Harper Adams student research explores roles of the stockperson on outdoor pig breeding units

Posted 16 March 2021

Chloe Gimson is exploring what impact a stockperson’s knowledge and experience have on farm performance.

A Harper Adams University student is researching the significance of the stockperson on pig breeding units, asking whether the experience and knowledge of a stockperson make a significant impact on farm performance. 

Chloe Gimson, 22, is a final year BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Farm Business Management student. For her research project entitled “Is stockmanship still important on achieving optimal performance on a modern outdoor breeding pig unit? If so, how do we best manage it?”, Chloe is running a survey to gather first-hand experiences and to analyse the skills and characteristics of stockmen and women.  

Chloe was brought up on an outdoor breeding pig unit in Suffolk and has seen first-hand how a good stockperson can affect the outcomes of a unit.  

“The impact a stockperson has on performance is often overlooked by the agricultural industry. My dissertation looks to highlight the impact a stockperson does have on farm performance and how to improve performance on farms through a good stockperson” 

“I’m looking to determine the significance that labour has on the performance on a pig breeding unit and the importance of not only practical skills and knowledge but also soft skills such as stockperson empathy, observation, anticipation, planning and communication.” 

Chloe has recently accepted a role at Savills, Oxford, as a Food and Farming Graduate where she hopes to further develop her interest in farm management and labour within the industry following her graduation. 

“I have absolutely loved my time at Harper. For me, what stands out the most is the farm being on campus enabling you to have a hands-on approach to learning whilst being in the centre of world leading research within the industry”  

“My placement year was one of my most rewarding but challenging experiences which I feel really sets up all Harper graduates with workplace skills and experience setting them apart from other candidates when applying to jobs.”  

Chloe is appealing to those who work on outdoor breeding pig units to support her research through completing her questionnaire - Is Stockpersonship still important on achieving optimal physical performance on a modern outdoor breeding pig unit?