A seminar on dairy cow lameness was recently held at AFBI Hillsborough, to raise awareness of the main factors contributing to lameness on dairy farms, and to highlight up-to-date methods of monitoring lameness on farm.
Dr Steven Morrison, AFBI, Hillsborough, discusses the key factors involved in winter feeding decisions over the coming months.
There was standing room only when over 200 people attended the annual George Scott Robertson Lecture held at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute headquarters in Belfast.
A high percentage of the forage grasses used for reseeding on local farms have been bred by AFBI, at the Northern Ireland Horticulture and Plant Breeding Station in Loughgall.
There has been an increase in the number of cases of botulism in cattle in Northern Ireland in recent years. Investigations by AFBI have provided strong circumstantial evidence that broiler litter is a risk factor for many of these outbreaks.
There has been an increase in the number of cases of botulism in cattle in Northern Ireland in recent years.
With the 2007 grazing season nearing an end, now is a good time to reflect on results of the GrassCheck project.
The implications of the ‘global economy’ in which we now live have become increasingly apparent to Northern Ireland dairy farmers during the last few months.
Representatives from the pig industry across Northern Ireland and further a field were updated on recent research findings from the Pig Research Programme at AFBI, Hillsborough.
Bovine TB, foot-and-mouth disease, bluetongue and climate change will all be on the agenda during the Annual George Scott Robertson Memorial lecture on The Role of Science in Animal Disease Policy Development by Professor Sir Howard Dalton FRS.
AFBI recently hosted a meeting of the Fish Veterinary Society at its AFBI Stormont, Veterinary Sciences Division laboratories in Belfast.
AFBI have initiated a network of insect light traps across Northern Ireland to monitor the occurrence of potential insect vectors of bluetongue disease.
A new pig research facility was commissioned this week at AFBI, Hillsborough.
The 2007 silage analysis year is now in full swing for the AFBI Hillsborough Feeding Information System with over 3000 first and second cut silages analysed to date.
AFBI was delighted to receive a delegation from Chile to their Belfast headquarters recently.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute was represented at the European Week of Regions & Cities held recently in Brussels.
The Ulster Wildlife Trust, Chief Executive, Heather Thompson was very complimentary about the work undertaken by AFBI, Loughgall, during a recent visit.
Yields from the 2007 winter wheat variety trials, conducted by AFBI on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and part-funded by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA), are now available.
Wheat straw used to prepare mushroom compost is highly variable, presenting composters with a number of problems in maintaining compost consistency.
The first case of acute liver fluke disease in sheep of 2007 was identified recently at AFBI's veterinary laboratory in Omagh. This finding indicates that farmers should now be on the alert for this condition.
Gilt management is an important aspect of operating a successful and profitable pig unit.
Agriculture specialists from Kingshay Farming Trust in England and consultants from locally based Farmgate Nutrition recently visited the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough site, to view and discuss the latest developments in research on sustainable dairy production research and nutrient management.
Over the last four years the AFBI Global Research Unit, which identifies and evaluates international research developments, technologies and ideas, has prepared several timely reports for our agri-food industry.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is introducing a Cattle Health Scheme for the four most common and economically important infectious diseases of cattle in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Methane is widely produced in the natural environment and is considered a major “green house” gas. There is currently increasing interest in methane production from enteric fermentation in ruminant animals as a significant contributor to the problem.
Did you ever wonder what farm animals think of each other? Do they make friends? Do they even like each other? Research carried out at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Hillsborough in conjunction with the School of Psychology at Queens University Belfast set out to answer these questions.
The Northern Ireland poultry and feed industries were recently briefed on progress being made in a major research project aimed at combating intestinal disease in poultry. The collaborative research by Devenish Nutrition, Queen’s University and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is investigating methods of improving gut health and performance of commercial broilers without the use of in-feed antibiotics.
Agronomists from as far afield as Canada, Portugal and Sweden will be joining colleagues from the British Isles to attend a specialist workshop on the diagnosis and management of nematode pests. These microscopic worms are of increasing economic importance throughout the world, where they attack virtually all agricultural and horticultural crops.
Yields from the 2007 winter barley variety trials, conducted by AFBI on behalf of DARD and part-funded by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA), are now available.
It has come to the attention of AFBI that a number of people are in receipt of job offers/opportunities, ultimately leading to requests for money, from someone claiming to be an ex-employee of either AFBI, Science Service or ARINI (Hillsborough).
