A Teagasc researcher has received an award for her "impactful" livestock genomics campaign.

Teagasc researcher Dr. Cliona Ryan has received a British and Irish Society of Animal Science (BISAS) award for her campaign translating complex genomic research into practical tools for farmers.

Her work addresses a "largely unrecognised issue" in livestock: chromosomal abnormalities that leave animals appearing normal but often result in infertility or premature death.

Her research - spanning nearly 1.3 million cattle, 63,000 sheep, and 21,000 horses - estimates that around 1,500 calves, 3,000 lambs and 37 foals are affected annually in Ireland.

Crucially, she demonstrated that these conditions can be detected at no additional cost using existing genotype data, Teagasc said.

This work resulted in her receiving the BISAS Communication in Marketing Excellence Award.

From science to farm-level action

Dr. Ryan’s campaign focused on making genomic information clear, relevant and actionable.

Through visual storytelling, plain-language communication, and direct farmer engagement, she highlighted the real-world impact of these conditions on farm profitability and animal welfare.

Teagasc outlined that her work has "already driven industry change".

This includes that the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) now screens artificial insemination (AI) bulls for chromosomal abnormalities as part of routine processes, and Horse Sport Ireland has introduced population-wide screening.

Teagasc said international adoption is underway, with LIC New Zealand, an agri-tech and herd improvement co-operative, developing similar systems.

Dr. Ryan's campaign reached over 14,000 farmers at Teagasc's Moorepark Dairy Open Day as well as additional farmers, vets and scientists across Ireland and internationally, along with over 700,000 people through media.

By framing the science around cost, time, and animal welfare, Teagasc said that Dr. Ryan "enabled farmers to recognise and act on issues that were previously unexplained".

Early detection

Early detection helps farmers "avoid significant losses, such as rearing animals that will never breed or investing in infertile stock bulls".

"By using data already collected, Dr. Ryan’s approach provides a scalable, cost-free solution with clear economic and welfare benefits," Teagasc said.

Kim Matthews from award sponsor Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board in the UK (AHDB) said Dr. Ryan's work is an "excellent example of how high-quality science, when communicated effectively, can deliver real impact on farm".

"Cliona’s work demonstrates the value of making complex research accessible and actionable for farmers and the wider industry," Matthews added.

On accepting the award, Dr. Ryan said the aim of her campaign was to "make complex science practical".

"If farmers can use the information immediately, then it has real value," she said.