Dr Caroline Rymer

Email:
c.rymer@reading.ac.uk
Phone:
+44 (0) 118 378 6436
Job title:
Associate Professor

Responsibilities:

Postgraduate admissions tutor (Animal, Dairy and Food Chain Science)
Teaching and research in animal science
Programme director: Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Livestock Production
Member of the Accreditation and Governance Committee of the British Society of Animal Science

Areas of interest

My research interest is in the characterisation of feeds, and in understanding the interaction between the composition of the diet and the animal's response in terms of health, performance and environmental impact. Key research areas in which I am currently engaged are:

1. Using microbiomic and metabolomic approaches to understand the impact of nutritional and environmental interventions in poultry production. This research seeks to explain the mechanisms involved (in terms of changes in gut microbiome composition and host metabolic responses) that bring about changes to the health and performance of broilers when different interventions are applied. The effect of diet and management on the prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the chicken gut is also being investigated.

2. Increasing the efficiency of utilisation of feeds, particularly co-products from food and biofuel production. My work in this area is in the characterisation of feeds derived from these processes, to determine the role they may have in feeding livestock in a more sustainable manner. Recent and current examples of this work include the development of prediction methods for the estimation of the energy value of maize silage, and identifying the nutritive value of residues from bioethanol production.

Publications

Sari, N. , Stergiadis, S. ORCID: 0000-0002-7293-182X , Ray, P. ORCID: 0000-0001-8375-8279 , Rymer, C. , Crompton, L. , Kliem, K. (2023) Effect of garlic processing method on in vitro methane production and rumen fermentation. Book of Abstracts of the 74th Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science. EAAP book of abstract series Wageningen Academic Publishers (29). ISBN: 9789086863846 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-936-7

Sari, N. , Ray, P. ORCID: 0000-0001-8375-8279 , Rymer, C. , Kliem, K. , Stergiadis, S. ORCID: 0000-0002-7293-182X (2022) Garlic and its bioactive compounds: implications for methane emissions and ruminant nutrition. Animals , 12 (21). ISSN: 2076-2615 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12212998
Khan, X. , Lim, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-1705-1480 , Rymer, C. , Ray, P. ORCID: 0000-0001-8375-8279 (2022) Fijian veterinarian and para-veterinarians’ behaviour, attitude and knowledge towards antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance: a qualitative study. Frontiers in Veterinary Science , 9 ISSN: 2297-1769 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.898737
Khan, X. , Rymer, C. , Lim, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-1705-1480 , Ray, P. ORCID: 0000-0001-8375-8279 (2022) Factors associated with antimicrobial use in Fijian livestock farms. Antibiotics , 11 (5). ISSN: 2079-6382 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11050587
Khan, X. , Rymer, C. , Ray, P. ORCID: 0000-0001-8375-8279 , Lim, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-1705-1480 (2022) Categorisation of antimicrobial use in Fijian livestock production systems. Antibiotics , 11 (3). ISSN: 2079-6382 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11030294
Khan, X. , Lim, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-1705-1480 , Rymer, C. , Ray, P. ORCID: 0000-0001-8375-8279 (2022) Fijian farmers' attitude and knowledge towards antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in livestock production systems - a qualitative study. Frontiers in Veterinary Science , 9 ISSN: 2297-1769 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.838457
Juniper, D. , Kliem, K. , Lee, A. , Rymer, C. (2022) The effect of stocking rate and supplementary selenium on the fatty acid composition and subsequent peroxidisability of poultry muscle tissues. Animal , 16 (3). ISSN: 1751-7311 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2022.100459

