Owen McPherson 1949-2010
It is with profound regret that we mark the passing away on Wednesday 8 September 2010 of a great friend and colleague in Oceanlab. He was diagnosed with cancer in June of this year and his rapid demise has been a shock to us all. However he was treated very well maintaining a lively interest in our work right until the end, sitting in the sun outside the hospital asking if we had remembered all our different duties.
Owen came to marine science late in his career as is explained in his own text on his personal webpage (below). He was also our webmaster so apologies to all that updates have been absent during recent weeks. Outside his work Owen was; rhythm guitarist in a well known NE Scotland rock band, Albatross. He was an archer and craftsman making his own replica antique bows and arrows and maintained contacts with hundreds of former students of agriculture from Aberdeen. Most importantly, he was a family man and is survived by his wife Aileen, two daughters and grandchildren.
He went to sea for the first time 2009 on board the French Research Vessel Pourquoi Pas? as part of the EU FP7 project Coralfish for which he produced the official cruise blog URL. The best epitaph is probably that from his new friends on board the ship:
“He was open and kind, so he has obtained a lot of pictures with smiling faces1.
This is how we all remember Owen.
Owen Mcpherson on board the Pourquoi Pas?
during the Coralfish/Bobgeo cruise to the Bay of Biscay.
1Quotation from Jean-François Bourillet (IFREMER) leader of the Bobgeo expedition.
Research Interests
I joined the University's Department of Agriculture in 1972 and was employed as a technician at the University's farm where I was responsible for the day to day management of the pig unit. With the sale of the farm in 1984 I transferred to the School of Agriculture. While there I worked very closely with Professor Peter English and was very much involved in the running of his research projects which in the last 10 years centred mainly around the development, delivery and evaluation of training and training packages for people in the European farm animal sector with the joint aims of improving the knowledge and understanding of animal carers and thereby improving animal health, welfare and productivity. In our last project we developed an Interactive CD-ROM Training Package for farmers stockpeople of which 8,000 copies were produced and circulated free to the British Pig Industry. The CD-ROM was widely acclaimed as, and still is, a world leader. I was also very much involved in the 3 Masters Degree Programmes, Undergraduate and Postgraduate research projects. In August 2004 moved from Agriculture to take up my current post as Research Technician here at Oceanlab.
During my time in the Department of Agriculture I developed my skills in many areas of IT, from image manipulation to statistical data analysis. In 2002 I was one of the first in the University to obtain a European Computing Driving Licence. These skills and the many practical hands on type skills required in agriculture I have found very useful here at Oceanlab.
My main interests outside of work are our kids (they never grow up), our dogs (they keep me sane), music (I have my own band), archery and a bit of DIY.« top
Selected Publications
McPherson, O. and Lemon, J. (1993). A novel use of SIR as a method of storing and retrieving short term dataset. Proceedings International SIR Users Conference. London. 148-153.
Britton M, Roden J A, McPherson, O, Willox G and English P R (1993). A comparison of a straw-based and slatted floor housing system for the weaned pig. Anim. Prod. 56, 477.
Rikard-Bell C V, English P R, Dunne J H, McPherson, O, Roden J A, Davidson F M and Bamlett R (1993). Sources of inefficiency at mating in pigs - an appraisal. Anim. Prod. 56, 452.
Stamatopoulos K, English P R, McPherson, O, Roden J A, Davidson F M and Williams J (1993). Evaluation of the usefulness of the provision of shredded paper as a bedding in a slatted floored farrowing pen. Anim. Prod. 56, 475.
Willox G, English P R, Roden J A, McPherson, O and Britton M (1993). Relative performance of small pigs at weaning in large groups on a straw based rearing system. Proceedings Aberdeen University Agricultural Graduates Association 4, 54-55.
Gebresillase T H, English P R, Roden J A and McPherson, O (1993). Efficient milk production from forage in Ethiopia. A Technical Review prepared for the Dairy Rehabilitation and Development Project, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. 26 pages. Miscellaneous Publication, School of Agriculture, University of Aberdeen.
