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Royal Smithfield Club Awards Geoff Simm

SAC’s Professor Geoff Simm, Academic Director and Vice Principal (Research) has been recognised for his work by the Royal Smithfield Club. He received the Bicentenary Trophy from Club Deputy President Robert Stovoid.

The Trophy, an Armada dish set with 25 golden guineas, was first presented in 2000 to nationally recognise a person, or company, who has made a significant contribution for the overall benefit of the British meat livestock industry.

According to Robert Stovoid,

“Geoff Simm (SAC) is without doubt one of the outstanding applied animal researchers of his generation. His work on developing genetic selection indices for sheep and beef cattle has been widely taken up in the industry with direct and cumulative effects on improved carcass characteristics compatible with the interests of both consumers and producers”.

The presentation took place at a dinner during the East of England Agricultural Society's Winter Stock Festival at Peterborough. Previous winners, well known to SAC, include Sir  Donald Curry, CBE, John Thorley, OBE; J. Alan H. Stevenson, OBE; Ian Galloway, CBE, ARAgS and Dr. Basil G. Lowman, MBE. There were 20 nominations for the 20101 award whichn was chosen by an independent panel.  

Professor Simm has published more than 100 papers in peer refereed journals and many other publications (including a widely recognised text book) to inform scientists and industry of new developments.  By working very closely with breed societies and commercial producers the results of Geoff's work in developing economic selection indices have had, and will continue to have, a growing economic benefit for the meat industry. 

The citation explained that Geoff Simm has an international academic reputation in animal breeding, but has kept knowledge transfer to the livestock industry at the top of his agenda, to the benefit of all livestock breeders in the UK. The establishment of EGENES, the main genetic evaluation database for farm animal species in the UK, has been a particular success.

The SAC Vice Principal and Academic Director (Research) is a past recipient of the Sir John Hammond Memorial Prize, the RASE Medal for Research Achievement and the George Hedley Memorial Award.He was recently President of the British Society for Animal Science, is Chairman of the National Steering Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources, and is a past member of DEFRA's Science Advisory Group.

For further information please contact

Geoff Burgess, The Royal Smithfield Club, Brierley House, Summer Lane, Combe Down, Bath BA2 5LE. Tel: 01225 837904;  Mobile: 07702 050119;  E.mail: sally@royalsmithfieldclub.co.uk

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