STALLION AI founder Tullis Matson has received an honorary doctorate in honour of his high-tech work in helping protect rare breeds of animals from extinction.

Mr Matson runs the equine reproduction company near Whitchurch, and received an honorary doctorate in technology from Nottingham Trent University in recognition of his contribution to the development and application of technology.

A spokesman for Stallion AI Services said: "Tullis was hugely challenged by severe dyslexia during his school days, a time he refers to as the dark period of his life.

"It is evident that the difficulties that Tullis experienced in school have influenced his approach to challenges throughout his career.

"He is determined to find solutions to problems and apply new techniques, even if these are untested.

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"Tullis is a great believer in setting goals, he is always exploring new ways to improve what he does and to share his knowledge with others."

Stallion AI Services was founded in 2000 and is one of the most successful stallion collection centres in Europe.

He has worked closely with Nottingham Trent University and the work is credited with protecting breeds threatened with extinction.

The spokesman said: "In 2020, in conjunction with Nottingham Trent University, Stallion AI Services bred the first Suffolk Punch foal in the UK to have been born using sex-sorted semen from a genetically matched stallion determined by NTU and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

"This combination of technologies, supported by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, is likely to be a major step towards securing the future for all critically endangered breeds threatened with extinction as a result of inbreeding."

In 2019, he received the Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies award for services to agriculture, and in 2020 he accepted the commission of Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire to support the work of the Lord-Lieutenant of the county.