Shoniwa A C, English P R, Llopart D, McPherson, O, Roden J A and Edwards S A (1994). Effect of different lysine:energy ratios in the lactation diet on sow performance. Anim. Prod. 58, 466.
Peral P, Edwards S A, Roden J A, Mora J, Ortega A, McPherson, O and English P R (1994). Effect of different lysine:energy ratios in the diet on performance and rebreeding of lactating gilts. Anim. Prod. 58, 466.
Ortega A, English P R, Roden J A, McPherson, O, Peral P and Mora J (1994). A study of the influence of shredded paper bedding at parturition on hypothermia, survival and growth of piglets and indices of sow welfare. Anim. Prod. 58, 476.
Mora J, English P R, McPherson, O, Ortega A, Peral P, Roden J A, Edwards S A and Farmer A M T (1994). Liveweight and backfat (P2). changes in first lactation sows in relation to subsequent reproduction. The 13th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress Proceedings, Bangkok, Thailand. 13,450.
Dunne J H, Davidson F, McPherson, O, Roden J A, English P R, Hutchinson J S M and Farmer A M T (1994). The influence of exogenous oxytocin in association with natural mating and artificial insemination on subsequent fertility. The 13th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress Proceedings, Bangkok, Thailand 13,404.
Dunne J H, English P R, McPherson, O, Davidson F, Farmer A M T, Roden J A and Hutchinson J S M (1994). The use of PG600 as a management aid for the controlled introduction of maiden gilts into the breeding herd. The 13th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress Proceedings, Bangkok, Thailand 13,381.
English P R, Willox G, McPherson, O, Roden J A, Britton M and Smith W J (1994). Relative performance of small pigs at weaning in large groups on a straw based rearing system. The 13th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress Proceedings, Bangkok, Thailand 13,454.
English P R, Roden J A, McPherson, O, Stamatopoulas K, Ortega A and Smith W J (1994). Evaluation of improved thermal comfort for newborn piglets by provision of paper bedding in relation to hypothermia, survival and growth. The 13th International Pig Veterinary SocietyCongress Proceedings, Bangkok, Thailand 13,453.
English P R, Roden J A, McPherson, O, Britton M and Smith W J (1994). Evaluation of `high welfare' and `standard' housing systems for the weaned pig. The 13th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress Proceedings, Bangkok, Thailand 13,455.
English P R, Beveridge L M, Dunne J H, McPherson, O, Burgess G, Roden J A and Smith W J (1994). Evaluation of training packages and courses for pig stockpeople in Scotland, Ireland, Greece and Spain. The 13th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress Proceedings, Bangkok, Thailand 13,451.
English P R, Rikard-Bell C V, McPherson, O, Dunne J H, Roden J A, Davidson F M and Smith W J (1994). Indices of quality of mating in sows and their relationship to farrowing rate and litter size. The 13th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress Proceedings, Bangkok, Thailand 13,413.
English P R, Burgess G, Dunne J H and McPherson, O (1994). Training in stockmanship knowledge and skills for workers in the pig industry. A template for stockperson certification and career development with application on an EC wide basis. Report on FORCE Project to CEC, Task Force Human Resources, Education, Training and Youth. 75 pages. CEC Brussels.
English P R, McPherson, O, Dunne J H, Lambert R and Burgess G (1994). Animal Technician Training Video. Pig Care: the importance of careful handling of the pig on the farm, during loading, transportation, unloading and in lairage. CEC Brussels.
English P R, McPherson, O, Dunne J H, Lambert R and Burgess G (1994). Animal Technician Training Video. Pig Care: the important aspects of mating management and artificial insemination in relation to animal care and efficiency of reproduction. CEC Brussels.
English P R and McPherson, O (1994). Labour for Animal production: The requirements for skilled stockmanship and approaches to achieve this objective. Proceedings of International Course `Animal Production in the Twenty First Century' University of Cordoba, Spain. Sept. 1994. 1 - 9.
