Monaghan vet surgeon appointed head of CellCheck programme
Animal Health Ireland (AHI) has announced the appointment of Dr. Ryan Duffy as programme manager for the CellCheck Programme.
In this role, Duffy will lead and coordinate the national mastitis control programme, supporting continued improvements in udder health and milk quality across the Irish dairy sector.
A native of Co. Monaghan, Duffy qualified as a veterinary surgeon from University College Dublin (UCD) in 2016.
Over the last decade he has worked in clinical practice in both Ireland and New Zealand.
He has also held a number of influential industry roles and completed post graduate qualifications in dairy herd health, ruminant nutrition, milking machine technologies, and veterinary education.
Duffy will take up his new role with AHI at the end of March 2026.
Commenting on the appointment, AHI CEO Patrick Donohoe said: “We’re very excited to see Ryan take up the role with AHI next month.
"Not only is Ryan an incredibly talented vet, he is also an authority in herd health.
"Ryan has a wealth of experience and a proven track record with mastitis control.
"The CellCheck Programme has been one of the most successful animal health programmes anywhere in the world over the past 15 years, delivering real and tangible benefits for farmers and the wider dairy industry."
Dr. Ryan Duffy said: “I’m hugely excited to join AHI at this really important time for the organisation and the dairy industry as a whole.
"In particular, leading CellCheck, our national mastitis control programme, is a tremendous honour for me.
"I strongly believe our dairy industry is the envy of the world and our continued success will be built on furthering our commitment to progressive herd health, preventative medicine and by implementing practical, evidence-based methods at mitigating bovine mastitis and its knock-on effects.
"This is no mean feat. It will involve the entire industry from dairy farmers, agricultural advisors, milking machine technicians, and my veterinary colleagues on the ground, to our dairy processors and government."
The new AHI programme manager said programmes such as CellCheck ensure Ireland remains competitive on the international stage and profitable at the farm-level.
