A Harper Adams student is calling for sheep farmers to share their experiences of disease spread, resistance and control, as he seeks to gain a better understanding of mastitis.

Harry Priestley, 21, is undertaking a professional project on sheep mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland. He is seeking to understand ways of prevention, controlling the spread of the disease as well as looking at antibiotic resistance that could affect treatment.

He said: “I have worked with sheep flocks that have a number of cases of mastitis which affect productivity and profitability. Therefore, I hope to improve the productivity and profitability of the flocks I work with in the future by widening my knowledge of mastitis.”

While he is familiar with the condition through his own farm work, Harry is seeking to gain insight from other farmers working with sheep. Harry has published a questionnaire and is inviting any participants with the relevant experience to click HERE.

Harry chose to undertake his studies as a pathway to explore his passion for the agricultural industry.

“I want to learn more to enable me to succeed in the future as I do not come from a large family farm,” he said. “We have a small farm at home which I am hoping to expand with my passion for sheep, especially Texels, and my love of modern farm machinery.”