SAC Research

Rural Sustainability Projects

Using legumes to improve the nitrogen use efficiency of cropping systems. PhD Studentship.

Many successful low-input and organic systems rely on a fertility-building ley phase based on legumes such as clover. These plants are able to capture nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere and may be an alternative to the use of mineral N fertiliser. Given the recent rises in the costs associated with the use of artificial fertilisers there is increasing interest in applying these legume-based systems in a wider range of farming types. However, while it is often relatively easy to obtain large amounts of N this way, transferring it to the following crop can be difficult. One of the most important characteristics that affects the transfer is the biological activity in the soil, which in turn is largely influenced by the soil acidity (pH). This project is studying the effects of soil pH on the transfer of N from legumes to subsequent crops, with the overall aim of improving the N use efficiency of cropping systems.

PhD Claire Morgan-Davies - Impacts of CAP Reform

PhD Studentship. Part-time - member of staff

WP2.5 Livestock genetics and management for product quality and sustainability - ST3.3.1. Matching upland systems and breeds to achieve desired environmental / economic outcomes.

There are growing demands for livestock farmers to achieve beneficial outcomes for the environment – as articulated in the latest CAP reforms - as well as the economic outcomes necessary for their businesses to survive. In Scotland, these issues particularly affect upland beef and sheep systems. However, there is often a lack of practical indicators of biodiversity/ environmental quality, and a lack of information on how key features of livestock systems affect such indicators, and any trade-offs with economic performance. Work in this project will help to provide such information. CAP reform and decoupling are causing farmers to focus on the relative profitability of different systems/breeds of sheep, with extensive hill ewes appearing to provide very poor returns. Different options will be investigated, with combined emphasis on economic sustainability, on animal welfare and on potential interactions with biodiversity.

WP2.5 Livestock genetics and management for product quality and sustainability - KT ST4.2

Demonstrate best practice with respect to economic, environmental and animal welfare management, in SAC beef, sheep and dairy units at Bush, Kirkton and Crichton Royal Farms. [Objective 1] We will establish regular liaison between scientists leading research in this WP, KT specialists, and those responsible for running the 3 farms listed, to identify and then oversee adoption of ‘best practice’ measures emerging from the research in this and other WPs. Bid for (‘earmarked’) resources to run a co-ordinated series of KT events based at these units, linking to activity in sub strand 4.3. [Objective 2] The group mentioned above will also plan the relevant KT events as the research progresses. We will bid for (‘earmarked’) resources managed by SAC’s KT Management group to run these KT events. At least one event will be held annually on each farm. KT impact will be maximised by ensuring relevant media involvement.

WP3.1 Sustainable farming systems SLS

There are growing demands for livestock farmers to achieve beneficial outcomes for the environment – as articulated in the latest CAP reforms - as well as the economic outcomes necessary for their businesses to survive. In Scotland, these issues particularly affect upland beef and sheep systems. However, there is often a lack of practical indicators of biodiversity/ environmental quality, and a lack of information on how key features of livestock systems affect such indicators, and any trade-offs with economic performance. Work in this project will help to provide such information. CAP reform and decoupling are causing farmers to focus on the relative profitability of different systems/breeds of sheep, with extensive hill ewes appearing to provide very poor returns. Different options will be investigated, with combined emphasis on economic sustainability, on animal welfare and on potential interactions with biodiversity.

European Development Opportunities in Rural Areas (EDORA)

SAC is one of 16 EU partners involved in this study to better understand the different current and potential development trajectories in Europe's diverse rural territories. The underlying demand for such knowledge is to support targeted policy development, relating (inter alia) to job creation and social change. In particular, understandings gained during this project should support the evolution of the Territorial Cohesion Green Paper, the Fifth Cohesion Report, discussions on forthcoming reforms of the CAP post-2013, and the pursuit of the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas. SAC's input into the project, which is co-ordinated by Dr Andrew Copus at the UHI Millennium Institute, is to lead a programme of work examining the role of cultural heritage in the competitiveness of rural areas.

