Scholarship to help Loretta into dream career

Posted 19 January 2017

Despite a history in sheep and beef farming, Harper Adams University student Loretta Holder has realised her passion is to work for pigs in animal nutrition or health.

The 19 year-old BSc Animal Health and Welfare student is to receive an AHDB Pork Pig Industry Scholarship, which includes a paid placement year with Ceva Animal Health to help her achieve her dream.

The student from Chippenham, Wiltshire, said: “I'd like to be involved in the nutrition and health of animals to reduce diseases as well as farm livestock assurance.

“My interests particularly lie in pig health as the industry is ahead of many other sectors in the health of animals and disease prevention, especially in the use of biosecurity, vaccinations and all-in all-out systems.

“I’m also passionate about the improvements in the traceability and the quality of the products from farm to fork.

“I realised that this was an area I was interested in when I did an extended project qualification on comparing compound feeds and grass in ovine diets. This led to me wanting to continue broadening my knowledge on farm animal nutrition and therefore to my animal health and welfare course at Harper Adams.

“I chose Harper Adams as I felt that it’ll give me the experience I’ll need to progress well with my future career in the industry.

“I’m only in my second year and my degree is already helping me to learn more about the pig and poultry industries as well as companion animals.

“Learning about both health and welfare in my degree is very beneficial as it gives an insight to the future of farming and the pig industry.

“I’m very attracted to a career in the pig industry as I’m enthusiastic about learning new skills and the industry particularly appeals to me as the health and welfare of the animals is a vital consideration. Health and welfare is at the heart of a wide range of research in this industry.

“Gaining hands-on experience with pigs will be very important to allow me to pursue a further career, as well as learning more about the general running of each aspect of the industry. 

"This scholarship will help me to develop my knowledge into the pig industry and the wider agricultural community. I can invest the money into my education to help improve my knowledge and ultimately get a head start into the agricultural animal health industry as a graduate in 2019.

"Id like to thank ADHB Pork and Ceva Animal Health for this amazing opportunity and I look forward to working with Ceva Animal Health next year during my placement. 

“I got a good insight into what the placement year will entail by talking to the current student on this placement at the Harper Adams Scholarship Fair. It sounds like a fantastic opportunity, and I can’t wait to begin.

“My scholarship also provides financial support which will enable me to fund a detailed research project into the pig health sector for my Honours Research Project (HRP).

“I’m extremely grateful for this scholarship funding as it will help me achieve the best degree that I can, as well as having the skills and mindset ready for a successful career in the industry.”