WORK on improving animal health and welfare through excellence in veterinary services has led to Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) being awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.
It is the highest form of national recognition open to educational institutions in the UK and the second time in six years that SRUC has received this prestigious prize.
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, hailed the honour as recognition of the institution’s “unique contribution to scientific excellence, impact and innovation” as it prepares to open Scotland’s first new vet school in 150 years.
SRUC’s flagship initiative is the Premium Cattle Health Scheme which has had a national and international impact in helping to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), a major cattle disease that causes slower growth rates, increased susceptibility to other diseases and raised mortality rates. The modelling and analytical work carried out by SRUC researchers is regularly cited as an example of best practice in its field.
SRUC was previously awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2017 for its dairy genetics study based around the Langhill herd at Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries – the world’s longest running dairy study.
Professor Powell said: “Being awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize is a huge honour for everyone at Scotland’s Rural College and reflects both the quality of our research and the commitment of our staff.”.
