INSTITUTE OF VETERINARY SCIENCE

Speakers' Profiles

Prof. Rob Smith

Rob graduated in Veterinary Science from the University of Liverpool in 1989 after also obtaining a degree in biochemistry. He cut his clinical teeth in mixed practice in mid-Wales before returning to PhD studies on the neuroendocrine control of cortisol response. He joined the Farm Animal lecturing staff in 1997. Whilst being involved in undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and clinical practice he has kept a research interest in the effect of stress on production and reproduction and on the pathophysiology of neospora abortion in cattle including authorship of over 60 peer reviewed publications. He is increasingly involved in knowledge exchange projects and farm scale research as the lead academic in the Tesco Dairy Centre of Excellence project at University of Liverpool Wood Park Farm. This involves delivery of bespoke training courses and working with industry organisations throughout the dairy supply chain.

Dr Georgios Oikonomou

George graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2002. During his PhD studies he investigated the genetics of energy balance and reproduction in Holstein cows. He worked for a few years as a veterinarian/herd manager for a 600 cows dairy farm in Greece and then decided to cross the Atlantic and work for Cornell University and Dr. Bicalho’s group. There, he got involved in research projects regarding dairy cattle mastitis, lameness, and reproduction; he collaborated with large dairy farms (some of them milking more than 3000 cows), and was also introduced to the fascinating world of metagenomics. He has more than 60 publications in peer-reviewed Journals or conferences proceedings and among others he was involved in the study that describes the development of the first successful vaccine against dairy cows’ metritis. He still collaborates with Cornell University (recently appointed an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at the Department of Population Medicine) and is a co PI in a USDA funded grant that aims to study the dynamics of the mammary microbiota during and after intramammary infection with major mastitis pathogens.

Ms Jo Oultram

Jo Oultram joined the University of Liverpool in 2007 after spending 16 years in practice. She obtained her RCVS Certificate in Cattle Health and Production in 2008, her Diploma in Bovine Reproduction in 2012 and was recognised as an RCVS specialist in Cattle Health and Production in 2014. As well as teaching 4th and final year veterinary undergraduates and being the subject coordinator for the Livestock Health and Welfare division, Jo coordinates the new RCVS Cert (Advanced Veterinary Practice) modules in cattle for the university. She has authored and co-authored papers in the Veterinary Record and “Livestock” journal.

Dr Dai Grove-White

Dai Grove-White qualified from the University of Liverpool in 1975. After a period working in the Middle East on large scale dairies and in Zimbabwe as a Government Veterinary Officer, he returned in 1985 to Wales where he ran a cattle and sheep practice in Bala until joining the University of Liverpool in 2000 where he is currently head of the Division of Livestock Health and Welfare. He was awarded the Diploma in Reproduction from the University of Liverpool in 1987, an MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2005. He was awarded FRCVS in 1997 for research into calf diarrhoea and fluid therapy and a PhD in 2009 for studies on the molecular epidemiology of Campylobacter in ruminants. His current research interests include calf nutrition, sheep lameness and food-borne zoonoses. He is a Diplomate of the European College of Bovine Health Management and is an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production.