Dr Fraser Murdoch

Senior Lecturer in Farm Animal Practice

Biography

Background

Fraser graduated from the University of Glasgow Veterinary School in 2003. After graduating, he returned home close to the family farm in Morayshire, to work in private mixed practice for nearly 5 years, with a year’s sabbatical which included locuming in New Zealand.

In 2008 he commenced a residency in Production Animal Health and Management at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. Although the residency covered all production animals including camelids, Fraser’s focus was primarily sheep and goat work. During his residency Fraser undertook a number of research projects looking into novel pain relief for sheep and treatment of Pink Eye in sheep feedlots. He extended the Pink Eye project and completed a PhD on the subject. Fraser successfully gained Membership of the Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Sheep Medicine, and is now an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Sheep Health and Production.

Prior to starting at the RDSVS, Fraser worked at the University  of  Glasgow  where he  was  involved  in  teaching and  provision  of  clinical  services within the farm animal team and anatomic pathology group. Fraser’s main clinical interests lie within the health and management of sheep and goats, beef cattle, and bull fertility testing.

In addition to clinical duties, Fraser is Deputy Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions, in particular looking after the North American region and domestic students. Through work building links with practitioners in the more rural areas of Scotland, Fraser hopes to increase student interest in the profession within these areas.

Outside of work Fraser  continues to seek out new adventures and culinary delights in the far flung corners of the world, and attempting to build upon his language repertoire.

Qualifications

2017 PhD Murdoch University - The treatment of infectious ovine keratoconjunctivitis in pre-export feedlot sheep in Western Australia

2015 Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP)

2015 Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy

2014 RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Sheep Health and Production

2011 Membership of Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Medicine of Sheep

2003 University of Glasgow Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) (Donald Lawson Prize for clinical competence in Small Animal Studies)

Responsibilities & affiliations

Clinical Services

 

Production Animal

  • Farm Animal Practice / DHHPS
  • Farm Animal Hospital

 

School

 

  • UG teaching staff
  • PG teaching staff
  • Student support
  • Admissions
  • Farm Animal Teaching

 

  • Member of Admissions Executive and Committee, frequently representing the University at admissions events including Vet MedLink and University open days.

 

  • Deputy Director Student recruitment and admissions, in particular looking after the  North American Region involving leading on overseas recruitment trips to both partner institutions and universities to recruit students predominantly onto the BVM&S GEP course.

 

  • Deputy Chair of the RDSVS Veterinary Ethical Review Committee.

 

  • Academic lead from RDSVS Farm Animal Department for engagement with Scottish Highlands & Islands communities including outreach work, development of links to encourage vet graduate to work in remote rural areas, and recruitment of RDSVS students via Widening Participation.

 

 

Undergraduate teaching

Year 1

Animal Health, Welfare & Food Safety 1

 

Year GEP

Animal Health, Welfare & Food Safety

 

Year 2

Animal Health, Welfare & Food Safety 2

 

Year 3

Professional & Clinical Skills 3

 

Year 4

Farm Animal

Professional & Clinical Skills 4

 

Year 5

Final Year Rotations

Student Selected Component 2

 

All Years

Professional Development

Postgraduate teaching

I teach on the MVetSci Advanced Clinical Practice: Production Animal Track Courses (Postgraduate Taught online course). Module leader and main tutor on the Lambing Percentage and Ewe Survival modules, as well as contributing to other modules.

Research summary

In 2017, I was awarded a PhD from Murdoch University, Western Australia entitled “The treatment of infectious ovine keratoconjunctivitis in pre-export feedlot sheep in Western Australia”. This identified a suitable treatment protocol for an infectious eye disease in sheep in large feedlots prior to export, which is a major industry exporting over 2 million sheep annually and contributing over AUD$200 million a year to the Australian sheep industry.

I have a number of clinical research projects ongoing. These include a clinical trial assessing the impact on ewe fertility of sheep CIDRs compared to existing intravaginal progesterone sponges, and the welfare of bull breeding soundness examinations. I am also assisting colleagues in the Roslin Institute with their research, such as projects involving the MHC typing in UK cattle breeds (PI: Dr Tim Connelly) and Batten’s Disease in a sheep model (PI Dr Tom Wishart).

Current research interests

My research interests lie within the field of small ruminant health and production.

Project activity

Small ruminant health and production

Bull fertility and health

View all 8 publications on Research Explorer

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