Over 40 growers packers and processors attended an Orchard Walk held at Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Loughgall recently. Dr Jim Mc Adam, director of plant science research at AFBI Loughgall, welcomed visitors from the apple industry to AFBI and Mr Kieran Lavelle of CAFRE outlined the programme for the evening orchard walk.
The cooking of feed ingredients in pig and poultry diets has been standard practice for many years and has been demonstrated to improve feed intake and growth. One of the major reactions in the cooking process is the Maillard reaction. This reaction results in the bonding of amino acids (in proteins) and sugars together giving Maillard Reaction Products. It is possible to improve pig performance using solutions of Maillard Reaction Products, and research has been on going at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Newforge in conjunction with Queen's University Belfast and Devenish Nutrition Ltd, to examine the use of Maillard Reaction Products in complementary feedingstuffs with a view to improving animal performance in the post weaning period.
Renewable Energy Open Day at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, Loughry Campus.
Dr Margaret Patterson AFBI, Newforge has received an award for professionalism and contributions to food science, especially through her work on food processing.
Delegates from the International Farm Management Conference held recently in Cork, visited the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Hillsborough to learn of the latest developments in sustainable livestock production research and the recent research initiatives in renewable energy.
Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew recently visited The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute site at Crossnacreevy.
AFBI and Queen’s University Belfast has been awarded £350,000 to investigate the genetics of the susceptibility of cattle to tuberculosis.
Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is responsible for regulating and enforcing the access to and use of personal information held by public authorities.
In the last couple of weeks, Infection periods have been recorded across Northern Ireland.
Members of a Scottish dairy discussion group recently visited AFBI Hillsborough
Around 200 sheep farmers, including visitors from New Zealand (NZ) and Canada, attended the recent farm walks organised by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Hillsborough, The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE; Greenmount Campus) and AgriSearch to highlight the options for easier-care sheep systems.
This year AFBI hosted the Farm Woodland Forum meeting with the theme “Trees for Farm and Community - Post Decoupling”. The meeting was held over two and a half days at The Rural College & Derrynoyd Centre, Draperstown and included presentations and field visits.
AFBI staff raise £650.00 for Co-operation Ireland
AgriTech seed merchants and agents from across Ireland visited the AFBI Plant Testing Station at Crossnacreevy last week.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Greenmount Campus, has issued a potato blight warning. An Infection Period was recorded from 30 June – 2 July.
Dunluce, the new intermediate heading tetraploid perennial ryegrass, bred by AFBI Loughgall, has been made available for commercial use in the Province for the first time this year.
The Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland recently visited AFBI Hillsborough to learn of the latest developments in sustainable livestock production research and the recent research initiatives in renewable energy.
Charlotte Stewart, a young County Tyrone scientist, has been awarded a €2000 scholarship from the Irish Pig Health Society to present her research findings at a major international conference in Mexico this year.
In response to the recent Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD)Minister’s announcement on the strategic disposal of DARD owned facilities at Crossnacreevey, currently used by AFBI for experimental, arable and grassland programmes, the AFBI Chairman, Mr Seán Hogan said:
Following a recent visit to the newly established beef suckler herd at AFBI, representatives of the beef industry expressed their support for the excellent progress made to date at AFBI Hillsborough.
The Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Branch of AFBI hosted an international symposium on cod biology on 22-23 May 2007 at AFBI’s Newforge Headquarters in Belfast.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Greenmount Campus have issued a potato blight warning.
Pupils from Killowen Primary School, Lisburn, ably assisted by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), have constructed a Willow igloo, or as the pupils named it a “Twigloo”.
Efficiently utilized grazed grass is the cheapest source of feed for beef cattle, with grass silage costing 1.2 times and concentrates costing 2.5 to 3 times as much as grass.
The unusually dry and warm weather in April this year has had a dramatic effect on grass growth this Spring.
Dr George McIlroy greets First Minister, The Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley and Baroness Paisley
Research by AFBI scientists on safe transportation of ware and seed potatoes has brought benefits for a local potato grower.
The
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) wishes to advise sheep farmers of the likely risk of Nematodirus
worm infection in young lambs this spring.
Achieving
high dry matter intake is particularly important with modern grazing dairy cows. The practice
of offering higher grass allowances may boost intake but can result in poor grass utilisation and this
normally results in sward deterioration.
