Richard Kirkland reflects on his time at Hillsborough, the specialist research skills developed through dairy and beef nutrition studies, and how that grounding has underpinned a global career in ruminant nutrition
What years were you based at AFBI Hillsborough, what was the focus of your PhD and what were the main areas you worked on during your time there?
My PhD ran from 1997 to 2000 and evaluated the impact of nutrition on energy metabolism in dairy cows, as assessed through respiration calorimeters. Specifically, it examined how cows partition additional energy between milk production and body tissue, and the efficiency of metabolisable energy use for different purposes. I subsequently worked in various aspects of beef research, before leaving ARINI Hillsborough (now AFBI) in 2005.
Have you any funny or memorable memories from your time at Hillsborough?
There were many funny moments, but none I could repeat.
Where has your career taken you since leaving Hillsborough, and what were the key steps that led from research into your current role as Global Technical Manager for Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients?
Having left in 2005 to take up a nutrition role with Volac, I have travelled the world attending scientific conferences, visiting business customers and farmers, learning, discussing and promoting nutrition in dairy cows and other species. I have focused primarily on fatty acid nutrition and have been involved in the development and manufacture of research‑based formulations. I continue to have a global reach of research and development (R&D) projects, utilising skills learned during my time at Hillsborough.
Which skills, knowledge, or experiences gained at Hillsborough have proved most valuable in your work?
All the knowledge gained has been directly applicable and utilised in my role, whether that be energy use in dairy cows, beef production systems, setting up R&D projects, or understanding laboratory techniques and statistical analysis.
Working globally, do you see principles or approaches developed through research at Hillsborough still influencing ruminant nutrition and feeding strategies today?
Hillsborough is recognised as a centre of excellence for grassland and forage research, with findings applicable across many regions globally. As one of the few sites involved in calorimetric measurement in ruminants worldwide, understanding of energy metabolism and the use of data generated there continues to be important.
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?
The Hillsborough site has developed dramatically over the decades and has pioneered a significant body of nutritional research, both locally and internationally. It has always been good to be associated with the extensive, practical research outputs produced by distinguished researchers over so many years, and to appreciate the foresight of those who established highly specialised energy metabolism research capabilities at the site.