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The role of higher protein forages and home grown protein sources within Northern Ireland dairy systems.  Background   In order to sustain milk production, dairy cows must have an adequate intake of dietary protein.  Within higher output systems cows must be offered additional protein in the form of concentrate supplements. However, these protein supplements are expensive, and are subject to price volatility.  In addition, the long term supply of non-genetically modified protein into Europe cannot be guaranteed, while the import of these ingredients has a negative effect on the carbon...

  Efficient, innovative and sustainable heifer rearing systems: improving efficiencies through the utilisation of precision technologies and an enhanced understanding of the nutrient requirement of dairy youngstock    Background   Recent CAFRE analysis has estimated heifer rearing to cost £2,000/heifer or 6ppl of milk produced.  Calving at the optimum weight and age has shown previously (Pirlo et al., 2000) to result in improved fertility, longevity and potential lifetime performance.  However, the average age at first calving in Northern Ireland dairy herds is still estimated to be...

Project title: Evaluation of prediction accuracy of milk mid-infrared spectroscopy technique for feeding efficiency and methane emissions from dairy cows using AFBI calorimeter data Project team:  Tianhai Yan and David Wills    Duration:- Three Years     Background to proposal:     This proposal is to support AFBI’s participation in a Genome Canada project entitled: improving feed efficiency and reducing methane emissions from dairy cows using milk mid-infrared spectroscopy. The overall objective of this Genome Canada project is to develop a cost-effective tool for breeding...

This project is due to start in March 2018.  Further details will follow in due course

  Title    Evaluation (pilot study) of a new technological approach to improving the detection of sub-clinical mastitis in cows and an adjunct to the SCC.    Team       Conrad Ferris PhD, Head of Dairy Research at AFBI Hillsborough.Afbi, Hillsbourgh (CF) Stephen Crooks, Senior Scientist, Afbi, NI. (SC) Martin Mulholland, Senior Dairying Technologist, CAFRE, Greenmount Campus. NI (MM) Fiona Ferguson PhD, Senior Food Technologist, Depart. Agriculture and Rural Development, NI. (FF) Philip Turkington, Associate Professor, BSc. MSC, PhD. (PT) Roisin Lagan,...