Blythe Calnan

If you recognise Western Australian farmer Blythe Calnan from her appearances on the ABC’s Muster Dogs program, it’ll come as no surprise that her Nuffield scholarship will investigate stock handling to build resilience in people, animals, businesses and landscape. 

Bringing passion and curiosity to her research, Blythe seeks to understand livestock handling’s impact on health and safety, animal production, labour efficiency, animal welfare and land management.

Her study will explore how technology and industry trends, such as drones, remote monitoring, WHS regulations, animal welfare, land degradation, and climate variability, are affecting the practice of livestock handling in Australia.

Blythe’s research will focus on making farming more resilient in four important areas. 

First, she wants to help people by making stock handling safer, simpler, and more enjoyable. 

Second, she aims to improve animal welfare and production by exploring how improved management and handling contributes to positive outcomes throughout the supply chain. 

Third, her work will help businesses by enhancing how farmers can manage their livestock, increase profits, and lower risks. 

Lastly, she will look at how using animal behaviour and advanced stock handling in grazing management can improve the health of the land itself.

She believes there is significant benefit for the Australian industry in improving how animals, people, and land are managed harmoniously, with positive outcomes for communities and the environment.

Blythe has many ties with the agriculture industry, including running 120 beef breeders and 2,500 laying hens over 450 acres in south-western WA. 

Blythe is also a well-known trainer in land management and livestock education.