English P R and McPherson, O (1994). Recruiting stockpeople with the correct `pig care' attributes, training them, increasing knowledge, job skills, team spirit in the workplace and job satisfaction. Proceedings EC Comett Conferences, Halkida and Trikala, Greece. April 1994. 1 - 8.
Xalabarder A, Roden J A, English P R, McPherson, O and Head A (1995). An assessment of pig welfare in very large groups of weaned pigs from outdoor systems. Anim. Sci. 60, 563
Head A, English P R, Roden J A, McPherson, O and Xalabarder A (1995). A comparison of single and group farrowing/lactation paddocks for first parity sows in an outdoor system. Anim. Sci. 60, 563
English P.R., McPherson, O., Deligorgis S., Vidal J., Tarocco C., Bertaccini F. and Sterten H. (1998). Evaluation of training and certification methodologies and career developmet packages for pig industry workers in Scotland, Greece, Spain, Italy and Norway. Proc. 15th International Pig Veterinary Society. Volume 2, 14
English P.R., McPherson, O., Tarocco C., Bertaccini F., Deligorgis S.G., Vidal J.M., and Sterten H. (1998). Evaluation of training methodologies, motivational influences and staff and enterprise development initiatives for pig industry workers in Scotland, Greece, Spain, Italy and Norway. Proc. 15th International Pig Veterinary Society. Volume 2, 15
Grant, S.A., English P.R., and McPherson, O. (1998). The effects of pleasant handling of sows and gilts prior to parturition and in early lactation on behaviour, the process of parturition and piglet survival. Proc. 15th International Pig Veterinary Society. Volume 2, 1
English, P.R. and McPherson, O. (1998). The growing and finishing pig. Improving efficiency of production, carcass and meat quality. Proceedings First River Plate Pig Production Congress, Punta del Este, Uruguay. (1998), 10pp.
English, P.R. and McPherson, O. (1998). Improved growth to weaning and care of the newly weaned pig. Proceedings First River Plate Pig Production Congress, Punta del Este, Uruguay. (1998), 9pp.
English, P.R., McPherson, O., Deligeorgis, S.G., Vidal, J.M., Tarocco, C., Bertaccini, F. and Sterten, H. (1998). Evaluation of training, certification and career development strategies for livestock industry workers in Scotland, Greece, Spain, Italy and Norway. In: Farm Animal Welfare – Who writes the rules? Occasional Publication No. 23 – British Society of Animal Science 1999. (Eds. A.J.F Russel, C.A. Morgan, C.J. Savory, M.C. Appelby and T.L.J. Lawrence). 144 - 149.
English, P.R., McPherson, O., Deligeorgis, S.G., Vidal, J.M., Tarocco, C., Bertaccini, F. and Sterten, H. (1998). Evaluation of the effects of training methodologies, motivational influences and staff and enterprise development initiatives for livestock industry workers in Scotland, Greece, Spain, Italy and Norway on livestock performance and indices of animal welfare. In: Farm Animal Welfare – Who writes the rules? Occasional Publication No. 23 – British Society of Animal Science 1999. (Eds. A.J.F Russel, C.A. Morgan, C.J. Savory, M.C. Appelby and T.L.J. Lawrence). 137 - 143.
English, P.R., Grant, S.A., McPherson, O. and Edwards S.A. (1998). Evaluation of the effects of the positive ‘befriending’ of sows and gilts (‘Pleasant’ Treatment). prior to parturition and in early lactation on sow behaviour, the process of parturition and piglet survival. In: Farm Animal Welfare – Who writes the rules? Occasional Publication No. 23 – British Society of Animal Science 1999. (Eds. A.J.F Russel, C.A. Morgan, C.J. Savory, M.C. Appelby and T.L.J. Lawrence). 132 - 136.
English P.R. and McPherson, O. (2000). The education, training and motivation of livestock farmers, managers and stockpeople in relation to enhancing animal welfare, performance and efficiency of production. Invited Review Paper. Proceedings 31 st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Swine Practitioners. Indianapolis, USA. March 11 - 14, 2000.
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