Haopeng Jiao reflects on his time as a PhD student at AFBI Hillsborough, the research into energy metabolism and greenhouse gas emissions that shaped his career, and how that scientific grounding now underpins a senior global role in the dairy industry.
What years were you based at AFBI Hillsborough, and what was your PhD topic/main area of research? Were findings from your research taken forward into practice, policy, or further scientific work?
I was based at AFBI Hillsborough from 2010 to early 2014. My PhD research focused on energy metabolism and greenhouse gas emissions in Holstein dairy heifers aged 6 to 24 months. This research filled a significant gap in the understanding of GHG emissions from growing dairy heifers. Additionally, the findings revealed that as the production performance of Holstein cattle has improved in recent years, the energy requirements for maintenance metabolism in growing heifers have also increased.
Where has your career taken you since leaving Hillsborough, and what are you doing now? Since returning to China, I have continued to work in the dairy farming industry. I have held various positions including Nutritionist, Technical Director, and General Manager in the dairy divisions of Fortune 500 companies. Currently, I serve as Director of Market Development and Sales Support at DeLaval for the Greater China and the selected Asian countries, where I am responsible for all product solutions and after-sales support. I also represent the Asia-Pacific region on DeLaval's Global Scientific Committee.
Which skills, knowledge, or experiences from Hillsborough proved most valuable as you moved on in your career?
Much of the research conducted at AFBI is at the forefront of global agricultural science. During my time there, I had numerous opportunities for international exchange, which significantly broadened my global perspective and enhanced my ability to collaborate internationally. Furthermore, the friendly and supportive teachers and colleagues were always kind and helpful, which had a profoundly positive impact on my professional development.
Do you have a favourite memory or a defining moment from your time at Hillsborough?
There are so many cherished memories. I have dreamt many times of returning to Hillsborough, and finally, in October 2023, ten years after graduation, I made that return. Everything felt so familiar and welcoming, as if I had stepped back into my dreams; it was truly wonderful. If I had to single out one thing, it would be the daily talks and laughter in the canteen. Being able to joke around with everyone after work each day was simply fantastic.
As AFBI marks 100 years of agricultural research at Hillsborough, what part of its legacy stands out most to you, and how do you feel personally about being part of that history? This is an exciting milestone, and I feel immensely proud to be part of it. In my field of research—dairy cow nutrition, particularly energy metabolism and greenhouse gas emissions—AFBI has accumulated extensive data and made significant scientific discoveries. As one of the few long-standing respiration calorimetry facilities in the world, it has provided crucial data references and scientific findings for researchers globally, making outstanding contributions to the advancement of the dairy farming industry.
From your perspective now, how is Northern Ireland's agricultural research perceived internationally?
Northern Ireland's unique climate creates excellent conditions for dairy farming development. Combined with internationally influential research institutions like AFBI, the integration of industry, academia, and research is remarkably close-knit, genuinely helping to drive industrial development and progress.