Breeding efficient composite ewes through better recording
Funded by AgriSearch and LMC, started in 2014
Aims: to implement and monitor 2 contrasting breeding strategies at 4 hill farms and 6 lowland farms (including AFBI) to demonstrate how better recording (through EID systems on farms and at meat plants) can be used to evaluate the effects of different ewe genotypes on animal health and performance, including litter size, ease of lambing, lamb growth and survival.
Feed into Lamb: investigation of metabolisable energy requirements and environmental footprint of sheep towards developing a robust energy feeding system for sustainable sheep production
Funded by DAERA, AHDB, AgriSearch, started in 2015
Aims: to update the energy requirements of sheep to improve current AFRC system
A series of digestibility experiments will be carried out in 2016 and 2017 using the 6 individual calorimetric chambers at Hillsborough, and the data will be used to develop models to better predict energy requirements for sheep.
RamLamb: Gender, age and diet effects on lamb meat flavour and sensory quality
Funded by DAFM and DAERA, started in 2013, in collaboration with Teagasc and UCD
Aims (AFBI component): To carry out two lamb feeding trials to study the effect of different forage types (grazed grass, forage rape, stubble turnip, grass silage, clover siage, concentrate), breed and gender (castrates versus entire lambs) on lamb growth, carcass data and sensory quality of lamb meat
Effects of supply chain factors on the quality and production efficiency of lamb meat
Funded by DAERA, started in 2015.
Aims:
- To complement the RamLamb study by determining the role of gender and diet on animal feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and carcass characteristics
- To investigate novel aspects of meat quality in terms of flavour
Development of a targeted health and production plan and assessment of its effects on the efficiency of sheep production systems
Funded by DAERA, started in 2015.
Aims:
- Develop a flock health plan,
- Implement it at 8 farms on a gradient of ‘health’ issues,
- Monitor its effects including financial analyses
Application of innovative analytical techniques to improve the assessment of diet quality in sheep systems
Funded by DAERA, started in 2015.
Main aim: to develop a tool to predict diet quality and animal performance from analysis of faecal output
Objectives:
- Undertake a feeding trial at AFBI on pregnant ewes;
- Sample vegetation/diets and faeces on commercial farms;
- Analyse samples using thermogravimetric analyses and fourier transform infrared and
- Validate prediction models