Melissa Wright
During my Zoology undergraduate at St Andrews University, I became interested in the broader implications of animal science on industry and public policy. I continued to explore this during my MSc in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law at Glasgow University, with a particular focus on the effects of heat stress on dairy cattle welfare.
My PhD project explores the role of coat pigmentation in cattle thermoregulation. As global temperatures rise, heat stress in livestock is becoming a major welfare and economic concern. Black-coated cattle are more vulnerable to heat stress, while white-coated cattle are at greater risk of skin cancer. Finding the genetic determinants that control pigmentation patterns will contribute to climate resilience in the dairy industry whilst enhancing cattle welfare.
To tackle this project, I’m applying machine learning techniques alongside genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify the genetic factors influencing black and white patch distribution. Additionally, I’m using thermal imaging to explore how these patterns affect cattle thermoregulation and welfare in real-world farming environments.
Being part of the NorthWest Bio training programme has provided numerous opportunities for collaboration with researchers across different institutes and I’m excited to expand my wider research network through my upcoming PIPs placement at the Livestock Improvement Corporation in New Zealand!