Poultry award for welfare expert

Jessica received the award for her work at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, which is focused on improving bird welfare during poultry production.

Her current research evaluates the welfare impacts of both stunning and on-farm killing techniques for poultry. She has a particular focus on the welfare assessment of a new method of stunning poultry, called Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning.

Jessica has also carried out studies on bird behaviour and the merits of multi-sensor platforms for remote monitoring of poultry flocks, such as thermal imaging and technologies to monitor vocalisations.

The EPIC Young Poultry Person of the Year Award was set up in memory of renowned egg processor Clive Frampton, former owner of Frampton’s egg processing business, who passed away in 2012. The award is made annually to recognise the efforts of up and coming stars in the poultry industry.

Dr Jessica Martin, lecturer in statistics and animal Welfare at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, said: “I am truly honoured to receive this award from the UK poultry Industry and so grateful for their on-going support over the years.

“It demonstrates the strengthening relationship between industry and the scientific community to produce high quality data and results, with high impact.”