Sarah Woodmartin

Sarah was invited onto council by Vincent Griffith IGA President for a one-year co-opted term. Sarah qualified with a BAgrSc in animal science from University College Dublin (UCD), graduating in 2020.

Sarah then went on to complete a PhD in Teagasc Athenry (2020-2024) in conjunction with UCD entitled ‘’Investigating the effect of legume and herb inclusion in combination with perennial ryegrass on pasture-based sheep production systems’’. This research focused on the effect of binary sward mixtures of perennial ryegrass plus white clover, red clover, chicory or plantain on dry matter intake, animal performance, methane output, rumen function and meat-eating quality, investigating the potential for these more diverse swards to enhance the sustainability of Irish pasture-based sheep production systems. Sarah spent a semester of her PhD studies at Massey University, New Zealand, collaborating with some of the world leading researchers in the area of botanically diverse swards.

Shortly after submitting her PhD thesis in October 2024, Sarah commenced her role as a sheep grassland nutrition research officer in Teagasc Athenry. Her work continues to focus on enhancing production efficiency in pasture-based sheep production systems, with the aim of improving the economic viability of sheep meat production while lowering its carbon footprint.

Sarah is actively involved in running her family’s mixed enterprise farm in Co. Sligo, where they farm a prolific mid-season lambing ewe flock alongside a suckler cow herd. They also run a flock of free-range laying hens. Sarah’s home farm focuses on efficient grassland management and successful animal breeding programmes.

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