The SRUC Podcast

In this episode, Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager, is joined by Will Allman, Director of Belmont Farm & Equine Vets, an independent veterinary practice based in Herefordshire. Will shares his perspective as a farm vet working across a wide range of beef enterprises and tackling endemic disease at farm level. He discusses the importance of proactive engagement and her...

Join Ely Blyth and Lucy Thornton for another trip into the woods. This time the Forest and Outdoor Learning Award (FOLA) team are exploring how forest school can be applied inside the college and beyond. They’ve boiled it down to four key elements and discuss the opportunities and challenges of bringing these into practice. Whether you’re an outdoor professional, a teacher or lecturer, or simply c...

Join host Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager, as she chats with special guest Lorraine Johnston, SRUC’s Bee Advisor for Scotland. Explore the hidden complexity of bee society, how a hive works throughout the year, and why these incredible pollinators are essential to our food systems. Whether you’re a beekeeper, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious about the tiny creatur...

This podcast has been created as a useful update for farm vets with beef clients. Gareth Mulligan, Director of Afon Vets a mixed practice in South Wales and Chairman of Iechyd Da (the delivery partner for South Wales), speaks to Alison Braddock, SRUC Veterinary Services. The Welsh Governments' Sustainability in Farming Scheme is launching in March of this year with opportunities for local farm vet...

Guests: James MacBeath – Course Manager, Brora Golf Club David Gemmell – General Manager, Brora Golf Club Summary: Ian goes on the road to Brora Golf Club to speak with James and David about their amazing golf venue and the special experience golfers receive at this gem of a Highland golf course. Their discussion covers the evolution of the golf course in recent times, the modern business approach...

Guests: Alex Knight – Community Impact Manager, Scottish Golf Carinne Taylor – Northeast Regional Development Manager, Scottish Golf Summary: We sit down with Alex Knight and Carinne Taylor of Scottish Golf to chat about growing the game in an inclusive, community focused, and sustainable way. We also get to learn about the amazing ‘Unleash Your Drive’ programme which brings our beautiful game to...

Guest: Tony Hanson – Managing Director, Environmental Solutions International Summary: Water! Yes, that’s right we are talking water in this episode of the podcast with Tony Hanson, Managing Director of Environmental Solutions International. Water accessibility is a compelling topic around the globe and one the golf industry will need to come to terms with sooner than later. Tony provides some com...

Guests: Mike McKenna – General Manager, Amata Spring Country Club Mike O’Keeffe – Global Intern Manager, Ohio State University’s International Turfgrass Intern Program Summary: Ian is joined by Mike O’Keeffe to speak with Mike McKenna about his extraordinary career journey in the golf industry that has taken him from Newcastle to stunning locales around the world. Currently the Managing Director a...

Guest: Kate Stillwell – Head Greenkeeper, The Golf Club of Kópavogur and Garðabær (GKG) Summary: Ian and Ben virtually touch down in Reykjavík, Iceland for an engaging chat with Kate Stillwell, Head Greenkeeper at Golf Club of Kópavogur and Garðabær to discuss her career journey, the experience of working abroad, and Icelandic culture. We dive into a broad range of topics with Kate including what...

In this On the Hoof podcast for vets in practice Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Alwyn Jones, Veterinary Investigation Officer from St Boswells about Botulism in cattle. This follows a presentation Alwyn took part in at the most recent British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) Congress in October. The podcast covers clinical signs, risk factors and prevention an...

During the spring calving season of 2025, several cases of Long Bone Deformity (LBD) were diagnosed in suckler herds. Unfortunately, by the time calves are born with this condition, there is little that can be done. However, late autumn - around the time of housing and ration changes - is the key moment to take preventive action. While predicting which herds are at greatest risk is difficult, disc...

In this podcast, Colin Mason Centre Manager and Veterinary Investigation Officer, Dumfries, picks up on some of the key messages from a recent Dairy meeting in Scotland. Hosted by Alison Braddock, Colin explains about the importance of checking lameness which can result in less visits to the milking machine, reduced rumination, and reduced feed intake. Colin examines the causes of lameness and wha...

