Stephen Watson

Staff profile

Lecturer in Agricultural Science (HE), Programme Manager BSc Agriculture, BSc Agriculture with Crop Science, BSC Agriculture with Livestock Science

Steve Watson (2)

Career Overview

My career to date has encompassed the sheep, pig and poultry sectors before progressing into the higher education sector.


As a self-employed sheep farmer, I built up an outdoor lambing, low-input flock of circa 500 ewes, utilising performance data to breed my own replacements. Terminal sire rams were used on ewes not selected for breeding replacements and their progeny were sold through the live market. Suitable genetics were selected to ensure that they finished with no bought in feed – thus achieving greater margins and allowing me to run a profitable enterprise without subsidy support.


I also worked in pig genetics for PIC at their Hampshire boar stud alongside this, evaluating quality and managing boars. After this, I moved to Avara, where I was responsible for hygiene in a million bird a week broiler hatchery.

Teaching and supervision

Level 4

  • Introduction to Livestock Science
  • Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture
  • Skills Development for Agriculture

Level 5

  • Pig and Poultry Production
  • Ruminant Livestock Production

Level 6

  • Supply Chain Management

Research interests

  • Sustainability
  • Education and pedagogy
  • Sheep production
  • Pig and poultry production

Agriculture degrees

Male And Female Student And Lecturer Checking Crop Health