DARD Directed AFBI Research Projects 2011
Project
Reference
Project Title
Goals of Project
11/1/02
Optimisation of the quality of a novel
reduced-fat Cheddar cheese fortified
with omega-3 fatty acids
The project aims to investigate the physiochemical, microbiological and technical
aspects of a reduced fat Cheddar cheese fortified with omega-3 fatty acids:
11/1/06
Identify the limiting factors in beef and
sheep systems and undertaking
research to underpin improved
biological efficiency and financial
performance to support productivity,
sustainability and competitiveness.
Investigation of methods to improve
the efficient use of feed by pigs
The aim of this proposal is to provide tools to monitor key performance indicators
for the Northern Ireland beef and sheep industries and in doing so will identify
and quantify, on a near real-time basis, the limiting factors in beef and sheep
production systems in Northern Ireland. Research will be undertaken to
underpin improved production efficiency, thereby improving the competitiveness
and environmental impact of the red-meat sector.
11/1/08
This project aims to optimise the use of diets pre and post weaning. These are
the most expensive diets that pigs are offered and therefore the optimisation of
their use, without compromising the lifetime performance of pigs is critical. The
work planned within this objective will examine:
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

Anticipated
End Date of
Project
July 2014
March 2014
May 2014
Opportunities to reduce the amount of diet offered
The use of alternative feed ingredients in starter diets
The effect of eliminating expensive processing stages e.g. cooking
The optimum method of offering the diet
11/1/11
Identification of economically viable
and sustainable uses of digestate from
anaerobic digestion
The overall objective of this project is to determine the benefits (economic and
environmental) of using digestate as an organic fertiliser for herbage production.
May 2014
11/1/13
Improving sustainability, economic
performance and competiveness of the
Northern Ireland dairy sector through
improved feed resource use and
improved biological efficiency, and the
establishment of a genomic DNA bank
and database
On many Northern Ireland dairy farms the cost effective use of quality forage
resources has been replaced by an over reliance on concentrates, resulting in
higher-cost, less-profitable and environmentally less sustainable dairy systems.
The overall objectives of the work covered by this proposal are summarised
under four broad strands:
Strand 1: Develop concentrate allocation strategies which optimise the
economic return from concentrate and forage resources during the winter
months
Strand 2: Develop management regimes, with a special focus on the high
yielding cow, which optimise feed resource use during the summer period
Strand 3: Improve the robustness of an existing grass growth prediction model,
and validation of the model using actual grass growth and meteorological data
from sites across NI
Strand 4: Identify associations between genomic variation and documented
phenotypic characteristics to improve biological efficiency through enhanced
selection criteria.
March 2014
Project
Reference
11/1/15
Project Title
Assessment of weather-related and
other risks, including disease, to farm
businesses and evidence to inform risk
mitigation/management strategies and
policy on hardship policies
Goals of Project
The objectives of this research programme are to: -
Anticipated
End Date of
Project
March 2012
1. Collate relevant Northern Ireland yield, quality, economic and weather data
from AFBI research sites and variety trials, CAFRE Benchmarking data,
DARD Census and Farm Business Data and the Met Office.
2. Review the available data in Northern Ireland to quantify variations in crop
and animal performance within and between years, including secondary
effects such as increased disease incidence, effects on animal welfare, crop
storage, quality and shelf life, to enable the magnitude of the effects of past
and future extreme weather related events to be gauged.
3. Assess the local data in the light of international literature on the effects of
extreme weather events on agriculture and relevant mitigation strategies.
4. Review locally applicable strategies to mitigate physical and financial losses
of the cattle and sheep sectors in the event of extreme weather events
(drought, high rainfall, extremes in temperature).
Review locally applicable strategies to mitigate physical and financial losses of
the arable sector/horticulture in the event of extreme weather events (drought,
high rainfall, extremes in temperature).
11/1/17
A study of attitudes to knowledge
exchange and barriers to adoption of
new policies/technologies within the
Northern Ireland agri-food sector
The aim of this project is to provide a better understanding of attitudes to
knowledge and technology exchange and adoption in the Northern Ireland agrifood sector and to help identify best practice for communicating information to
enable improved uptake and adoption of new policies and technologies to
improve performance in the marketplace. In doing so, industry’s role in the
process will be assessed.
March 2012
11/2/01
Rural Households’ Experience of
Access to Public Services in Northern
Ireland
The trend within rural areas over the past number of years has been both a
centralisation and reduction in the level of key public services. Furthermore,
there has been a decline in public service provision in rural areas in light of the
current economic downturn and restraint on public sector expenditure. Over
time, this has resulted in many rural areas, particular those in more remote
locations, losing local provision of vital services such as hospitals, schools,
further/higher education and banking services. This research will attempt to
explore what the relevant response from government should be in order to
ensure that access to key services in rural areas is equitable i.e. that there is an
equivalence with the current and future provision of services in urban areas,
keeping in mind that the nature of policy solutions in rural areas could be quite
different to those that are most appropriate in urban areas.
May 2012
Project
Reference
11/2/02
Project Title
Skills, Education and Training Within
the Land -Based Food and Rural
Sectors.
Goals of Project
This study will examine how decisions to invest in education, impact on career
choice and earnings for farm and non-farm households. The main objectives of
this study are:
Anticipated
End Date of
Project
June 2014
 To examine educational attainment levels amongst farm operators and their
spouses.
 At a farm household level, to analyse how decisions to invest in education
impact on household income and farm investment and structure.
 To compare educational attainment and returns to education for farm and
non-farm households (urban and rural) and examine those factors which may
impact on attainment for those living in rural areas.
 To evaluate whether education and skills attainment matches the demand for
education and skills by employers, with particular emphasis on the agri-food
sector.
11/2/03
Resources in Spatial Rural Economic
Development
The main objective of the project is to develop a detailed understanding of the
dynamics of this economic growth/decline in accessible and remote rural areas.
In particular, this research will examine the causes of spatial differences in
population and employment growth and how this impacts the delivery of
government services.
November 2014
11/2/04
Joint Production in Agriculture
(FT- 0919)
This project will employ farm business models to examine the joint production of
market and non-market goods in agriculture. Farmers normally obtain a
substantial proportion of their income from the production of market goods, such
as, milk, beef, and lamb. However, linked to the production of these market
goods are non-market goods, for which no market exists, whose production may
be unintended, and that may have a positive or negative impact on social
welfare. Examples of non-market goods in agriculture include: landscape,
biodiversity, animal health, water quality, greenhouse gas emission, and carbon
sequestration. Although, these goods are generally produced as either positive
or negative externalities i.e. producers neither receive direct monetary benefits
nor incur penalties, they may in some cases result from farmer preference. The
aim of this project is to provide essential and reliable information on joint
production of market goods and non-market goods at farm level. This
information can be used to better design public policies by assessing their
impact on farming systems, farm profitability, and wider society.
March 2014
Project
Reference
Project Title
Goals of Project
Anticipated
End Date of
Project
March 2013
11/2/05
Economic Valuation of Ecosystem
Services (FT 0916)
Recognition of the multi-functional nature of agriculture has led to a shift in the
emphasis of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) away from production-based
payments towards the environment and rural development. Potential exists for
these environmental objectives to be expanded (“greening” of the CAP) under
the new programming period, 2014-2020. This research aims to identify whether
the impact of the schemes on the landscape contribute to public welfare by
determining the economic value and to investigate the public acceptability of
alternative agri-environment schemes. This will recognise their contribution to a
sustainable environment and a diverse rural economy and assist in future policy
development.
11/2/06
Linkages of Agri-Food Sectors to the
wider economy and the environment
(FT-0914)
The study will use a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modeling approach
to systematically capture the linkages between local agri-food sectors, the wider
economy and the physical environment. This advanced modeling system will
then be used to analyze impacts on the agri-food sector and the physical
environment of the changing economic and policy environment. The study will
develop an NI CGE model – a first for the region – and apply the model in
analyzing economic (output, income and employment effects) and environmental
(emissions) impacts of changing agri-food and energy and general policies.
March 2014
11/3/02
An assessment of the level of
Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes in
NI
Survival of Avian Influenza in
composted poultry litter
This project aims to survey red foxes in NI for the presence or absence of the
tapeworm parasite Echinococcus multilocularis.
March 2013
The overall objectives of this project are to identify an effective method for
composting the major type of poultry litter/ manure/ feed mixture in use in NI and
GB poultry production and to provide experimental evidence using small- and
large-scale experimental studies that avian influenza virus is inactivated by said
composting method.
June 2013
11/3/05
Identifying optimum humane slaughter
methods for poultry in the event of an
epizootic outbreak
The overall objective of this project is to evaluate different slaughter methods for
poultry in the event of an epizootic outbreak. These methods will be evaluated
using the following criteria: disease control and biosecurity, animal welfare,
health and safety implications and practicality/cost.
March 2012
11/3/06
Solutions for the mushroom industry to
emerging disease threats Mushroom
Virus X and Trichoderma
Although buoyant the Irish mushroom industry has been badly hit over the past
five to ten years by disease outbreaks, principally Compost Green Mould,
caused by the fungus Trichoderma aggressivum, and Mushroom Virus X (MVX),
caused by an uncharacterised virus complex. The overall objectives of this
project are to identify underlying substrate and environmental factors that impact
on mushroom disease expression and gain increased knowledge of how they
are spread within the production systems. This knowledge will lead to improved
control strategies and a reduction in economic losses.
December 2014
11/3/04
Project
Reference
Project Title
Goals of Project
Anticipated
End Date of
Project
March 2014
11/3/07
Development of molecular diagnostic
techniques for quarantine and
emerging plant pathogens.
The project will review the currently available diagnostic methods for key plant
pathogens and where appropriate, modify existing protocols or develop new
methods for detection and identification. These improved validated methods and
procedures will enable DARDNI/AFBI to more efficiently detect and identify
outbreaks/incidences of plant health pathogens, enable more effective
epidemiological investigations and monitor any eradication or control measures
set in place.
11/3/09
Improvement of detection and
diagnosis of Phytophthora ramorum
and study of ramorum disease,
particularly in larch. (FT)
The overall aim of the project is to improve the detection and diagnosis of P.
ramorum in woody tissue and using these tools to study the epidemiology
particularly in response to the current outbreak on Japanese larch.
11/3/10
An evaluation of interferon-gamma
(IFN-g) testing for bovine TB in
Northern Ireland (FT)
The aim of this project is to undertake an evaluation of the IFN-g test as
currently implemented in NI in order to quantify the usefulness of the test to
detect additional bTB infected animals. This will include an evaluation of factors
that influence test results such as animal age, sex, and breed as well as herd
factors such as bTB test history, location and size.
December 2013
11/3/11
Development and application of
improved virus discovery systems and
assessment of the potential of penside detection methods for emerging,
endemic or exotic viral infections of
farm animals
The overall aims of this project is to have expanded and developed virology
methods and technologies for detection and characterisation of viral agents in
agricultural animal species in Northern Ireland, with applicability for rapid
identification of endemic and exotic viruses as well as for “horizon scanning” for
“novel”/emerging virus threats to the industry.
March 2013
11/3/S1
Interactions between badgers and
cattle in the rural environment implications for bovine tuberculosis
transmission
The project will investigate badger-cattle and cattle-cattle interaction at the farm
level, in pasture and near or in cattle housing, food stores and yards.
It will combine standard and innovative techniques including the live-capture of
badgers, bait marking, farm surveys, remote surveillance of farmyards, tracking
badger movement via GPS collars and determining inter / intra-specific
interactions using recently developed proximity detectors. This will deliver a
project that assesses the level of interaction and requirement for the
development of mitigation strategies to minimise wildlife-livestock contact and
improve farm bio-security should that be necessary.
January 2014
April 2014
Project
Reference
Project Title
11/4/01
Dietary strategies to reduce the
excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus
from broiler chicken production
11/4/02
The potential for urea plus a urease
inhibitor to reduce nitrous oxide
emissions from grassland compared
with CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate)
while maintaining sward production
11/4/03
11/4/04
11/4/05
Goals of Project
This programme of research will provide information to DARD Policy for future
review and/or modification of the NI Nitrates Action Programme and for the
implementation of IPPC regulations. Ultimately, it is planned to reduce the
excretion of N and P from broiler production through adoption of the findings
from this programme of research.
The aims of the proposed project are to:
1. Develop a more sustainable environment - completion of the work
programme will contribute to a more sustainable environment through
reduced N and P excretion.
