SAC Research

Agricultural Systems Projects

Minimising nitrous oxide intensities of arable crop products (MIN-NO)

1) To gauge the importance of and variability in N2O emissions associated with crop products at the ‘farm gate’, as retailed, and according to alternative LCA approaches. 2) To quantify N2O emissions associated with UK arable cropping, as affected by crop species and growing conditions (e.g. regional climate, soil type), and fertiliser use, crop yield and crop residue management. 3) To validate the DNDC model of N2O emissions under conditions typical of arable cropping in the UK. 4) To develop and recommend appropriate approaches and ‘smart’ N2O emission factors for use in GHG accounting procedures involving crop products, national IPCC Tier 2 methodology (relating to arable cropping) and the UK GHG inventory. 5) To develop financially optimised strategies for minimising N2O emissions from UK field cropping, to help minimise the GHG intensities of UK crop products, and to disseminate results from the project.

Identification and mitigation of the environmental impacts of out-wintering beef and dairy cattle on sacrifice areas

The aim of this research is to investigate the impacts of out-wintering cattle on grass sacrifice fields. This broadly consists of three main objectives, namely:- a) to identify parameters that quantify the impacts of out-wintering cattle in social, economic and environmental terms; b) to establish the sensitivities of impacts from out-wintering, which emerge from various bio-physical and management strategies; and c) to evaluate the barriers and potential for adoption of strategies to mitigate against these negative impacts.

Improving the quality of pork and pork products for the consumer: Development of an innovative, integrated and sustainable food production chain of high quality pork products matching consumer demand

Evidence for a vast amount of factors affecting pork quality is rapidly expanding. Review papers that aim to summarize the accumulated knowledge are generally narrative, presenting results and interpretations qualitatively and subjectively. The objective of this project is to integrate existing data and upcoming knowledge to produce a quantitative model that predicts technological and sensory pork quality, based on animal, production and slaughter information. A meta-analysis approach is adopted, which consists of the development of (i) a meta – database that stores quantitative information from existing research studies on pork quality, (ii) meta-analysis models that describe responses of different meat quality traits to a range of factors along the production chain, and (iii) an interactive website for scientists and industry to use the developed models for decision making and interpretation of their own data. The project is part of WP 6.1 of the EU FP6 project Q-Porkchains (http://www.q-porkchains.org).

The environmental consequences of using home-grown legumes as a protein source in pig diets

The overall aim of this proposal is to investigate the potential of using home grown legumes, such as peas and beans, in the diets of growing/finishing pigs in order to reduce the environmental burdens associated with their production. Emphasis will be placed on the consequences of legume inclusion on environmental burden (nutrient excretion and its influence on diffuse pollution from pig operations) but also on pig performance. Furthering knowledge and understanding of the nutritional value of homegrown vegetable proteins is of considerable importance and would also lead to further interest in the cultivation of new cultivars by plant breeders.

Innovative and practical breeding tools for improved dairy products from more robust dairy cattle

The objective of ROBUSTMILK is to develop new practical technologies to allow breeders to refocus their selection to include milk quality and dairy cow robustness and to evaluate the consequences of selection for these traits taking cognisance of various milk production systems.

Modelling consequences of selection strategies on animal performance and health

Using porcine reproductive and respiratory virus syndrome infection as example, a bio-mathematical simulation model will be developed that: (1) quantifies the genetic potential for growth, and effective immune response in pigs, (2) describes the non-linear interactions between genotype, nutritional environment and environmental stressors (physical, social and infectious) in growth and immune processes, (3) predicts performance and health state for pig populations in various environments, (4) predicts short- and long-term consequences of selection for performance or disease resistance on performance and on health in environments of different infection pressures, and (5) provides guidelines for breeders on designing more effective selection strategies.

A study to assess how to promote a duty of care to animals in young people

1: A comprehensive review of research on (a) the development of children’s relationships with, and attitudes towards, animals and (b) approaches to facilitate positive behaviour towards animals in children and young people. 2: Construction of a database of relevant research groups and interventions/educational programmes in the UK and abroad. 3: Recommendations for future research (with the aim of providing guidance on appropriate intervention work or educational programmes (both within and outwith the school setting) and partnership working amongst key stakeholders 4: Development of techniques for revealing (a) children’s perspectives on animals and their welfare and (b) teachers’ attitudes to potential interventions aimed at promoting a DOC to animals within the school environment. 5: A study applying techniques from Phase 2 within the school environment to reveal (a) children’s perspectives on animal welfare and (b) teachers’ attitudes to potential interventions aimed at promoting a DOC to animals within the school environment. This objective will also cover a revisiting and potential revision of recommendations on interventions from Phase 1.

Dairy calf health and nutrition PhD Jennifer Bell

Epidemiological study to identify acceptable maximum journey lengths for pigs whilst maintaining welfare

1. Gain an overview of journey characteristics of long-distance pig transports throughout Europe (phase 1). 2. Collect data on journey and vehicle characteristics on a statistically viable range of long-distance pig transports throughout Europe (phase 2). 3. Collect animal-based measures of cohorts of pigs on a statistically viable range of long distance pig transports throughout Europe (phase 2). 4. Analysis and modelling of data collected in phase 2 (phase 3) 5. Presentation of results via workshop to defra, industry representatives and participating hauliers

Genetic regulation and genomic selection of energy balance traits in dairy cattle

This SGRERAD Development-funded project supports a collaboration with Iowa State university, USA, which is funded from a USDA grant. The project aims to develop genetic selection strategies to improve the lifetime productivity, efficiency and welfare of dairy cows. Declining performance in production traits, for example reproduction, health and longevity, has become a major concern of the dairy industry worldwide. Energy balance (the difference between energy intake and energy expenditure) is of prime importance as it links production and non-production traits, through a common pool of available energy. Energy balance is not included in current breeding programmes as it is difficult to meaure. The overall aim of this project is to define the genetic regulation of energy balance at quanitative and molecular levels, and to incorporate energy balance into selection programmes. The way this will be done will be first to estimate genetic parameters for energy balance and define relationships among energy balance, production and fertility traits. We will then identify quantitative trait loci influening energy balance and related traits. Finally we will apply genomic selection methods to estimate energy balnce breeding values from marker genotypes. The results from this project should have application to the dairy industry, as they will enable selection for non-production traits.