A £6 million Centre for Dairy Science Innovation has opened its doors at the University of Nottingham.
The centre is an extension to the university’s long-standing dairy facilities and will offer the latest research technologies for studying a range of dairy-related topics, including mastitis control, antimicrobial resistance, feed efficiency, environmental emissions and wearable technologies for the herd.
Robot scrapers
Robotic milking machines that allow cows to decide when they are ready to be milked and robot “scrapers”, which help maintain the general hygiene of the facility by automatically disposing of waste, are just some of the new items of technology within the centre.
The facility will see the size of the university’s dairy herd increase from 240 to 360 cows.
International reputation
Martin Green, professor of cattle health and epidemiology at the university’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, said: “The University of Nottingham already has an international reputation for the excellence of its research into cattle health and nutrition, and this centre will help us cement our position as leaders in the field.
“We work across the spectrum – from ‘blue sky’, very fundamental studies to research at the applied level – which has already allowed us to influence national policy on issues including mastitis control and the reduction of antibiotic use.”
Peter Kendall
The centre was officially opened on 23 May by Peter Kendall – chairman of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, and former president of the National Farmers’ Union and World Farmers Organisation.
Jointly funded by the University of Nottingham, and the Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Livestock – by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, as part of the UK’s Agri-Tech Strategy – the facility brings together researchers from the university’s schools of biosciences, and veterinary medicine and science alongside industry.
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