Edinburgh livestock adviser named best in Britain at national farming awards
An Edinburgh-based livestock adviser helping farmers across Scotland and northern England improve animal welfare has won Farm Adviser of the Year at the 2026 British Farming Awards.
Chloe Rodriguez, an animal-welfare specialist at Galebreaker, received the national accolade in recognition of her practical, research-led approach to improving livestock health, welfare and productivity.
Having relocated to Edinburgh this year, Chloe works with dairy, beef and pig farmers to
assess livestock housing and advises on improvements to help create healthier, more
comfortable environments.
Her work focuses on factors including ventilation, airflow, temperature, humidity and animal behaviour, helping farmers identify potential causes of respiratory disease, heat stress and other health and welfare challenges.
Commenting on her award, she said: “It’s a huge honour to win Farm Adviser of the Year, and I’m incredibly grateful to the Galebreaker team for supporting me.
“Since moving to Scotland, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know farmers here and in the north of England, and to help resolve the challenges they face.
“Every farm is different, and that’s what makes the job so interesting. Being able to combine research with practical experience and help farmers make changes that benefit their animals is incredibly rewarding.”
Alongside her advisory role, Chloe is involved in collaborative research with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), including the A-SHED project, which is investigating the impact of heat stress on dairy cattle housed across Scotland and Cumbria.
The two-year project, involving Galebreaker, SRUC and Smartbell, is collecting environmental data from 23 dairy units to better understand how building design, ventilation and humidity affect cow comfort and productivity.
Chloe has also contributed to CEVEC, a research project examining how purpose-built calf housing can improve young-stock health, growth and farm efficiency.
She explained: “There’s a real opportunity to use research and data to help farmers better understand what’s happening inside their livestock buildings.
"In Scotland, many sheds have traditionally been designed to protect animals from cold, wet and windy conditions, but we’re learning more about how those same buildings perform
during warmer weather.
“Working with farmers and researchers to turn that knowledge into practical improvements is something I’m particularly passionate about.”
The British Farming Awards judges praised Chloe’s proactive approach, technical expertise and commitment to evidence-based advice, highlighting her potential to make a lasting contribution to the agricultural industry.
Pictured: Chloe Rodriguez, animal-welfare specialist at Galebreaker
Comments