Premier Pig Team

Michelle has worked as a commercial pig nutritionist for nearly 20 years. The early part of her career was spent specialising in piglet nutrition supporting the export sales team, which gave her extensive experience of pig production around the world.

Since joining Premier in 2010 Michelle has worked closely with Stuart Rowley, looking after UK home mix clients providing both nutrition and production support. She especially likes working with producers using liquid co-products. Michelle also provides technical support to a compound feed customer in South Korea.

On account of her interest in co-products and unusual raw materials, in 2013 & 2014 Michelle completed a Nuffield Scholarship investigating what the future holds for feed ingredients. Michelle is also a member of AIC’s (Allied Industries Confederation) Feed Advisors Register.

E: michelle.sprent@premiernutrition.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7875 646 064

After 12 years in academia in Scotland, first studying and then as a research scientist, Ian moved into the commercial world of nutrition when he joined ABN as a pig nutritionist in 2007. He later moved across to Primary Diets to focus on piglet nutrition and became General Manager Primary Diets in 2015 before taking up the opportunity to lead the specialist neonate division, AB Neo, in 2020. 

Ian’s passion for nutrition and profitable and sustainable pig production brings him back to this customer-facing role, working with customers to help drive their business forwards.

E: ian.wellock@premiernutrition.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7912 669 131

Lorraine has worked in the feed industry for 20 years after graduating from Harper Adams with a degree in Agriculture with Animal Science. Following a stint in industry, she went on to complete a PhD at Newcastle University examining Behaviour and Meat Taint in Heavy Pigs.

Working as a technical nutritionist and research scientist, with a practical on-farm approach, she ensures both scientific and on-farm trial data are evaluated to confirm that concepts and new products are practically applicable and commercially correct.

Lorraine is a member of AIC’s (Allied Industries Confederation) Feed Advisors Register.

E: lorraine.salmon@premiernutrition.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7891 300 391

Sam joined Premier Nutrition in 2018 after graduating from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Animal Science. Having started in the technical team, supporting all of the species teams, Sam has since specialised as a nutritionist within the pig team. He provides commercial and technical support to a number of customers, and his expertise covers premix and feed formulation.

Sam is also heavily involved in co-ordinating the pig research programme across several of our trial sites. He is particularly interested in sustainability in farming and developing low-carbon solutions for customers.

E: sam.wootton@premiernutrition.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7540 333 009

Melanie graduated with a BSc Hons degree in Agricultural Technology from Queens University, Belfast, in 2019. She then lived in Qingdao, China, where she worked as part of an international trading company. On her return to the UK, she undertook and gained a PhD in pig nutrition and welfare, also from Queens, and has written scientific publications on the impact of diet, diet change, gastric ulceration and dental health on the health, performance and behaviour of finishing pigs.

Between 2022 - 2025, she was a research co-ordinator, working with ruminant businesses and farms across the UK and Ireland, designing farm research trials and providing technical support.

At Premier Nutrition, Melanie will work with customers to find progressive nutrition solutions and enhance our research in each species sector.

E: melanie.mcauley@premiernutrition.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7394 886 262

Stuart has worked in the livestock industry for over 35 years, gaining experience in livestock marketing, trading, sales and scheme management.

Since joining Premier Nutrition, he has developed the home mix business, providing nutritional support for customers and supplying premix, starter feeds, and straights.

With his strong customer focus and account management skills, Stuart now leads the growing on-farm home mix division, supported by a team of experienced commercial nutritionists.

E: stuart.rowley@premiernutrition.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7718 909 774

Lorna joined Premier Nutrition in October 2023 and will support both current customer accounts and prospective new business in Ireland across all species.

Lorna has extensive experience in the industry following her graduation from Waterford Institute of Technology with a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture Science. She has worked as a commercial nutritionist in the ruminant sector as well as technical roles in both pig and poultry. 

Lorna has also recently started a Masters in Ruminant Nutrition at Harper Adams.

E: lorna.power@premiernutrition.co.uk
M: +353 (87) 491 4664

Jo joined Premier Nutrition in February, bringing a wealth of experience and making her a great addition to the team. She will support pig customers from order through to delivery.

E: joanne.saunders@premiernutritionco.uk
T: 01889 572 536