Paddy Schofield BSc (Agric. Eng), MIAgrE
I am an agricultural engineer interested in the development of monitoring
and management systems for use in livestock production.
I have specialised in the application of visual image analysis (VIA)
systems for measuring the dimensions of pigs and relating these to their
weight, growth rate and condition. I have taken this forward to include
integration of VIA as a sensor for management systems designed to control
pig nutrition and so optimise production efficiency and reduce pollution.
My work has been funded largely by Defra, MLC and commercial partners and
has included collaboration with the universities of Edinburgh and Bristol.
I left SRI in September 2005 and with a partner have set up a
new research and development company, Silsoe Livestock Systems Ltd.
This will enable me to continue the development of non-invasive sensing
systems as indicators of livestock growth, condition, health and
profitability. I will maintain and extend my existing
research and development contacts through joint projects with university,
government and commercial partners.
The VIA system for monitoring pig weight and growth is commercially
available from Osborne (Europe) Ltd.
Osborne has been our commercial partner for many years through research
and development of the VIA system. We are now in the process of developing
new and novel approaches to the application of this technology in
livestock production.
Our mission:
To produce and market user friendly, reliable and upgradeable systems
which offer the potential for both on-farm and remote data collection and
processing to providing producers, their advisors and customers with
concise, timely and relevant management and marketing information.
For further information, contact Paddy Schofield using the form below: