Anna Neujahr
Project Title: Improving the welfare of calves undergoing long-distance transportation
Biography: Anna’s PhD focuses on improving the welfare of unweaned dairy calves during long-distance transport from Ireland to mainland Europe. Each year, thousands of calves are transported for many hours with limited opportunities for milk feeding, raising concerns about hunger, energy depletion, and overall welfare. Ensuring welfare during transport is important for the animals, public confidence, and the sustainability of calf production systems.
Her research aims to develop and evaluate practical on-board feeding strategies to support calf health during these journeys. Anna investigates how calves adapt to novel automated milk-feeding systems, whether these systems improve behavioural and physiological welfare indicators, and how feeding during transport may influence later performance in rearing units. By identifying feasible solutions for industry, her project contributes to improving welfare standards and informing future transport guidelines.
Anna has a background in Agricultural Sciences (MSc, University of Hohenheim) and has gained international research experience at SLU(Sweden), Kasetsart University (Thailand), and FiBL Switzerland. Her master’s thesis focused on calf grazing behaviour using sensor technology. Beyond research, Anna enjoys travelling, exploring new cultures, and engaging with topics around equality, inclusivity, and social justice, while also hiking and spending time in nature.
Teagasc email: anna.neujahr@teagasc.ie
University email: anna.neujahr@uchceu.es
Teagasc Research Programme:Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Programme
Research Location: Teagasc Moorepark – Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre
Name of your University: CEU Cardinal Herrera University, Valencia
University Supervisor: Dr Ainhoa Valldecabres
Funder: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)