Calfhood diseases represent a significant problem for the farming industry, not only in terms of the immediate effects on the well being and performance of the calf, but also long term productivity. New data from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is coming forward which quantifies the effects of calf scour and pneumonia on long-term subsequent performance. This article provides a brief review of this information which really does highlight the significant costs of calf ill on lifetime performance.
Improved varieties and quality seed are essential if crop productivity is to be maintained. Breeders, seed merchants and testing organisations all play a role in ensuring that farmers are provided with the most appropriate varieties for use in Northern Ireland. The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Crossnacreevy carries out extensive variety evaluation programmes and regularly produces up-to-date information on varieties of cereals. This information is summarised in the new booklet on Recommended Cereal Varieties for Northern Ireland 2012, which is now available.
Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) is a newly discovered virus that has been associated with brief mild/moderate disease in adult cattle (fever, reduced milk yield, sometimes diarrhoea) and abortion or birth defects in newborn ruminants in the Netherlands, Germany and recently in Belgium.
Anne Richmond, a second-year PhD student from Ballymoney, County Antrim, has commenced a prestigious three month fellowship in the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) at Westminster. Her award is sponsored by the Institute of Food Science & Technology.
A group of technologists from the UK and Irish food sector participated in a recent specialised workshop on high pressure processing (HPP) held at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). The theme was “From concept to commercialisation”. Participants had the chance to hear about global consumer food trends before focussing on developments in the use of HPP for foods around the world. Case studies were discussed, including a presentation from Michael Reynolds, the MD of Vegus – a company based in Wexford who used AFBI’s HPP Development and Toll services to develop and process a variety of juices which are now on sale as far away as Singapore and Australia. Delegates had a chance to see HPP in action when they visited the AFBI facility and also enjoyed a “high-pressure” lunch, where the food had been pressure treated.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) recently hosted the inaugural meeting of the Safefood Cryptosporidium Knowledge Network at its Newforge Lane Headquarters in Belfast. The title of this event was “Cryptosporidiosis in Ireland and Beyond: Back to the Future”.
In contrast to 2010, which was an excellent grass year both in terms of growth and utilization, the 2011 season has been much more challenging. This was emphasised by the data collected within the AgriSearch and DARD funded GrassCheck project which measured grass growth at six sites across Northern Ireland - Antrim, Aghadowey, Hillsborough, Portaferry, Fintona and Tempo.
Gareth Burns, a Postgraduate researcher from Belfast has won an award for his presentation at the recent Teagasc Walsh Fellowships Seminar. Gareth won a Walsh Fellowship in 2008 to study for a PhD through Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). His research is based at two centres, the Agri Food and Bioscience Institute (AFBI) at Crossnacreevy and at the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation centre in Grange. His supervisors are Dr Trevor Gilliland (AFBI), Dr Padraig O’Kiely (Teagasc) and Prof Christopher Elliott (QUB).
