of a series that is exploring the diverse range of ecosystem services are supplied by Scotland’s rural sector’s stock of natural capital. The topics included within the series are Agroforestry and Arable.

Listen and learn more about 3D bufferstrips from Marc Stutter.

Marc is soil and water scientist at the James Hutton Institute who lives on a small Aberdeenshire farm. His interest in the environmental quality of streams, controlling nutrient pollution. Work with colleagues on flood mitigation and soil loss showed how simple natural processes can be re-designed back into more uniform river corridors to enhance beneficial processes; this led to the 3D buffers concept.

Listen to the episode here.

Join Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) Lecturer Wallace Currie and Shepherd/Stockworker Perry Parkinson for a fun and informal chat about their roles, their education, work history and what they get up to in their day to day adventures at SRUC's Barony Campus. This is the first of a series of episodes from our Barony Campus - so please subscribe to get the latest!

Listen to the episode here.

This Podcast on Forages for a circular bioeconomy is hosted by SRUC's Vijay Thakur, our very own Professor in New Products from Biomass.

Vijay heads up biorefining & advanced materials research (BAMRC) at SRUC.

In this podcast, the panel discusses the role of Forages in a circular economy with a prime focus on current challenges and future perspectives.

Vijay is joined by special guest, Dr James Gaffey.

James is a Principal Investigator and Co-Director of the Circular Bioeconomy Research Group at Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre at Munster Technology University. He has been coordinator, lead PI and Co-PI on several EU and nationally-funded circular bioeconomy research projects. He is a member of the Expert Advisory Group to Ireland's National Bioeconomy Forum, and was on the Expert Panel for the Impact Assessment of Circular Biobased Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) successor programme to BBI JU under the Horizon Europe programme. Prior to joining MTU, James worked in the biorefinery industry since 2009 with the Technology Centre for Biorefining and Bioenergy, Sustainable Biopolymers and Cellulac Ltd. 

Also joining the panel from SRUC is:

• Dr David Lawson, an expert in Grassland agronomy and productivity, alternative outputs from grassland through bioprocessing and biomass-based renewable energy production.
• Dr John Newbold, Head of SRUC's Global Climate Emergency Challenge Centre
• Dr Vijai Gupta, an expert in biomass valorisation to value-added bioproducts, also from SRUC
• Professor Bob Rees, Head of Carbon, Crops and Soils at SRUC.

Link to SRUC's BAMRC pages.

Listen to the episode here.

Professor Davy McCracken is our in-house expert on biodiversity and land management. This episode features Davy talking to William Ancell, Digital Manager at SRUC, about COP26 and how this is bringing the biodiversity crisis into focus.

Listen to the episode here.

This episode is packed with a panel of experts talking about the priorities they have for COP26 - what outputs they would like to see, and why.

From how farms can adapt to managing soils, to how climate is affecting food systems, to our own challenge centre tackling climate change, we've got it covered.

Listen to the episode here.

In this episode, SRUC's Rural Policy Centre looks at the Policy landscape post-brexit, and after the results of the recent Scottish election. SRUC's Jane Atterton is a policy researcher is joined by a range of SRUC's policy experts to discuss the challenges of covid-19 and the re-shaping of Scottish policy following the UK's exit from the EU.

Listen to the episode here.

SRUC's Dr Hannah Rudman looks at how a low carbon, nature-rich future can revitalise our economy, and how we can take advantage of the exceptional natural capital we have in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

By securing public and private investment in nature-based solutions via projects like Riverwoods, Landscape Enterprise Networks, and focusing on Vacant & Derelict Land, this podcast explores how Scotland can rebuild its natural capital so that future generations have a better world to live and work in.

Dr Hannah Rudman is a co-leader of both ​SRUC’s Thriving Natural Capital Challenge Centre and the Scottish Conservation Finance Pioneers network which is developing new natural capital investment projects that can deliver returns for investors.

Interviewees featured in the podcast are Andy Griffiths of Nestlé UK, Lucy Filby of SEPA, Deryck Irving of the Green Action Trust, and Rory Sandison and Bruce Wilson of the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The podcast was funded by NatureScot and produced by Hannah with the support of Scottish Funding Council, via SRUC UIF funding.

Visit the website to learn more about SRUC's Thriving Natural Capital Challenge Centre.

Listen to the episode here.

SRUC's Dr Hannah Rudman hosts this podcast on bioregioning the Tayside area in Scotland.

By the end of this half-hour podcast you'll understand the concept of a bioregion and how it helps us see the places we live and work with new eyes.

You'll learn about the project in Tayside which is helping regenerate local natural capital.

Hannah is co-lead of SRUC's Thriving Natural Capital Challenge Centre. Their goal is to research and build ecosystem markets to meet net-zero targets and reverse the biodiversity decline. We support thriving rural communities through regenerative agriculture and conservation.

