Meet Our Experts - Mark Little

Mark Little is part of our network of experts, read on to hear more about his work.

Mark Little is a veterinary surgeon with over 20 years of experience spanning farm animal practice, academic research, and commercial animal health. His career has been shaped by a deep commitment to improving livestock health, welfare, and sustainability—both at the farm and industry level.

Mark began his professional journey in clinical practice, spending more than a decade supporting beef and dairy clients throughout Northern Ireland. This period gave him a deep appreciation for the challenges and opportunities facing farmers and gained practical insight into what effective veterinary support really means. 

Motivated to create broader impact, Mark pursued a PhD in ruminant nutrition and immune function, publishing peer-reviewed papers and presenting his research internationally. He excels at translating complex scientific insights into practical, actionable guidance—a skill he continues to apply through government consultancy, advisory work, and conference presentations.

In subsequent years, Mark has held technical leadership roles within the pharmaceutical and feed sectors, where he has supported the development, communication and implementation of animal health strategies across the UK and Ireland. His work has included leading collaborative industry projects, serving on professional committees, and contributing to key policy discussions on veterinary medicine access, antimicrobial stewardship, and sustainable livestock systems.

As a Nuffield Farming Scholar, Mark explored multi-species preventative health practices around the world, deepening his appreciation for cross-sector learning and the global relevance of One Health approaches. Whether advising farmers, developing training programmes, or shaping policy, he brings a systems-thinking mindset grounded in real-world application.

Mark currently works as a Senior Researcher at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland, where his research focuses on developing nutritional strategies to reduce methane emissions in dairy cows. This work aims to support more sustainable livestock systems by aligning animal health, productivity, and environmental stewardship.

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