When
the hormone leptin was discovered just over a decade ago it was immediately but wrongly hailed as a
universal cure for human obesity. But potential applications in farm animal production have not
been overlooked.
Over
one hundred 14-16 year-olds from schools across Northern Ireland experienced the wonderful world of
food microbiology – with both good and bad bacteria - at W5 at the Odyssey as part of W5’s Skills and
Science programme.
The
General Consumer
Council for Northern Ireland recently visited the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough
site to learn of the latest developments in sustainable livestock production research and the Renewable
Energy Centre of Excellence.
During a recent visit
to the Agri-Food
and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough, the Caledon Dairy Discussion Group were updated on a number
of new and ongoing Agri-Search and DARD co-funded dairy research projects.
Until
recently the only management decision facing local farmers was whether to grow maize in the open using
very early maturing varieties or under plastic where later higher yielding ones can be pushed through
to maturity. Another option now being talked about is whether to sow a single variety or a mixture.
Normally the use of seeds mixtures is a practice we associate with grass reseeding but it is a tactic
now being used by some growers, particularly in England.
AFBI today announced the completion
of a unique piece of work designed to contribute to the sustainable management of mariculture in Northern
Ireland’s sea loughs.
Professor Steven
Leath, Associate Dean for Research and Director of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service
and his three colleagues, Drs. Mike Yoder, Paul Siciliano and Shannon Pratt visited the Agri-Food and
Biosciences Institute in late December.
A
study at AFBI Hillsborough has evaluated separation of slurry
by a conventional farm slurry separator and a decanting centrifuge. Preliminary results from this
study have shown that separation of slurries has significant potential to help in managing plant nutrients
on farms.
The
Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies (CARAS) held the first of their tri-annual meetings
of 2007 at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Headquarters on Monday 22 January.
Dr
Margaret Patterson, a Principal Scientific Officer at AFBI is the current President of the Society for
Applied Microbiology (SfAM). The Society held its 75th President’s Dinner in the Palace of Westminster,
London recently. Mrs Iris Robinson, as Dr Patterson’s local MP, hosted the event and the after dinner
speaker was Professor, Sir David King, Chief Scientific Advisor to H.M. Government and Head of the Office
of Science and Innovation.
Nutrition and management options for easy-care
lambing systems will be a key focus of the discussion at two farm workshops organized by AFBI Hillsborough,
in conjunction with AgriSearch and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), on
20 January (Greyabbey, Co. Down) and 27 January (Castlederg, Co. Tyrone) 2007, commencing at 1.30pm.
Staff at AFBI Hillsborough raised
£1086 for the Royal Victoria Hospital’s Cardiac Unit at their annual Christmas gathering. Dr Vanessa
Woods, who manages the Global Research Unit, organised a raffle for AFBI staff, with the proceeds going
to the Cardiac Unit.
There
was good news for the Northern Ireland fishing industry recently when the European Commission Council
of Ministers, at their December meeting in Brussels, granted a 17% increase in Total Allowable Catch
(TAC) of Dublin Bay Prawn (Nephrops) from the Irish Sea.
On-farm
research to underpin sustainable sheep breeding and feeding will be featured at the forthcoming Sheep
Farm Workshops to be held on 20 January (Greyabbey, Co. Down) and 27 January (Castlederg, Co. Tyrone).
The workshops organised by AFBI, Hillsborough in association with the College of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) will provide a great opportunity to come and discuss the latest findings from
DARD and AgriSearch funded research. Particular emphasis will be placed on feeding for lamb survival
and breeding for easier-care sheep at these farmer-led workshops, which start at 1.30 pm.
Is
it possible to introduce easy-care traits such as ease of lambing and lamb viability into a terminal
sire breed? What about the impact on lamb performance and carcass quality? Recent research
on sire selection for easy-care sheep systems, including the use of New Zealand Suffolk genetics, will
be presented at two farm workshops organized by AFBI Hillsborough,
in conjunction with AgriSearch and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) on
20 January (Greyabbey, Co. Down) and
27 January (Castlederg, Co. Tyrone) 2007, commencing at 1.30 pm
Feeding
strategies for ewes prior to lambing will be just one of the topics up for discussion at two farm workshops
organized by AFBI Hillsborough, in conjunction with AgriSearch
and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) on 20 January (Greyabbey, Co. Down)
and 27 January (Castlederg, Co.
Tyrone) 2007, commencing at 1.30 pm.
