Keeping
simple records at lambing will enable selection of ewes and ewe lambs for breeding on the basis of performance
rather than on appearance. By selecting for easier-care traits as well as lamb growth performance it
is possible to reduce labour requirements and improve ewe productivity.
Donna
Wilkenson, a second year PhD student working in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), has
been awarded the British Poultry Association award for her project on clinical problems in broilers
caused by chicken astroviruses.
With incomes on dairy farms under major pressure
at present, a relentless approach to improving the overall efficiency of all aspects of the farm business
is essential for long term survival. Why not take the opportunity to discuss how the latest research findings from AFBI Hillsborough can
help you improve the technical efficiency and profitability of your farm business?
The Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) recommended
variety list booklets are respected throughout the local agricultural industry as comprehensive independent
guides to the best forage and crop varieties for Northern Ireland. Farmers have depended on the detailed
performance information that AFBI provides in these booklets for many years in deciding what varieties
to grow, how to manage them and what market or end-use they are most suited to. Now there is the opportunity
to gain access to more information on the newest varieties. Simply log on to the AFBI web site at www.afbini.gov.uk
and get instant access to the recommended lists of cereals, grasses and clovers, potatoes and forage
maize.
AFBI
grass breeders at Loughgall, in conjunction with international seed specialists, Barenbrug UK, are exhibiting
an innovative approach to grasses and clover mixtures for the future at the Royal Ulster Winter fair
in the Kings Hall, Belfast on 14 December 2006.
Phosphorus
(P) is an essential nutrient for pigs and is vital for bone formation and growth. Deficiency of P can
lead to welfare and health problems including rickets, poor fertility and reduced production performance.
However, P is also a major contributor to the eutrophication of waterways in Northern Ireland and given
these environmental concerns, the P levels in pig diets have been lowered to reduce P excretion. Research
at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough (in collaboration with John Thompson and Sons
Ltd., Devenish Nutrition Ltd. and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland)
has shown that the total P in diets for growing pigs could be reduced by 0.1% (0.6 to 0.5% total P on
a fresh basis). This research has impacted positively on the environment with substantially less P excretion
from pig production. The Research Group has also identified the need to examine the level of P in finishing
diets and a trial was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of P in diets for finishing
pigs.
Investors
in People awarded to Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute.
A
very successful Beef Open Day was held at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Hillsborough
on Saturday 23rd September. Farmers and Industry representatives were provided with an update
of current AFBI Beef Research Programmes and had the opportunity to hear leading experts provide an
insight into the beef industry.
The importance of the feeding value of grass
silage in determining the performance
of beef cattle and the potential of alternative forages for beef production including maize silage,
whole crop silage and lupins/triticale will be among the topics highlighted at a Beef Open Day to be
held at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Hillsborough on Saturday 23rd September 2006,
running from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.