2. Improve performance in the market place for broiler producers.
3. Strengthen the social and economic infrastructure of rural areas through
strengthening of the poultry industry which is the largest private employer in
NI.
4. Enhance animal health and welfare through providing diets which are
optimum in N and P for broilers.
Anticipated
End Date of
Project
May 2012
May 2013
The overall objective to which this project will contribute is the reduction of
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture in Northern Ireland (in
compliance with UK and EU legislation) and the generation of information
enabling the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to assign more
accurate emission factors for N2O losses from grassland under mild wet climatic
conditions.
Efficacy of Nitrates Action Programme
(NAP) measures for improving
nutrient-use efficiency and sustaining
the productivity of grass-based
agriculture in Northern Ireland. (FT)
Management, production economics
and environmental impact of codigesting dairy cow slurry with grass
silage and other feedstock
To evaluate the impact and effectiveness of specific aspects of the NI NAP in
addressing water quality problems caused by agriculture and identify strategies
for improving nutrient efficiency.
March 2014
This project will produce information on biogas yields from grass and the energy
balance from using it as a feed-stock for anaerobic digestion. Furthermore,
information from this project will be collated to determine the GHG emission
savings that can be achieved when maize and grass are grown in NI as feedstock for AD.
May 2014
Managing the risk of nutrient loss from
slurry applications to agricultural
grassland soils in Northern Ireland (FT)
The project will identify strategies for minimising the risk of nutrient loss from
slurry spreading on agricultural soils in Northern Ireland. A risk based approach
to slurry spreading aims to minimise the probability of slurry application
coinciding with rainfall and the potential for nutrient loss in runoff.
March 2014
Project
Reference
Project Title
Goals of Project
11/4/06
Biomass crops for renewable energy
This project will provide producers with a better understanding of how to choose
an appropriate harvesting system and manage on-floor drying to achieve dry fuel
meeting appropriate quality standards at least cost. The project will also provide
an evidence base to policy makers and the industry of achievable benefits from
miscanthus and identify economically viable methods of utilising the crop for
energy.
11/4/07
The greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint
of sheep systems in Northern Ireland
and the development of breeding
strategies to optimise the
environmental credentials of local agrifood produce
The aim of this project is to develop breeding strategies for the Northern Ireland
sheep sector which will reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions through improved
feed resource efficiency. The objectives of the programme are to:-
Anticipated
End Date of
Project
March 2014
March 2013
(1) Evaluate the GHG emissions and overall resource use efficiency of new ewe
and sire genotypes over a range of hill and lowland conditions.
(2) Quantify the impact on GHG emissions from hill sheep and lowland systems
of adopting improved breeding strategies detailed in this study. In doing so
the GHG footprint of a range of Northern Ireland sheep systems will be
determined using a life cycle analysis approach to the farm gate.
(3) Evaluate the impact of improved breeding strategies on animal welfare
(lameness, lambing difficulties, lamb survival).
11/4/10
Development of management
prescriptions and investigation into
options for future agri-environment
programmes
The overarching objective of this project is to address how AE programmes, and
other environmental measures within Axis 2 of the Northern Ireland Rural
Development Programme, can be developed and targeted to deliver enhanced
benefits for multiple objectives including biodiversity, landscape, water quality,
carbon storage and socio-economics.
March 2014
11/4/11
Review of actual and potential carbon
sequestration rates for grassland and
peatland vegetation and soils in
Northern Ireland
The greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint
of dairy and beef production systems
in Northern Ireland and the
development of feeding and
management strategies to mitigate
emissions, and to optimise the
environmental credentials of local agrifood produce
The objective of this proposal is to provide an analysis and review of the data
that exist in Northern Ireland on net soil carbon changes to estimate the rate of
carbon accumulation by soils.
March 2012
The aim of this proposal is to accurately quantify greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions from a range of dairy and beef production systems. This information
is required in order to provide a baseline GHG footprint for dairy and beef
systems in Northern Ireland. Quantifying the impact of the main components of
such production systems on GHG emissions will allow appropriate feeding and
management regimes to develop low carbon systems for the dairy and beef
sectors to be identified.
March 2013
11/4/12