Gemma Charlton

Gemma Charlton is a Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Harper Adams University, specializing in dairy cow welfare and precision livestock technologies. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, an MSc in Animal Biology and Welfare, and a PhD from Harper Adams University.

Her research focuses on dairy cow housing systems, cow-calf rearing practices, and the application of sensor technologies to improve animal health monitoring. She led the DASIE project (co-funded by Innovate UK), which developed sensor systems to enhance cow welfare through continuous behavioral monitoring. Previously, she worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Canada on cow comfort in dairy herds.

Key research interests include cow comfort optimization, precision livestock farming, and fostering ethical dairy practices. She has published extensively on behavioral indicators of cow health, sensor accuracy validation, and calf rearing strategies. Current supervision includes PhD candidate Olivia Bolton.

• Professional Memberships: International Society for Applied Ethology, American Dairy Science Association, British Society of Animal Science
• Grants: DASIE project (Innovate UK funding), Silcock Fellowship for Livestock Research

Her work integrates technological innovation with animal welfare science, aiming to bridge research and practical farm management. Recent studies have examined Johne’s disease behavioral impacts and stakeholder perceptions of human-machine-animal interactions in agriculture.