Finbar Mulligan

Assoc. Prof. Finbar Mulligan has worked in ruminant nutrition research since 1996. Originally he worked on the development of the Irish Net Energy System, which forms the basis on which we now feed ruminants in Ireland. He has researched extensively in the areas of negative energy balance, metabolic status and subacute ruminal acidosis, publishing approximately 70 scientific publications. His research interests include development of high output grazing systems for milk production, dairy herd health and the prevention of production diseases by nutrition, nutrition and metabolic status of the early lactation cow, nutrition and fertility, nutrition in the dry period, protein metabolism of dairy cattle and equine nutrition. He has had research publications or projects in all of these areas recently. His scientific review articles ‘A herd health approach to dairy cow nutrition and productions diseases of the transition cow’ and ‘Production diseases of the transition cow’ produced a template for veterinary practitioners and nutritionists to monitor nutritional status, diagnose nutrition related disorders and suggest appropriate control strategies. These articles remained amongst the most cited in their field for several years. His nutritional recommendations have changed the way dairy cows are fed in Ireland e.g. in relation to the prevention of milk fever and subclinical hypocalcaemia and early lactation negative energy balance. He regularly delivers presentations to veterinary practitioners and nutritionists on how to control nutrition related disorders in Ireland and over-seas. He has delivered key note presentations on Dairy Cow Nutrition and Production Diseases at the World Buiatrics Congress, EU Cost Action Meetings, Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (South Africa), The World Holstein Friesian Congress, and The European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition, The British Society of Animal Science, Society of Feed Technologists in Europe. Prof Mulligan is an active member of the UCD Veterinary School Herd Health Group and regularly participates in herd health investigations that are related to dairy cow nutrition or production disease. He is programme coordinator for the Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health, an online further education programme designed to bring recent knowledge on herd health monitoring and prevention of disease to practising cattle veterinarians. He also served for eight years as a Ministerial Appointee of the Irish Government on the Veterinary Council of Ireland.