Correa, P. , Jimenez, C. , Mendes, L. , Rymer, C. , Ray, P. ORCID: 0000-0001-8375-8279 , Gerdes, L. , da Silva, V. , De Nadai Fernandes, E. , Abdalla, A. , Louvandini, H. (2021) Taxonomic and functional diversity in the fecal microbiome of beef cattle reared in Brazilian traditional and semi-intensive production systems. Frontiers in Microbiology ISSN: 1664-302X | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.768480
Dakheel, M. ORCID: 0000-0002-1938-8098 , Al-Bedhawi, M. , Al-Mnaser, A. , Woodward, M. , Mora-Ortiz, M. , Rymer, C. ORCID: 0000-0002-3535-4330 (2021) In vitro impact of condensed tannins on the caecal metabolites of chickens. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science , 58 ISSN: 1413-9596 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2021.174733
Khan, X. , Rymer, C. , Ray, P. ORCID: 0000-0001-8375-8279 , Lim, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-1705-1480 (2021) Quantification of antimicrobial use in Fijian livestock farms. One Health , 13 ISSN: 2352-7714 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100326
Lee, A. , Aldeieg, M. , Woodward, M. , Juniper, D. , Rymer, C. (2021) The effect of Candida famata and Lactobacillus plantarum on the number of coliforms and the antibiotic resistance and virulence of Escherichia coli in the gut of broilers. Animal , 15 (8). ISSN: 1751-7311 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2021.100310
Dakheel, M. ORCID: 0000-0002-1938-8098 , Kaur, A. , Al-Mnaser, A. , Mueller-Harvey, I. , Woodward, M. , Rymer, C. (2021) Assessment of the anti-pathogenic effects of condensed tannin extracts using scanning electron microscopy. Archives of Microbiology , 203 pp. 1555-1563. ISSN: 0302-8933 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00203-020-02147-9

Al-Khalaifah, H. , Al-Nasser, A. , Givens, D. , Rymer, C. , Yaqoob, P. (2020) Comparison of different dietary sources of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on immune response in broiler chickens. Heliyon , 6 (1). pp 0. ISSN: 24058440 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03326
Dakheel, M. , Alkandari, F. , Mueller-Harvey, I. , Woodward, M. , Rymer, C. (2020) Antimicrobial in vitro activities of condensed tannin extracts on avian pathogenic Escherichia coli. Letters in Applied Microbiology , 70 (3). pp. 165-172. ISSN: 1472-765X | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/lam.13253

Juniper, D. , Rymer, C. , Briens, M. , De Marco, M. , Barbi, J. , Fontinhas, G. (2019) Hydroxy-selenomethionine is an effective selenium source for pregnant heifers and their calf. In: Chizzotti, M. , (eds.) Energy and protein metabolism and nutrition. EAAP Scientific Series Energy and protein metabolism and nutrition (138). pp 0. ISBN: 9789086863402 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-891-9_38
Juniper, D. , Rymer, C. , Briens, M. (2019) Bio-efficacy of hydroxy-selenomethionine as a selenium supplement in pregnant dairy heifers and on the selenium status of their calves. Journal of Dairy Science , 102 (8). pp. 7000-7010. ISSN: 0022-0302 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-16065

Juniper, D. and Rymer, C. (2018) The effect of rearing system and cooking method on the carnosine and anserine content of poultry and game meat. Journal of Food, Nutrition and Agriculture , 1 (1). pp. 35-39. ISSN: 2616-6550 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.21839/jfna.2018.v1i1.216
Ahmed, R. , Juniper, D. , Tonks, A. , Rymer, C. (2018) The effect of incremental inclusion of whole grain wheat in the diet of growing turkeys on growth performance, feed conversion ratio, cecal health, and digesta characteristics. Livestock Science , 214 pp. 36-41. ISSN: 1871-1413 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2018.05.009
Thomson, A. , Humphries, D. , Rymer, C. , Archer, J. , Grant, N. , Reynolds, C. (2018) Assessing the accuracy of current near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy analysis for fresh grass-clover mixture silages and development of new equations for this purpose. Animal Feed Science and Technology , 239 pp. 94-106. ISSN: 0377-8401 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2018.03.009

York, L. , Rymer, C. , Heffernan, C. (2017) A systematic review of policy approaches to dairy sector Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction. Journal of Cleaner Production , 172 pp. 2216-2224. ISSN: 0959-6526 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.190
York, L. , Heffernan, C. , Rymer, C. (2017) A comparison of policies to reduce the methane emission intensity of smallholder dairy production in India. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment , 246 pp. 78-85. ISSN: 0167-8809 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.05.032
York, L. , Heffernan, C. , Rymer, C. , Panda, N. (2017) A deterministic evaluation of heat stress mitigation and feed cost under climate change within the smallholder dairy sector. Animal , 11 (5). pp. 900-909. ISSN: 1751-7311 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1751731116002706

