This week’s Young Stock Podcast is recorded live from the Dairy Women Ireland’s conference, as we sit down with UCD professor and Nuffield Ireland scholar Zoe McKay. 

Having gotten involved in the original steering committee that developed the network, Zoe is now secretary to the board of Dairy Women Ireland. 

She discusses the role of the organisation and the importance of bringing women working on dairy farms together. To provide a network to give confidence and support to those who are directly or indirectly involved across the dairy sector. 

Zoe grew up in the farming community of Ballyfin Co and she is currently an assistant professor of grass and forage science at University College Dublin. Within this role, Zoe is the programme director for the undergraduate degree in sustainable food systems, along with leading a grassland research programme at UCD Lyons Farm. 

Importance of research

As one of the 2025 Nuffield Ireland scholars, Zoe has spent the last year travelling across the globe to gain information and research for her topic, “Future Grasslands for Climate Adaptation: What are the options for Ireland?”.

Her research aims to evaluate grassland strategies to adapt to climate change and increase the sustainability of Ireland’s grass-based production systems.Want a say in our next dairy podcast? Fill out our short survey for a chance to win Wawet waterproof leggings—your feedback matters www.ifj.ie/dairypodcast

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