Written by Tunmise Faith Ehigbor
Tell us about yourself
I am Tunmise Faith Ehigbor, and I am from Nigeria. My parents had a poultry farm in our compound as I was growing up, which inspired my love for animals. I went on to study animal physiology for my bachelor’s degree at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. There, I had the opportunity to work on research on lactating West African Dwarf goats, and in 2021, I graduated with a first-class degree and top of my class. Immediately after my undergraduate degree, I also worked on a project using vocalization characteristics to measure the welfare of Nigerian indigenous chickens. In 2022, I won the prestigious Arrell Food Institute scholarship at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, to start a MSc in Animal Biosciences. My research was focused on poultry behaviour and welfare, where we determined laying hens’ preferences for different edible enrichments (pecking blocks) and its association with improved eggshell quality. The overall aim of this was to improve the sustainability of the food system through animal welfare. After finishing my MSc, I started a new graduate program at the University of Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Veterinary College, to work on a participatory initiative to enhance antimicrobial stewardship on Canadian dairy farms. I aim to carry on this project as I pursue a PhD program. I was inspired to pursue this project based on my passion for solving problems/health and welfare issues that affect animals, humans, and the environment. From my farming background, I have experienced some of the challenges that farmers face. As a welfare scientist, I am keen to find feasible solutions for farmers without neglecting animal health and animals and then transfer research into practice implemented on farms.
Why SMART?
I was attracted to the SMART Training Platform program because it focuses on training individuals to carry out research and innovation to build a resilient food system that will improve health in Canadian cities. This perfectly aligns with my background, experiences, and life goals.
This training also links perfectly with my ongoing project, as our research will enhance antimicrobial stewardship through a farmer-led approach. Training in implementation science and healthy cities will help me acquire the necessary skills to implement the evidence-based practical management strategies we would develop with Canadian dairy farmers. With this training, I will be equipped to get results into the hands of people who use it. This includes policymakers, who would implement and incorporate these best practices into code of practices and guidelines for farmers. Based on these factors, I believe this training is crucial for achieving my personal and academic goals.
Your research & the future…
Antimicrobial resistance is a serious public health challenge affecting humans and animals, with a substantial environmental impact. The short-term objectives of my research project include developing and evaluating standard operating procedures based on evidence-based practices and discussions with farmers for implementing prudent antimicrobial use on Canadian dairy farms. We also aim to identify and address barriers in the on-farm transition from non-selective to selective antimicrobial use. Our project will employ a farmer-led approach and involve key stakeholders in the dairy industry, including veterinarians. This will make implementation and adoption easier, leading to healthier Canadian cities and a better and safer food system.
I am hopeful that dairy farmers will be able to confidently adopt selective antimicrobial use at the end of this project while receiving enough support. Using standard operating procedures, farmers can implement the best management practices to reduce farm antimicrobial resistance. I also hope that through our research, we will reduce the dairy industry’s environmental impact from antimicrobial use and improve animal health and welfare, thereby contributing to more sustainable farming practices, a healthier dairy industry, and healthier cities