York, L. , Heffernan, C. , Rymer, C. (2016) The role of subsidy in ensuring the sustainability of small-scale anaerobic digesters in Odisha, India. Renewable Energy , 96 pp. 1111-1118. ISSN: 0960-1481 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.03.064

Payling, L. , Juniper, D. , Drake, C. , Rymer, C. , Givens, D. (2015) Effect of milk type and processing on iodine concentration of organic and conventional winter milk at retail: implications for nutrition. Food Chemistry , 178 pp. 327-330. ISSN: 0308-8146 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.01.091

Jones, P. , Thomas, D. , Hazzledine, M. , Rymer, C. (2014) Replacing soya in livestock feeds with UK-grown protein crops: prospects and implications. Centre for Agricultural Strategy (19). , Reading. pp 115. ISSN: 0141 1330 ISBN: 9780704915213

Gibbs, R. , Rymer, C. , Givens, I. (2013) Fatty acid composition of cooked chicken meat and chicken meat products as influenced by price range at retail . Food Chemistry , 138 (2-3). pp. 1749-1756. ISSN: 0308-8146 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.11.002

Al-Khalifa, H. , Givens, I. , Rymer, C. , Yaqoob, P. (2012) Effect of n-3 fatty acids on immune function in broiler chickens. Poultry Science , 91 (1). pp. 74-88. ISSN: 0032-5791 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps.2011-01693

Gibbs, R. , Rymer, C. , Givens, I. (2011) Meat and other animal-derived foods as sources of omega-3 fatty acids. In: Wood, J. and Rowlings, C. , (eds.) Nutrition and Climate Change: Major Issues Confronting the Meat Industry. Nottingham University Press pp. 105-121. ISBN: 9781907284779
Givens, D. , Gibbs, R. , Rymer, C. , Brown, R. (2011) Effect of intensive vs. free range production on the fat and fatty acid composition of whole birds and edible portions of retail chickens in the UK. Food Chemistry , 127 (4). pp. 1549-1554. ISSN: 0308-8146 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.02.016
Rymer, C. , Hartnell, G. , Givens, D. (2011) The effect of feeding modified soyabean oil enriched with C18 : 4 n-3 to broilers on the deposition of n-3 fatty acids in chicken meat. British Journal of Nutrition , 105 (6). pp. 866-878. ISSN: 1475-2662 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114510004502

Gibbs, R. , Rymer, C. , Givens, D. (2010) Fat content and fatty acid composition of chicken meat portions and manufactured chicken products . British Poultry Abstracts , 6 (1). pp. 41-42. ISSN: 1746-6202 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17466202.2010.501142
Milad , I. , Rymer, C. , Radley, R. (2010) Effects of ammonia treatment and undegradable protein supplementation on nutrient digestion of sheep fed on wheat straw based diets.. Archiva Zootechnica , 13 (1). pp. 39-46. ISSN: 1016-4855
Givens, D. , Rymer, C. , Gibbs, R. (2010) Long-chain n-3 PUFA: intakes in the UK and the potential of a chicken meat prototype to increase them. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , 69 (1). pp. 144-155. ISSN: 0029-6651 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0029665109991716
Rymer, C. , Gibbs, R. , Givens, D. (2010) Comparison of algal and fish sources on the oxidative stability of poultry meat and its enrichment with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Poultry Science , 89 (1). pp. 150-159. ISSN: 0032-5791 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps.2009-00232
Rymer, C. and Givens, D. (2010) Effects of vitamin E and fish oil inclusion in broiler diets on meat fatty acid composition and on the flavour of a composite sample of breast meat. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture , 90 (10). pp. 1628-1633. ISSN: 0022-5142 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.3991

Vaarst, M. , Padel, S. , Younie, D. , Hovi, M. , Sundrum, A. , Rymer, C. (2008) Animal health challenges and veterinary aspects of organic livestock farming identified through a 3 year EU network project. Open Veterinary Science Journal , 2 (1). pp. 111-116. ISSN: 1874-3188 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874318808002010111
Rymer, . (2008) The effect of wilting and soaking Eupatorium adenophorum on its digestibility in vitro and voluntary intake by goats. Animal Feed Science and Technology , 141 (1-2). pp. 49-60. ISSN: 0377-8401 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2007.04.013