WP2.5 Livestock genetics and management for product quality and sustainability - co-ordination

Co-ordination of research output from WP2.5

WP2.5 Livestock genetics and management for product quality and sustainability - KT ST 4.3 SLS

Establish a joint WP2.4/WP2.5 KT panel. [Objective 1] We will establish a KT Panel which will meet at 6 monthly intervals (or other intervals if agreed to be more relevant by the panel itself) to promote dialogue and ‘joined up’ planning of KT among key industry stakeholders, advisers, WP researchers, educationalists and trainers relevant to this WP, and to WP2.4. These KT Panel meetings will involve short, strand-level presentations on progress, to inform the discussion on KT priorities, and ensure continuing stakeholder relevance. The Panel will guide the ‘embedded’ KT aspects of the research and, especially, advise on priorities for wider KT campaigns. These will be resourced from funds managed by the SAC KT Management Group, ideally with additional input from other stakeholders. Agree targeted KT campaigns from the research in these two WPs. [Objective 2] The Panel described above will agree annually KT priorities and timetables. Bid for resources to run the agreed KT campaigns. [Objective 3] We will seek SAC ‘earmarked’ and external resources to allow recognised KT experts to manage and deliver the priority KT campaigns, in liaison with other relevant stakeholders (e.g. QMS, NFUS, environmental groups).

WP2.5 Livestock genetics and management for quality and sustainability - KT co-ordinator

KT co-ordination for WP2.5 Strand 4: Additional KT Sub strand 4.1: Decision support tools Identify blockages to the uptake of new breeding technologies and identify solutions that can be applied to the delivery of such technology [Objective 1] A series of focus groups with relevant industry representatives is planned for both the planning of new breeding tools and development of questionnaires to help determine the wider needs of the industry for such new tools. Develop decision support software for use by livestock breeders that allows faster and more effective access to new developments in breeding program design. [Objective 2] The initial approach to the software will be to build on the outcome of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership in which SAC is the academic partner. This project is developing web-based customised selection indices for the dairy industry. The extension of this software to include beef and sheep modules is envisaged with the involvement of a programmer to produce efficient user-friendly software, a geneticist to provide technical advice and algorithms and an economist to provide a framework for costs and returns. The same approach to skill use will be applied to the development of further modules, to ensure that the correct skill allocation is achieved within the project and that user-friendly software results from the work. For some of the proposed work, algorithms have previously been developed, though further refinement is proposed to increase the flexibility of the approach, and in order to extend their generality to all domesticated species. We are proposing software delivered on a single platform that maintains a consistent look and feel allowing a much smoother adoption of new modules and hence technology developments. Sub strand 4.2: Demonstrating best practice on experimental farms Demonstrate best practice with respect to economic, environmental and animal welfare management, in SAC beef, sheep and dairy units at Bush, Kirkton and Crichton Royal Farms. [Objective 1] We will establish regular liaison between scientists leading research in this WP, KT specialists, and those responsible for running the 3 farms listed, to identify and then oversee adoption of ‘best practice’ measures emerging from the research in this and other WPs. Bid for (‘earmarked’) resources to run a co-ordinated series of KT events based at these units, linking to activity in sub strand 4.3. [Objective 2] The group mentioned above will also plan the relevant KT events as the research progresses. We will bid for (‘earmarked’) resources managed by SAC’s KT Management group to run these KT events. At least one event will be held annually on each farm. KT impact will be maximised by ensuring relevant media involvement. Sub strand 4.3: KT campaigns Establish a joint WP2.4/WP2.5 KT panel. [Objective 1] We will establish a KT Panel which will meet at 6 monthly intervals (or other intervals if agreed to be more relevant by the panel itself) to promote dialogue and ‘joined up’ planning of KT among key industry stakeholders, advisers, WP researchers, educationalists and trainers relevant to this WP, and to WP2.4. These KT Panel meetings will involve short, strand-level presentations on progress, to inform the discussion on KT priorities, and ensure continuing stakeholder relevance. The Panel will guide the ‘embedded’ KT aspects of the research and, especially, advise on priorities for wider KT campaigns. These will be resourced from funds managed by the SAC KT Management Group, ideally with additional input from other stakeholders. Agree targeted KT campaigns from the research in these two WPs. [Objective 2] The Panel described above will agree annually KT priorities and timetables. Bid for resources to run the agreed KT campaigns. [Objective 3] We will seek SAC ‘earmarked’ and external resources to allow recognised KT experts to manage and deliver the priority KT campaigns, in liaison with other relevant stakeholders (e.g. QMS, NFUS, environmental groups).

Development of a national genotyping service to deliver key benefits for the Scottish sheep sector

1. To investigate and define the most cost-effective infrastructure to deliver sheep breeding and health screening priorities. 2. To analyse and identify the practical opportunities available to use GWS in sheep to achieve: 2.1. Improved animal health and welfare. 2.2. Enhanced produce quality. 2.3. Reduced environmental impact. 2.4. Validation of marker assisted selection technologies. 3. To identify the opportunities that electronic ID may offer in the creation of a suitable database for a genotyping service.