This timely podcast hosted by Alison Braddock provides a quick recap on Bovine Respiratory Disease for busy vets in practice. Colin Mason Centre Manager and Veterinary Investigation Officer, Dumfries, provides an overview of pathogens and the main risk factors causing BRD in both dairy and beef plus some top tips. Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in SRUC and On the Hoo...

In this ‘On the Hoof’ Podcast for vets in practice (equally useful for farmers too!) Colin Mason, Centre Manager and Veterinary Investigation Officer, Dumfries talks to Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager about the parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) risk in sheep. Colin highlights the importance of critically assessing lamb performance and growth rates, zero toleranc...

In this ‘On the Hoof’ podcast Heather Stevenson, Veterinary Investigation Officer, Dumfries, explains the importance of minerals and trace elements in the sheep flock. This podcast is hosted by Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager who asks Heather about essential minerals and trace elements. They cover, sampling, testing and tips on effective and safe treatment. Th...

This ‘On the Hoof’ Podcast with VIO and Centre Manager Helen Carty is hosted by Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager and examines the new phase 6 in Scotland’s BVD eradication programme. Helen covers, what’s happened so far and what’s coming next. Helen also touches on how much BVD is in Scotland now and what vets in practice should do to support BVD eradication. P...

Guests: Michael O’Keeffe – Global Intern Manager for Ohio State University’s International Turfgrass Intern Program David McGregor – Director Of Grounds at Westwood Country Club Summary: We reach out across the pond to the USA to discuss Mike and David’s passion for the golf industry, the incredible careers that can be found within the game of golf, and the need to raise more awareness of the joys...

Guest: Darren McLaughlin – Golf Courses Manager at Trump Turnberry Golf Resort Summary: We cover a range of compelling topics with Darren including his experience working around the world, the benefits and opportunities that R&A scholarships bring, and how data is driving his approach to golf course management. We also talk about what gets the younger generation of greenkeepers excited about t...

Guests: Kerr Rowan – Course Manager at Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club David Addison – General Manager at Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club, PGA Fellow Manager Summary: We touch base with Kerr and David about career journeys in the golf industry, the opportunities to see the world that working in the industry offers, and their love for their golf club. We also explore how organisational development...

We check in with South Africa to talk with Andrew about how he fell in love in with golf, his journey from a professional tour player to creating and leading the African turf academy, and his thoughts on organisational sustainability. The discussion also highlights the amazing golf course conditions in South Africa, some of the current crop of professional players from that part of the world, and...

We speak with Simon Olver, Golf Course Manager at Ganton Golf Club, about his passion for the game of golf, his career journey in the industry, and the experience of becoming a head greenkeeper at a very young age. We also dive into the topics of environmental stewardship at his golf course, efforts towards sustainability, and the rich history of Ganton Golf Club. Join us for a fascinating chat wi...

To mark world veterinary day, this episode is dedicated to celebrating the wonderful veterinary professionals who strive to make a difference, with a particular focus on a very special milestone: the esteemed Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons—or RCVS Fellowship. To help us dive a little deeper and truly appreciate what it means to be a RCVS Fellow, we are very honoured to have...

This ‘On the Hoof’ Podcast for vets in practice focuses on three livestock parasites, liver fluke, rumen fluke and Haemonchus. Alison Braddock speaks to special guest Philip Skuce who is a Principal Scientist in Parasitology at the Moredun Research Institute. Philip discusses the important issue of wormer resistance and the mantra ‘test don’t guess’ and discusses the increasing interest around vet...

In this podcast Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager speaks to Colin Mason, VIO and Centre Manager, Dumfries, about Schmallenberg virus (SBV).  Colin explains about what the Scottish Surveillance system has picked up and what we need to be aware of as we look at calving and lambing in 2025. The virus, which is spread by biting midges, is not a notifiable disease but the...

This latest On the Hoof episode for vets in practice addresses the issue of bovine respiratory disease. Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager speaks to Colin Mason our well known contributor and Centre Manager in Dumfries who gives an update on this multifactorial disease. Further details on sampling are available on our website www.sruc.ac.uk/vets please also visit our Disea...