Improving the efficiency of feed resource use within the diets of confined dairy cows through precision feeding and improved concentrate allocation strategies (D-56-11)
Project leader and team: Ryan Law, Shane McGettrick, Alastair Wylie and Conrad Ferris
Duration: 36 months commencing August 2011
Organisations involved: AFBI (Agriculture Branch and Veterinary Science Division)
Background to proposal:
The profitability of the dairy sector can vary greatly from year to year, with milk price and costs of inputs being two of the key factors influencing returns. With regards milk price, this is largely outside of the control of the Northern Ireland dairy farmer, with local milk prices increasingly determined by world market forces, a consequence of trade liberalisation and changes in CAP support. Similarly, the costs of feed, fuel and fertiliser (main input costs associated with dairying), are largely determined by international factors outside of the control of local farmers. These include the strength of the global economy, oil prices, together with weather conditions in the main cereal/protein crop exporting regions of the world. While farmers have little control over the costs of feed, fuel and fertiliser, they can optimise the use of these resources on their own farms, and in so doing control inputs costs within their own farm business. This is particularly true for feed costs, and especially the costs of concentrates, which currently represent approximately 70% of variable costs on Northern Ireland dairy farms. With an increasing world population now competing for many components of concentrate feeds, feed costs look likely to continue to increase.
Effect of three different concentrate build up strategies in early lactation on production performance health and fertility of high-yielding dairy cows - D-54-11
Duration 16 months commencing December 2010
Team and Leader Ryan Law, Shane McGettrick, Alastair Wylie and Conrad Ferris
Organisations involved AFBI (Hillsborough, Newforge and Stormont)
Background and Summary
During early lactation, high yielding dairy cows are unable to consume sufficient food to support high levels of milk production, resulting in severe and prolonged periods of negative energy balance and excessive body reserve mobilisation. Research has shown that severe negative energy balance (NEB) increases the interval from calving to the commencement of luteal activity (Canfield and Butler, 1991; Lucy et al., 1992), extends the interval to first service (Butler et al., 1981) and decreases conception rates (Domecq et al., 1997).