Mary Delaney is the head of Equine with GAIN Horse Feeds. She is married to David and they have two children – 2-year-old Gerard and 8-month-old Daniel. They live on a spring calving dairy farm in north Kilkenny.

Mary is immersed in agriculture in both her personal and professional life and she has a great love of animals. GAIN Horse Feeds is the equine feed brand of Glanbia plc. As head of Equine, Mary is involved in managing the sales of the brand nationally and internationally as well as being responsible for the brand’s long-term strategy.

“Quality, nutrition and performance are the cornerstones of our ethos. From the sourcing of high-quality raw materials through to the delivery of finished product, we are focussed on ensuring optimum customer satisfaction at all times,” Mary explained.

GAIN has products for all sectors of the equine industry, including racing, breeding and sport horse, focussing on the performance end of each of those sectors.

The brand has many high-profile customers across these sectors, including Jim Bolger in racing and Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor in show-jumping.

“We also have some very exciting partnerships in the equine industry,” she says, which include the brand being the official feed consultants to Team Ireland Equestrian as well as official Alltech partner for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games which takes place in Normandy in August this year.

Mary was awarded a Nuffield Ireland Farming Scholarship for 2014 and her study topic is Sustainability – the Carbon Challenge in Irish dairy farming.

“With the abolition of milk quotas in April 2015, it is an exciting time for dairy farmers,” says Mary.

She intends to investigate the opportunities as well as any challenges that may come with expansion.

Mary is a member of the Council of the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) which looks after the professional interests of Agricultural Science graduates. She would encourage all graduates to become members.

“It offers a number of great benefits to members, including career advice, networking events, participation in seminars, agri-business workshops as well as the annual ASA conference in September”.

“I’m a busy person but I love what I do and I have great support around me.” CL