DairyCo puts £5m into research partnerships

DairyCo is to spend £5m over the next five years on two research projects that aim to improve the practical advice available to British dairy farmers.

One project, led by the Scottish Agricultural College, partnering Harper Adams University College and Reading University, will focus soil, forage and grassland management, covering areas such as use of slurry and AD digestate, grass varietal selection and precision farming grassland.

The second partnership on health, welfare and nutrition, will be led by the University of Nottingham, and a consortium of partners including Harper Adams, the Royal Veterinary College, Bristol University, the Scottish Agricultural College, and the University of Aberystwyth. It will focus on areas such as improved diet formulation, and new information on major diseases affecting dairy cattle.

Results of the research will go into DairyCo’s technical guides and knowledge transfer activities.

“We recognise the importance of continuing technical development to maintaining an efficient, globally competitive and consumer-friendly dairy industry,” said Ray Keatinge, head of research and development at DairyCo.

“The partnership approach will not only provide new information for dairy farmers, but will help build the UK industry’s capacity to deliver more of this type of research in the future.”