Living, learning and later leading — Professor Steven Morrison’s path from childhood on the Hillsborough research farm to scientific leadership reflects the power of practical experience shaped by evidence
As AFBI Hillsborough marks 100 years of agricultural research, few stories capture its legacy better than that of its current Head of the Sustainable Livestock Branch — someone who not only leads the science today but also grew up on the site.
Professor Steven Morrison’s relationship with Hillsborough began at the age of six, when his father was promoted from dairy technician to farm manager at ARINI (the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland), the organisation that would later become part of AFBI (the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute), and the family moved into a house on the research farm. For Steven, Hillsborough was never just a workplace. It has been home, classroom, career and now, responsibility.
Growing Up at the Heart of a Research Farm
From an early age, he was immersed in the rhythms of farm and research life. He recalls childhood scenes of open days, machinery demonstrations, and agricultural shows.
His father, William Morrison — known to many as Willy — was well known to farmers and industry across Northern Ireland. One of Steven’s fondest childhood memories is accompanying him to Balmoral Show.
“I’d always end up with a bag full of tractor and machinery leaflets that I would look through whilst dad chatted over a cup of tea at trade stands,” he recalls.
For Steven, research and farm life were inseparable from family life. The farm was busy, mixed, and constantly evolving, and conversations about livestock performance, nutrition, and new technologies were part of everyday upbringing.
As a child, he absorbed the language of tractors, feed, and field trials almost by osmosis. The research farm was a place of curiosity and constant change.
“It was great living on this big farm, where you get to see all the animals and the changing seasonal work as well as hear about trials and new ideas and systems.
"I even got my GCSE English class, most of whom didn't come from a farming background, to come here for a field visit to connect them closer to farming."
Steven often helped his father on the farm and, from the age of 16, was employed as casual seasonal staff.
“Most of my summers during school and university were spent helping with livestock and doing silage, and in the winter, I would assist with calving. I loved it.”
From Student Helper to Young Researcher
This environment made a career in agriculture feel almost inevitable. While he briefly considered computing and engineering, his passion and path kept returning to livestock science.
An agriculture degree and a PhD in dairy cow nutrition followed, funded through initiative and determination — including writing directly to organisations such as The Irish Farmers Journal and AgriSearch for support.
His first formal post at Hillsborough came as a technical-grade scientist, working on the design and oversight of a project on bedding for beef cattle. It was a pivotal early role, focused on how housing and bedding influence animal health, welfare, and performance.
That blend of hands-on livestock work and scientific design would become a hallmark of his career.
The Power of Practical Science
In 2011, Steven was appointed Senior Scientific Officer. Over time, his work expanded from youngstock nutrition and management to beef and sheep production, carbon footprinting, greenhouse gas emissions, animal genetics, and the development of the BovIS (Bovine Information System).
Although many highlights, the impact of the youngstock research has been a standout— calves and heifers whose early life determines lifetime performance.
“From rearing targets and growth benchmarks to colostrum management, early life nutrition and housing, we have worked in partnership farmers and industry to provide knowledge and practical tools to make a difference.”
The findings reinforced a clear message: what happens early in life has lasting consequences for fertility, milk yield, health, and longevity.
“The result has been tangible. Farmers across Northern Ireland and beyond are now more aware of targets for young stock, more focused on colostrum quality and timing, and more attuned to the long-term implications of early management – health and nutrition.”
From Researcher to Leader: Defining Sustainable Livestock
In 2019, he became head of AFBI Hillsborough’s Sustainable Livestock Branch.
“My role and that of my team is to provide the independent expertise, information, solutions and tools for farmers and industry to progress sustainability on the farm. Explore what works and what doesn’t.”
For him, sustainability is a balance of productivity, environment, profitability, and welfare.
“Many assume sustainable is more about environment. Yes, it must protect the environment and address climate and biodiversity pressures, but it must also deliver productivity and efficiency at farm level and ensure profitability across the supply chain. The three legs of the sustainability stool must all be in place.”
He is clear that sustainability cannot be framed purely as environmental policy, nor can productivity exist in isolation from environmental responsibility. His branch exists to bridge that gap through independent evidence-based, practical solutions to support the farming industry.
Sitting Between Science, Policy, and Practice
AFBI Hillsborough occupies a unique position between science, policy, and practice. Much of the work is applied but increasingly underpinned by advanced science.
“Critical we show the true outcome of the work. So, the trust is really important,” says Steven.
Maintaining that trust depends on staying close and working in partnership with farmers and the industry. “You can’t become distant to your main stakeholder. So, you have to keep that close communication and have difficult conversations.”
Trust, he emphasises, underpins everything — between scientists, farmers, government, and industry.
To strengthen this, AFBI plans to strengthen stakeholder advisory groups, bringing farmers, advisers, and industry together to help inform research priorities and ensure real-world relevance for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
People, Networks, and Legacy
Steven speaks warmly about the people who have passed through Hillsborough — students, technicians, and scientists who have gone on to influence agriculture across Ireland, the UK, and beyond.
“Those who pass through Hillsborough during their careers always remain part of its community. That enduring network keeps people connected, fuels collaboration, and turns shared experience into progress.”
He sees this network as one of Hillsborough’s greatest strengths — a continuing flow of ideas long after people move on.
Looking Ahead
Leading Hillsborough during its centenary year is, he says, “both a privilege and a responsibility.”
The science is becoming more complex — delving deeper into how and why but also looking at full system impacts. While science continues to evolve, what remains constant is the need for practical application, with farmers firmly at the heart of everything we do.
Looking ahead, he anticipates greater integration of genetics, resilience, and precision nutrition, alongside continued advances in animal health and welfare. Together, these will enhance sustainability, productivity, and food quality, responding to rising demand for trustworthy, sustainable, and health-focused food systems.
The challenge is “to dig deeper scientifically without losing the practical edge that has always defined Hillsborough.”
Asked how he would like Hillsborough to be described in 100 years’ time, he reflects: “an institute that brought practical science to the farm and enabled the industry to navigate an increasingly complex world.”
A Living Legacy
Standing at the intersection of family history, personal journey, and institutional legacy, Steven reflects with both pride and humility.
For him, Hillsborough is not just a research institute with a 100-year history. It is a living farm and science centre, a hub for all, whose success is measured not in papers or projects, but in better livestock systems, stronger farm businesses, and practical improvements seen in fields and sheds across the country.