Duration 4 years Team and Leader Dr N. O'Connell & Lorna Baird Organisations Involved AFBI Hillsborough Background and Summary Timescale Benefits Details to follow

Duration 4 years – commencing May 2006 Team and Leader Lorna Baird; Supervisors: Drs Niamh O’Connell and Maurice McCoy Organisations Involved ARINI, VSD, Queens University Belfast Background and Summary Lameness is a significant financial drain on the Northern Ireland dairy industry, costing producers approximately £10m per year (£2000 per herd).  This research aims to get a better understanding of the relationship between lameness and both genetic and management factors.   Three main research studies are proposed: (1)     Lameness often develops in dairy cows when they are under...

Duration 3 years Team and Leader Milk Development Council Organisations Involved Milk Development Council Background and Summary To investigate current footbath and configurations. To find the design giving most contact between solution and hoof.  To examine the siting of footbaths. To develop a manual containing the results of research. Timescale Benefits This project is now completed

Duration 5 years - commencing September 2004 Team and Leader Drs Niamh O'Connell, Alistair Carson, Maurice McCoy and David Logue (SAC) Organisations Involved ARINI, VSD and SAC Auchincruive. Background and Summary Lameness costs Northern Ireland producers approximately £10m per year (£2000 per herd), which equates to 10% of the variable cost of milk production. This cost is due to reduced fertility and milk yield, increased culling rates and treatment costs. Key factors contributing to lameness are difficulties detecting and treating problems at an early stage.  These...