Professor Jennie Pryce, Research Director at Agriculture Victoria Research and Professor at La Trobe University, is one of the most respected voices in dairy genetics.
She will present The Genetic Future of Dairy at the upcoming Dairy Research Foundation Symposium, where she will highlight how genetics continues to drive innovation and opportunity across the dairy industry.
Recognised internationally for her expertise and leadership, Professor Pryce’s work has helped shape the direction of dairy breeding science and continues to influence how genetics is applied to improve animal performance, welfare, and environmental outcomes.
Named Australia’s top researcher in animal husbandry by The Australian from 2019 to 2022, Professor Pryce’s background gives her a deep understanding of what matters to livestock producers and the ability to translate genetic research into practical applications.
Originally from a UK dairy farming family, Professor Pryce’s early life shaped her perspective and connection to agriculture.
“I grew up on a dairy farm and told my grandmother when I was 11 that I wanted to be a geneticist,” Professor Pryce said.
“I did not really know what that meant at the time, but I have definitely been true to that.”
Professor Pryce’s academic journey began at the University of Edinburgh, where she completed a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours and PhD. In 2001 she moved to New Zealand to work with the Livestock Improvement Corporation before relocating to Australia in 2008. There she joined Agriculture Victoria, then known as the Department of Primary Industries, collaborating with fellow scientists Ben Hayes and Mike Goddard.
“I came to Melbourne to work on genomic selection,” she said.
“It was an amazing opportunity and a turning point for dairy breeding.”
At this year’s Symposium, Professor Pryce will explore how the next generation of genetic tools can support the dairy industry’s goals of productivity, efficiency, and environmental stewardship. Her presentation will discuss how genetic selection could be used to reduce future methane emissions, improve fertility, enhance animal health, and strengthen farm profitability.
“Genetics is a powerful and permanent method of change,” she said.
“Every time a farmer breeds a cow and chooses the right bull, they make a small but lasting improvement that compounds over generations.”
Professor Pryce is involved in international collaborations, including the MicroHub initiative that is working to analyse the
microbiomes of cattle from around the world to better understand methane production and rumen health.
“We are part of a global project that will examine more than 20,000 microbiomes from cattle across multiple countries,” she says. “It is the largest study of its kind and will give us new insights into breading for a more efficient dairy cow and environmental impact.”
Professor Pryce is also excited by the potential of wearable sensors and artificial intelligence to further enhance herd management, animal welfare, and dairy operations. She believes that as technology advances, farmers will have access to more accurate, data-driven tools.
“I think in ten years it will be normal for every calf to be genotyped,” she said.
“That will give farmers better information and greater confidence in every breeding decision.”
“We have a long history in dairy breeding of using data that farmers already collect, such as milk records,” she said.
“The next frontier is wearable sensors; tracking how long cows spend lying down could become a new, objective measure for lameness and welfare.
“AI will help us make better use of the data farmers already gather,” she said.
“But you still need skilled people working with that data, otherwise it is like having a Ferrari driven by a kid.”
Professor Pryce’s expertise, reputation, and practical insights are sure to resonate with Symposium delegates, offering a forward-looking perspective on how science can deliver sustainable growth for farmers.
“Genetics offers an extraordinary opportunity to build a more efficient and sustainable future for dairy,” she said.
“The science is exciting, but it is the impact for farmers that really matters.”
