Dr Luke O’Grady

Senior Research Fellow

What project/s are you currently working on?
I’m currently leading and collaborating on several related projects using machine learning, simulation modelling, and environmental impact analyses.
The largest of these is an Innovate UK project, REMEDY. This project involves developing a commercial software platform and decision support tool by linking a farmers’ own data to a novel whole farm simulation model and predictive machine learning models of dairy cow performance. This enables real time evaluation of the physical, economic, and environmental impacts of short and long-term management decisions.

Other projects I’m involved with are linked to whole farm modelling of UK sheep flocks; evaluating the potential for dairy farmers to achieve Net Zero; predicting dairy cow lameness; automating tools to evaluate herd mastitis and lameness control; predicting transition cow performance; simulation of infectious disease control; machine vision; and syndromic surveillance methodologies

What capability are you drawing on to deliver the research?
At the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science I’m fortunate to be able to draw on the range of expertise of all my colleagues within the ruminant population health group and the Centre for Dairy Science Innovation (CDSI), developed in partnership between the University and CIEL.
This, coupled with a wide range of industry collaborators ensures the research we do delivers the impact needed for farmers and vets on the ground

What would be your ideal research project, assuming no barriers to resources?
If I can dream big, my ideal project would be to unravel the complex problem of cattle lameness, from understanding the detailed aetiopathology to developing accurate diagnostics and effective preventive strategies. It’s such a big issue for our cows and the industry worldwide, but I’m confident we’ll get there!

How did you arrive at doing what you do now?
Following a brief spell in veterinary practice after graduating, I pursued my career in dairy herd health at University College Dublin. There, I spent 16 years working with herd data which led me into the fields of epidemiology, economics, sensor technology, social science, statistics, simulation modelling and research policy interface. I’ve been fortunate enough to apply these skills to a range of domains including mastitis, reproduction, infectious and disease, nutrition and the environment.

Find out more about our Founding Research Member, The University of Nottingham.