Galway, 10 April 2025 – The British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) is proud to announce the winners of its 2025 awards, recognising exceptional contributions to animal science, research, and industry advancement. Presented at the BSAS Annual Conference, held this year at the Galway Bay Hotel, these awards showcase the innovative work and scientific excellence driving progress across the field.

Sir John Hammond Award – Craig Lewis
The prestigious Sir John Hammond Award, BSAS’ highest honour, has been awarded to Craig Lewis in recognition of his outstanding contributions to animal science, pioneering research, and lasting impact on industry practice. Craig’s leadership and commitment to advancing the sector continue to inspire scientists and practitioners alike.

Christopher Wathes Award – Lucy Markland
The Christopher Wathes Award has been presented to Lucy Markland, supporting her attendance at BSAS 2025 and enabling her to present her research to a global audience. The award celebrates promising young scientists working at the interface of animal welfare and applied science.

Undergraduate Thesis of the Year Award – May Allan, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) 

Earlier this year, May Allan was named winner of the Undergraduate Thesis of the Year Award 2024 giving her the opportunity to attend BSAS 2025 and to present her work to the animal science community. May’s pioneering research explores the potential of probiotic supplementation in managing Cryptosporidium infections in young calves. Her work represents a significant step forward in addressing a major health challenge in livestock production.

Industry Prize – Sarah Woodmartin, Teagasc
The Industry Prize has been awarded to Sarah Woodmartin of Teagasc for her impactful study on the effect of sward type on growth performance, enteric methane output and the rumen microbiome in lambs during the post-weaning period. Her research offers practical insights into sustainable livestock production.

President’s Prize – Siobhán O’Callaghan, Queen’s University Belfast
Siobhán O’Callaghan received the President’s Prize for her work on feeding behaviour in Holstein cattle fed different milk allowances as calves. Her research contributes to our understanding of early-life nutrition and its long-term impacts on animal health and performance.

Innovation Prize (Joint Winners)
Two groundbreaking projects have been jointly awarded the BSAS Innovation Prize:
•    Riccardo Bica, ZELP – for the development of a field-deployable device for continuous methane and carbon dioxide emission measurement in cattle, offering a scalable alternative to traditional respiration chambers.
•    Kevin Linehan, Teagasc – for his innovative work with bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria as silage inoculants to reduce methane emissions in dairy cattle, pushing the boundaries of sustainable feed technologies. 

Best Poster – Rischi Robinson Male Here, Teagasc
The Best Poster Award was presented to Rischi Robinson Male Here of Teagasc for his insightful work on the effect of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application rates pre-grazing on rumen and blood variables of post-weaned dairy-beef calves. The research provides new understanding into the physiological effects of fertiliser strategies on young ruminants.

Developing Talent Award – Fiona Louise Guinan, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Fiona Louise Guinan received the Developing Talent Award for her forward-looking study on dairy cow resilience, using data-driven detection and quantification of perturbations through daily milk weights. Her approach combines precision technology and animal health science to support improved welfare and productivity in the dairy sector.

With thanks to our sponsors British Cattle Breeders Club, ED&F Man, AHDB and Burleigh Dodds Publishing