Leading Australian scientist joins DairyNZ team

Leading Australian scientist joins DairyNZ team

David Chapman, currently Professor of Pasture Science at the University of Melbourne, will join DairyNZ as a principal scientist midyear. He will lead the team responsible for developing more and better feed, and improving farm systems. David will be responsible for work nationwide and will be based on the Lincoln University campus, reflecting DairyNZ’s commitment to South Island dairy farming.

David, born in Geraldine, is a Lincoln graduate who started work with DSIR (now AgResearch), completing a PhD in the UK before moving to Australia in 1996.

DairyNZ Chief Scientist Eric Hillerton said David’s return home brings key skills in pasture and grazing management, dairy forage production and development of pasture-based livestock systems to benefit all of New Zealand’s dairy farmers.

“This appointment is of huge importance to our dairy farmers giving succession leadership in feed and farm systems. DairyNZ has a great team of scientists with international credibility, this is now even stronger,” said Eric.

“I am really looking forward to joining the diverse team at DairyNZ and taking up the challenge of helping the industry capture new opportunities in sustainability and profitability” said David.

DairyNZ CEO Dr Tim Mackle said farm systems expertise such as David’s is crucial in helping New Zealand maintain its international leadership in pastoral dairy farming. “Our board is committed to holding a core of farm systems capability as it is key to integrating links between fundamental and applied research and extension activities.”

ENDS

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