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Neosporosis programmes within AFBI Cattle Health Scheme

Reducing the labour requirements of sheep production systems is a key issue for the Northern Ireland sheep industry. Survey data indicates that 4 to 8 hours per ewe are required for lowland sheep production systems involving intensive sheepherding indoor lambing systems (DARD, 1996; Connolly 2000). A large-scale on-farm study funded by AgriSearch and DARD (project no. 9917) has shown the potential for controlled grass-based lambing systems to reduce feed costs and the labour requirement of sheep systems without having detrimental effects on lamb output. This project has also shown that flock genetics has a major effect on lamb output in both indoor and outdoor lambing systems.

Potato flea beetles (Epitrix spp.) are native to North America and can cause serious damage to potato crops.

AFBI supports a number of research projects into potato health including; 'The basis of potato cyst nematode resistance in Solanum species', 'Improving the detection and control of fungal and bacterial pathogens of potato tubers', 'Diagnostic scheme for the identification of European potato cyst nematode (PCN) populations' and 'Optimising control of potato late blight with effective use of fungicides and cultivars for conventional and reduced input systems'.

Project objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of reducing the crude protein level of pig diets on the growth performance of the pig. In addition feeding strategies which may alleviate any depressing effects will be investigated.

The Biogeochemistry Research (BGR) Programme is providing the grass-based livestock industry in NI (and further afield) with innovative strategies for mitigating ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions and enabling it to contribute to the 35% reduction (of 1990 levels) in GHG emissions (by 2025) as stipulated by the NI Executive.