应国际处邀请，新西兰梅西大学农学与环境学院副院长Paul Kenyon及 Hugh Blair教授来我院访问交流。9月19日上午，在学院104会议室召开了座谈会。座谈会由姜雨教授主持，学院相关老师及研究生参加了会议。     

姜雨教授主持座谈会

　　首先，副院长Paul Kenyon教授介绍了梅西大学的历史沿革，专业学科及在新西兰各大学中的排名情况。并介绍了梅西大学招收研究生及“2+2”、“2+3”本科的政策、费用等。

副院长Paul Kenyon教授作报告

　　随后，副院长Hugh Blair教授介绍了他目前做的一个课题：绵羊羔皮肤厚度和存活率的关系。研究证明较厚的皮肤有利于维持新生羊羔的体温，尤其是在大风下雨等恶劣环境下。该课题是一个伊朗留学生和印度导师和Hugh本人合作完成，体现了梅西大学广泛的国际合作。

副院长Hugh Blair教授作报告

    最后，与会师生就关心的问题与客人做了深入交流。

座谈会会场

　　简介：

　　Prof Paul Kenyon BAgrSc, PhD, MApplSc (Hons)：

　　Deputy Head of School, School of Agriculture & Environment

　　Professor Paul Kenyon completed at BAgrSci degree at MU in 1996 before completing a MApplSc in 1997.  He was first employed at MU as a research and technician an in 1997, then as a tutor in 1998 and as a Lecturer in Sheep Production systems in 1999 (he completed his PhD on staff in 2002). He was appointed Professor of Sheep Husbandry in 2011 and became Head of the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences in 2015.  He grew up on a sheep and beef farm in the Manawatu and is married with two teenaged boys. His research aims to improve on-farm productivity and profitability. He has a number of research linkages and programmes nationally and internationally. He has presented on more 150 occasions to farmer audiences and in the last 17 years and published more than 400 scientific articles (including 190 articles in refereed journals).  A considerable proportion of his research is undertaken in partnership with industry bodies in New Zealand.

　　Research Interests

　　Sheep production and managementManaging multiple bearing and rearing ewesTwinsTripletsHogget (ewe lamb) breedingUse of alternative herbagesImproving reproductive performanceFetal programmingReproductionBeef cattle productionChicoryPlantainLambs and lamb growthLamb survivalFarmer learning

　　KeywordsSpecific research programs include:

　　maximizing ewe lamb (hogget) breeding(ii)      twin and triplet lamb survival and growth to weaning(iii)     reducing dystocia in heifers(iv)     effects of body size on efficiency of production in both sheep and beef cattle(v)       alternative feed types including chicory, plantain, red clover and lucerne to improve sheep and beef cattle    performance(vi)        potential long term intra- and inter-generational effects of dam nutrition, pregnancy rank, parity and size (fetal programming)(vii)          farmer learning and information/technology transfer　　

　　Prof Hugh Blair Animal Science：

　　School of Agriculture and Environment

　　Professor Blair grew up on a hill country sheep and beef cattle farm in Kotemaori, northern Hawkes Bay.  He graduated from Massey University in 1976 and joined the Sheep Husbandry Department to lecture and undertake a PhD.  After a spell as a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University, he returned to Massey in 1983 as a lecturer in animal science.  In 1995 he became Professor of Animal Science and in 1998 assumed the role of Deputy Head of the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Science.  Professor Blair lectures in animal breeding and genetics to undergraduate and postgraduate students.  His main research interests are: improving the application of animal breeding and genetic technologies to the improvement of production and service animals in New Zealand; understanding developmental programming to improve production animal performance and the study of the genetic causes of diseases.  Professor Blair has supervised 72 postgraduate students, 23 being PhD graduates, and currently supervises 14 postgraduate students. 

　　Research Interests

　　Quantitative animal breeding and genetics with an emphasis on the underlying metabolic and physiological processes that underpin genetic changes; the identification of epigenetic phenotypes in sheep and study of the likely mechanisms.

　　Keywords

　　Quantitative animal breeding and geneticsIdentification of epigenetic phenotypes in sheep and study of the likely mechanisms.