This episode was previously available in SRUC's Thriving Natural Capital podcast. We're consolidating our podcast episodes under one SRUC-wide podcast.

Learn more at the Thriving Natural Capital Challenge Centre pages.

Listen to the episode here.

In this Veterinary Services ‘On the Hoof’ podcast episode, Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager talks to Colin Mason, Centre Manager and VIO from Dumfries about turning out dairy youngstock. This podcast covers Coccidiosis risk and looks at how to prevent post turnout scours plus an overview of Summer Scour Syndrome.

Listen to the episode here.

We all know plenty about best practice colostrum management for dairy calves and yet a failure of passive transfer still lies behind many calf health issues we see in dairy herds and beef units. Alison Braddock chats with special guests Katie Denholm and Ali Haggerty who have led several research projects in recent years focussing on these problems on commercial dairy farms.

• Katie Denholm is a farm animal academic clinician with a special interest in dairy calves and colostrum management at the University of Glasgow.
• Ali Haggerty is a vet in SW Scotland and provides freelance consultancy to milk processors and other industry bodies as well as research into dairy calf health and colostrum.

This podcast complements the webinar of the same name available on the Webinars Bitesize Programme | SRUC

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On the Hoof’ podcast provides a quick recap about Bovine Abortion Investigation for vets in practice. Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Colin Mason, VIO and Centre Manager, Dumfries about what information is needed at the lab, when and what samples to take and not forgetting to celebrate the negative results!

The Sampling Guide srucvs-sampling-guide.pdf is available on our website www.sruc.ac.uk/vets

Listen to the episode here. 

In this ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for Vets in Practice, Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Lorna Shaw, Ruminant Nutritionist SAC Consulting about nutrition for ewes pre-lambing. 

Lorna explains about feeding systems and the importance of assessing the adequacy of nutrition on the farm. Troubleshooting common nutritional issues is also discussed plus how to identify areas for improvement.

This podcast complements the bitesize webinar available on our website at Online CPD Academy | SRUC

Listen to the episode here. 

In this ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice, Alison Braddock chats to Dave Wilson, Health Schemes Veterinary Manager about what to do when a client’s animal tests positive for MV following a routine periodic blood test in the Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes.

The podcast touches on how MV acts in the flock and the disease prevalence in GB. It also looks at the testing methodology and options to tackle the infection and how to cope with a larger flock breakdown.

Further details can be found at www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On The Hoof’ podcast caters for vets in practice with clients testing for Johne’s Disease in the Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes (PSGHS). Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager talks to Dave Wilson, Health Schemes Veterinary Manager about the testing, paperwork and health plan requirements needed to become Johne’s Accredited and how to maintain health status. They also touch on the risk levels that are used. Further details can be found at www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice covers the Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes (PSGHS) ‘Monitoring’ Schemes for MV/CAE and Johne’s Disease. This scheme has been designed for flocks who are unable to meet the biosecurity requirements of Accreditation and is a lower health status but it does offer regular flock screening and an early warning to limit disease spread.  Alison Braddock, SRUC Veterinary Services talks to Dave Wilson, Health Schemes Veterinary Manager about the testing and paperwork requirements needed to become PSGHS Monitored and how to maintain Monitored status. Further details can be found at www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice covers MV/CAE Accreditation in SRUC’s Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes (PSGHS). Alison Braddock, SRUC Veterinary Services talks to Dave Wilson, Health Schemes Veterinary Manager about the testing and paperwork requirements needed to become MV/CAE Accredited, as well as how to maintain Accreditation and how farmer clients can go about adding animals to an MV/CAE Accredited flock or herd. Further details can be found at www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice, examines the importance of nutrition in suckler cows pre-calving. It covers feeding systems and how to assess the adequacy of nutrition on the farm. Alison Braddock, SRUC Veterinary Services talks to consultants and specialists in ruminant nutrition Lorna MacPherson and Karen Stewart (SAC Consulting). This podcast complements the bitesize CPD webinar for vets in practice.

Listen to the episode here. 

The investigation, diagnosis and control of Q fever to protect animal and human health does present vets and farmers with some challenges.  In this podcast Alison Braddock Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Colin Mason VIO and Centre Manager about how vets should manage this disease with their clients. This follows a bitesize webinar on the subject.

Listen to the episode here.

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is one of the most important diseases in terms of production losses and animal welfare.

Disease dynamics are complex involving pathogens and the environment.

In this podcast Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager, asks Megan Fergusson, VIO (Veterinary Investigation Officer), about how vets can help their clients tackle this disease on the farm. 

Listen to the episode here.

In this podcast for vets in practice, Alison Braddock, Marketing & Business Development Manager for Vet Services, asks Colin Mason, Veterinary Investigation Officer & Centre Manager about Clostridial disease.

