Sii-led research project secures £22,000 funding award
Published: 15 May 2026
A research project led by Sii's Dr Rebecca McHugh has been awarded £22,000 in funding from the Hannah Dairy Foundation. The work will address neonatal calf diarrhoea - the most common disease affecting young dairy calves, and a major concern for animal welfare and farm productivity.
A new research project led by the School of Infection & Immunity's Dr Rebecca McHugh has been awarded £22,000 in funding from the Hannah Dairy Foundation.
The project will address neonatal calf diarrhoea (calf scour), which is the most common disease affecting young dairy calves in the UK, and a major concern for animal welfare and farm productivity.
The work will explore harnessing naturally beneficial gut bacteria to prevent disease and investigate the role of Streptomyces bacteria in the calf gut, tracking microbiome development from birth through weaning.
By understanding how these beneficial bacteria colonise and function, the research aims to inform the development of practical probiotic strategies to enhance calf health, resilience, and long-term productivity.
The project will be carried out in collaboration with Dr Rheinallt Jones from the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine (SBOHVM).
First published: 15 May 2026