News and Events
FC - Issue 22
Below is the 22nd issue of Farming Connect’s technical publication for farmers and foresters in Wales.
Published bi-monthly, it includes easy to digest facts and figures about a range of technical matters, along with the latest information and research from our...
It’s a gut feeling: A healthy rumen is a healthy ruminant
1 August 2019
Dr Cate Williams: IBERS, Aberystwyth University.
- Nutrition is a key part of any ruminant production business, but the animal also needs to be equipped with a diverse and healthy rumen microbiome to allow them to make...
How low can you go? The importance of protein in the dairy cow diet
31 July 2019
Dr Cate Williams: IBERS, Aberystwyth University.
- The modern dairy cow’s nutritional requirements are highly complex due to the microbial population of the rumen and the demand for efficient and high-yielding animals.
- Protein is an essential...
Cut your losses: Maximising the benefits of a nutrient management plan
31 July 2019
Dr Peter Wootton-Beard RNutr: IBERS, Aberystwyth University.
- Effective nutrient management is an increasingly important operational process, needed for both economic and environmental reasons.
- A comprehensive plan, with close attention to detail is required to...
Farming Connect announces 18 new Demonstration Sites in Wales
29 July 2019
Farming Connect has today (July 23) announced a new network of 18 Demonstration Sites to drive improvements and increase productivity across a variety of farming systems.
The sites are diverse and include beef, sheep, dairy...
War of the Weeds: The Rise of the Robots
26 June 2019
Dr Peter Wootton-Beard RNutr: IBERS, Aberystwyth University.
- Robotic weeders aim to increase both the precision and automation of weed control through either chemical or mechanical methods, within rows.
- Most rely on rapidly improving vision...
Can biomarkers in the dam or calf be used for precision dairy calf rearing?
26 June 2019
Dr Ruth Wonfor and Dr Mike Rose: IBERS, Aberystwyth University.
- Metabolic stress leading to negative energy balance is common in dairy cows in the transition period and can have implications on the quality of colostrum...
Nutritional qualities and opportunities for non-bovine milk in the UK
25 June 2019
Dr Cate Williams: IBERS, Aberystwyth University.
- Bovine milk is the most popular and economically important type of milk in developed countries, including the UK.
- As consumers demand more diverse products and interest in speciality foods grows...
Producing fodder crops using hydroponics
17 June 2019
Dr Peter Wootton-Beard: IBERS, Aberystwyth University.
- Hydroponic fodder systems offer the potential to alter the nutritional quality of grains.
- Sprouted grains could be viewed as a feed supplement in situations where they correct an existing...