This podcast focuses on Blackleg and Blacks disease - two more common presentations at this time of year. The podcast covers causes, risk factors and prevention.

Read our blog on Black's disease.

SRUC offer testing for Clostridial Alpha, Beta or Epsilon Toxin ELISA.

Listen to the episode here.

This bitesize podcast is part of the "On the Hoof" series from our Veterinary Services division.

Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager speaks with Heather Stevenson Veterinary Investigation Officer (VIO) Dumfries about liver fluke risk in 2023.

As we approach what would have traditionally been peak liver fluke season (autumn-winter), 2023 has been a very strange year weather-wise.

We had a very dry cold spring, a very hot early summer, an extremely wet July-August and, most recently, a heatwave accompanied by heavy rain.

This will inevitably impact on the life-cycle of the liver fluke, through its mud snail intermediate host, Galba truncatula. This will ultimately dictate the risk of liver fluke this season.

Forecasts are available online at Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) SCOPS | Sustainable Control  and of Parasites in Sheep and NADIS NADIS - National Animal Disease Information Service

Listen to the episode here.

Our On the Hoof series of podcasts on veterinary matters continues!

Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Colin Mason, Centre Manager and Veterinary Investigation Officer, some key questions around investigating milk drop in Dairy herds.

It is truly multifactorial with causes including infectious disease, nutrition, management or a combination of all three. With the advance of increased technology on dairy farms there is also an abundance of data to draw on.

From a disease surveillance perspective, it is also of interest as a potential way in which a new and emerging disease may start in a herd.

This podcast complements a recent webinar on the subject and discusses how to approach an investigation, consider some of the common and more exotic differential diagnoses relevant to individual herds and try to help navigate the complexities of what might be going on on farm.

Details of the webinar is available here: Webinars Bitesize Programme | SRUC.

Listen to the episode here

This podcast is a special edition for GB calf week.

Listen in to discover just a sample of the current dairy-bred calf research happening in Scotland. There are some fantastic projects on the go at the moment involving collaborations between SRUC, University of Glasgow and vets in private practice.

In this episode Alison Braddock chats with Colin Mason and David Bell from SRUC, Katie Denholm from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow and Ali Haggerty from Stewartry vets.  

They discuss their current projects including critical control points for colostrum cleanliness, Mycoplasma bovis in colostrum and ultrasound diagnosis of respiratory disease. A must listen for anyone interested in fine tuning calf health, highlighting projects to keep an eye on for future results.  

Listen to the episode here.

Alison Braddock, SRUC's Marketing and Business Development Manager for Veterinary Services is joined by Katrina Henderson , Veterinary Investigation Officer and Lorna MacPherson, Senior Consultant to chat about nutrition and health planning for dairy beef calves.

This podcast also looks at the management of dairy beef calves to prevent common problems. This podcast accompanies the CPD bitesize webinar "An Introduction to Dairy Beef Calf Systems – Nutrition and Infectious Disease".

Watch the webinar: Webinars Bitesize Programme | SRUC

Listen to the episode here.

Interested in large animal veterinary science? This is a slightly niche (but no less important) departure for the SRUC podcast.

Our Veterinary Investigation Officers Katrina Henderson and Iain McCormick recently completed a project looking at the mortality of young beef cattle.

Katrina joins host Alison Braddock to chat about the project which specifically looked at the top ten causes of calf death and pre-disposing factors. Katrina and Iain reviewed all pre-weaned suckler calf post mortems carried out by SRUC from across Scotland between 2016-2020. 

The findings have been the subject of a recent CPD bitesize course for vets which can be found at the link below - the webinar has been recorded, and is free to watch (account creation required).

Fancy studying veterinary science or animal care with SRUC? They are amongst our most popular courses for a reason. We have world-class facilities and expertise and hundreds of animal care professionals have joined the industry after learning with us. You can find out more about them at the links below.

Watch the webinar "Calf losses from breeding to weaning" on our free online CPD portal.

Animal Care courses at SRUC

Animal Sciences courses at SRUC

Veterinary Medicine courses at SRUC

Veterinary Nursing courses at SRUC

Listen to the episode here.

Join John Scholefield and Anne Seaton for an introduction to SRUC veterinary services and the role they play as part of SRUC. From supporting farmers and veterinary practices to tackling infectious disease, the work is varied and never dull.

The team covers disease surveillance for the Scottish Government, so this involves doing post-mortem examinations and laboratory testing to diagnose disease and to investigate disease outbreaks. This work goes across the range of livestock species, so cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and game birds as well as other species are monitored by the team.

They also do testing for a wide variety of conditions and medical issues animals may experience. They also offer training courses, health schemes, quality assurance schemes and a whole lot else besides. Listen to the episode to learn about the breadth and depth of work they do.

To learn more, visit www.sruc.ac.uk/vets