Alan Bohan

Alan graduated from UCD with an Honours degree in Animal and Crop Production (B.Agr.Sc) in 2013 and started a PhD in Teagasc Moorepark in conjunction with UCD in the same year. The aim of his PhD was to develop a whole farm system bio-economic model for the Irish sheep industry to assess the main factors affecting the profitability of Irish sheep farms. Alan developed the Teagasc Lamb Production Model during his PhD which was used to assess the effect of lambing date, prolificacy and stocking rate on farm profit as well as calculating the economic value of traits for inclusion in the national genetic evaluations in collaboration with Sheep Ireland.

Upon completion of his PhD in 2017, Alan joined Teagasc as a Research Technologist on the SheepNet programme, a knowledge exchange programme involving stakeholders from 7 European countries.

Alan joined the Sheep Ireland Team in September 2019 where his work is focused on the continual improvement of sheep genetic evaluations and the continued increase in uptake of €uro-stars by sheep farmers.

Alan is also sheep and beef farming in Co. Leitrim which keeps him in touch with the day to day challenges of farming and the key role grassland management plays in maintaining a profitable and sustainable farming enterprise.