Rymer, C. and Givens, D. (2006) Effect of species and breed on the enrichment with long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in edible poultry tissues from the conversion of dietary alpha-linolenic acid by broilers and turkeys. pp. 34-34.
Rymer, C. , Jayaswal, M. , Best, J. (2006) Socio-economic viability of keeping goats on a share basis by resource poor households in Nepal. pp. 59-59.
Rymer, . and Givens, . (2006) Effect of species and genotype on the efficiency of enrichment of poultry meat with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Lipids , 41 (5). pp. 445-451. ISSN: 0024-4201 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11745-006-5118-2

van Gelder, A. , Hetta, M. , Rodrigues, M. , De Boever, J. , Den Hartigh, H. , Rymer, C. , van Oostrum , M. , van Kaathoven, R. , Cone, J. (2005) Ranking of in vitro fermentability of 20 feedstuffs with an automated gas production technique: results of a ring test. Animal Feed Science and Technology , 123-124 (1). pp. 243-253. ISSN: 0377-8401 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2005.04.044 (special issue 'The in vitro gas production technique: limitations and opportunities')
Krishnamoorthy, U. , Rymer, C. , Robinson, P. (2005) The in vitro gas production technique: limitations and opportunities. Animal Feed Science and Technology , 123-12 (1). pp. 1-7. ISSN: 0377-8401 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2005.04.015
Rymer, . , Williams, . , Brooks, . , Davies, . , Givens, . (2005) Inter-laboratory variation of in vitro cumulative gas production profiles of feeds using manual and automated methods. Animal Feed Science and Technology , 123 pp. 225-241. ISSN: 0377-8401 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2005.04.029
Rymer, . , Huntington, . , Williams, . , Givens, . (2005) In vitro cumulative gas production techniques: History, methodological considerations and challenges. Animal Feed Science and Technology , 123 pp. 9-30. ISSN: 0377-8401 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2005.04.055
Rymer, . , Givens, . , Gady, . (2005) Effect of enzyme addition on the vailability for poultry of amino acids in rapeseed meal.
Rymer, . and Givens, . (2005) n-3 fatty acid enrichment of edible tissue of poultry: A review. Lipids , 40 (2). pp. 121-130. ISSN: 0024-4201
Rymer, . and Givens, . (2005) Factors affecting the protein quality of rapeseed meal. Feed Compounder pp. 1-6.
Rymer, . and Givens, . (2005) Effect of dietary concentration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content of edible poultry tissues.

Rymer, C. , Givens, D. , Kirton, P. (2004) Effects of genotype and processing technology on the protein quality for ruminants and poultry of UK rapeseed. HGCA (350). pp 56.
Rymer, C. and Agnew, R. (2004) Summary of feed characterisation methods. In: Thomas, C. , (eds.) Feed into milk: a new applied feeding system for dairy cows. Nottingham University Press , Nottingham. pp. 59-61. ISBN: 9781904761266
Givens, D. , Rymer, C. , Cottrill, B. , Offer, N. , Thomas, C. (2004) Protein requirement and supply. In: Thomas, C. , (eds.) Feed into milk: a new applied feeding system for dairy cows. Nottingham University Press , Nottingham. pp. 21-40. ISBN: 9781904761266
Rymer, . and Givens, . (2004) Effect of rapeseed variety on the chemical composition and predicted amino acid availability for poultry of rapeseed meal. British Society of Animal Science pp. 56.

Rymer, C. and Short, F. (2003) The nutritive value for livestock of UK oilseed rape and rapeseed meal. HGCA (RR OS14). pp 46.
Rymer, . , Givens, . , Wahle, . (2003) Dietary strategies for increasing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentrations in bovine milk: a review. pp. 73:9R-25R.
Givens, . , Rymer, . , Moss, . , Allison, . (2003) The effect of duration of feeding oilseeds to dairy cows on the persistency of response in milk fatty acid composition..
Afdal, . , Givens, . , Rymer, . , Owen, . , Mould, . (2003) The relationship between diet and the chemical composition of faeces..

Rymer, C. and Givens, D. (2002) Relationships between patterns of rumen fermentation measured in sheep and in situ degradability and the in vitro gas production profile of the diet. Animal Feed Science and Technology , 101 (1-4). pp. 31-44. ISSN: 0377-8401 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0377-8401(02)00215-8

Dr Caroline Rymer

Areas of interest

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