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...