Pathway Farming Scholarship: Madeleine Pearson

Madeleine Pearson, 21, from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, is a second year Bioveterinary Science BSc Hons student and recipient of Pathway Farming Scholarship.

Madeleine Pearson is pleased to receive this award and explained how it will help her. She said, “I was drawn to the Pathway Farming scholarship primarily due to the company. I have a keen interest in genetics and improving the productive efficiency of animals, which Pathway Farming is doing with dairy cross calves, an expanding area of beef production.

“My modules have also brought issues within the animal industry such as antimicrobial resistance to my attention; this is an issue that will impact on how we produce animals in the future and I therefore wanted to work within a company that aims to use minimal antibiotics even in the youngest and most vulnerable animals.

“I am very grateful to Pathway Farming for awarding me this scholarship, it has already enabled me to further my knowledge and undertake further qualifications through AMTRA to hopefully become a suitably qualified person (SQP).

“These qualifications will be helpful to me throughout my placement and also in my future career within the animal industry; medicines are an important resource that we must prolong the effectiveness of for as long as possible and therefore knowledge of this area could be advantageous to my future career.

“By working with Pathway Farming, I can build connections with like-minded people who want to improve the beef sector and find the most efficient systems.”

Madeleine's interests are around wildlife and animals, which stimulated her course choice. She said, “I have always taken a keen interest in animals, working with horses for a long period of time; my interest in wildlife led to me contemplating the differences between such animals and their close relatives that we use for production. This developed into an interest in genetics and how we have selected animals to achieve more efficient production.

“This is what led me to choosing to study Bioveterinary Science, giving me an opportunity to further my knowledge in this area. My main aim is to contribute to the animal industry in a way that will benefit farmers and consumers without being a detriment to animal welfare.

In her spare time, Madeleine enjoys spending time outdoors. She said, “I love spending my spare time outdoors, usually walking with my two dogs, even when I go on holiday I prefer to be somewhere different and off the beaten track. I also enjoy baking and can always find an excuse to create something, no matter how small the occasion.

“My love of the outdoors has resulted in the organisation and completion of two large walks so far, Scafell Pike and Mt. Snowden, with Ben Nevis is planned for this July (2019). Each walk has consisted of organising accommodation and food for over 50 people each time to raise funds for charity.”