investing in innovation - cielivestock.co.uk · ciel provides facilities to conduct research on...

Investing inInnovation

www.CIELivestock.co.uk

A guide to world-class R&D expertise and facilities

Image courtesy of Aviagen

[email protected]@CIELivestock1Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock

Contents

Introduction 03

Beef and Sheep 04 – 05

Dairy 06

Pigs 07

Poultry 08

Multi-Species 09

Complementary Assets 10 – 11

Investing in Innovation

CIEL works with twelve of the UK’s leading livestock research institutions and a growingnetwork of industry partners spanning the food supply chain. To date, this partnership,together with the Government’s Innovation Agency, ‘Innovate UK’, has invested close to £70million in facilities and equipment to improve the UK’s capacity for livestock related research.

World-class research facilities, open access to industry and operated amidst a culture of collaboration, are enhancing and accelerating business-led innovation; leading to newproducts and services to benefit the entire supply chain and ultimately produce the productsthat consumers want and need.

The facilities co-funded through the research institutes and CIEL, with the support of InnovateUK, enable collaborative R&D across a wide range of challenge areas for livestock production.

Tackling grand challenges for livestock production

Improving the UK’s capacity andcapability for livestock research

03

Food Pathogens & Safety

Resource Efficiency

Improving Product Quality

Endemic Disease Reduction

Environmental & Economic Sustainability

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) & Gut Health

UK beef and lamb production faces multiple challenges: change to farm paymentsystems; fragmented supply chains; price fluctuations; and lack of investment in newtechnologies. To increase profitability & sustainability of these farms, CIEL investmentis focused on both costs of production and increased returns.

Productivity – Nutrition – Health – Environmental Impact

Expertise includes

Soil, water quality and ecosystem services Grazing research and farm system-based analysis Nutritional efficiency and energy metabolism Grassland farming, ruminant metabolism, food science Virology/immunology/vaccinology and bioinformatics

High Precision Beef ProductionResearch PlatformAgri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI),Belfast

Status: Fully operational

Research capability in the areas of grazingand indoor feeding systems with capacityto monitor precisely individual dietaryintake, behaviour, health and welfare frombirth through to adulthood. Dedicated calfand youngstock research facilities withability to investigate feed digestion,metabolism and overall gaseous emissionsfrom young and adult cattle.Impact• Precision nutrition regimes and feedformulations to develop new feedproducts and ensure animals turn feedinto meat as efficiently as possible

• Informed grassland management tomaximise use of high quality pasture

• Integrated precision managementsystems that consider production &welfare based on nutrition, behaviour,health, and reproduction

North Wyke Farm PlatformPart of Rothamsted Research, Devon


The world’s most instrumented grazingplatform, coupling three self-contained‘farmlets’ with an analytical laboratory tomeasure changes to soil, water and air,enabling the impact of grazing ruminantlivestock to be characterised.Impact• The ability to measure the loss ofnutrients or veterinary chemicals(including antibiotics) to the air, soil andgroundwater

• The ability to measure the impact offeeds on greenhouse gas production

• Enhanced efficiency with whichlivestock can be finished off on grass –improving weight gain while reducingfeed cost or time on farm, whilereducing environmental emissions

Beef Grower-Finisher SystemHarper Adams University, Shropshire

Status: Fully operational from late 2018

Modern beef research platform measuringintake of feed & water, greenhouse gasemissions, body weight and feedingbehaviour of individual cattle, to assessfeed efficiency in growing and finishinganimals.Impact• Accelerating improvements in beefproduction

• Improving profitability & sustainability of farms

• Defining best practice for farms in thefuture

• Increasing efficiency of beef productionwhile improving environmental impact

Beef and Sheep


04 | www.cielivestock.co.uk

Small Ruminant PlatformInstitute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Studies (IBERS), Aberystwyth University


Addressing a UK-wide lack of capacity toundertake detailed metabolic studies in pre-ruminants and ruminants, leading to agreater understanding of the fundamentalscience needed for precision farmingsystems.Impact• More efficient use of feed • Fine-tuning genetics so animals producemeat as efficiently as possible with leastenvironmental impact

• Informing research into “bioactivecompounds” – extranutritionalconstituents of interest in manipulatingmetabolism and preventative healthtreatments

05

Mobile Sheep Feed Intake FacilityScotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh


Precision assessment of individual sheepintake, to assess variation between sheepand enable selection for feed efficiency.The equipment can be employed in rambreeding flocks around the UK.Impact• Increased efficiency in terms of lambproduced per unit of grass eaten

Additional expertise and facilities to support the beef and lamb sector are also available through the following CIEL academic partners: Harper Adams University;Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC); The Roslin Institute; University of Bristol; Newcastle University; Queen’s University Belfast; and University of Nottingham.

Sheep Nutrition andMetabolism UnitAgri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI),Belfast


Bespoke facility enabling the assessmentof individual dietary intake of forage,concentrates and water within a groupfeeding environment complete withautomated in-pen weighing of livestock.Facility partnered with six cutting-edgeindividual metabolism chambers enablingdetailed investigations into the impact ofgenetics, diet and management factors onnutrient and energy utilisation efficiencyand gaseous emissions. Unique platformfor investigating the role and impact of themicrobiome in livestock production.Impact• Improved understanding of ruminantmetabolism leading to better rationingsystems

• Increased efficiency of feed conversionto lamb production

• Development of new feed products andphenotypes for genetic improvement

• Reduced greenhouse gas and ammoniaemissions for livestock systems

With over 98% of British households consumingdairy products regularly (Dairy UK, 2017), theefficient production of milk is extremely important; making best use of resources available anddeveloping sustainable, profitable and resilientfarming systems able to withstand environmental& supply chain variability.

Productivity – Nutrition – Health – Environmental Impact

Expertise includes

Improving cow health & welfare through optimising production environments Increasing the efficiency for milk production from feed Enhancing the rumen microbiome and the cow genome to improve efficiency & sustainability Managing youngstock to enhance productivity, health & longevity of the herd Novel strategies and new tools to improve health e.g. diagnostics and vaccines

CIEL provides facilities to conduct research on both intensive and extensive systems, addressing all types of dairy farming in the UK.

Additional expertise and facilities to support the dairy sector are also available through the following CIEL academic partners: Aberystwyth University;Harper Adams University; Queen’s University Belfast; University of Bristol; Newcastle University; and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

Future Farm Dairy 2050 Duchy College, Cornwall

Status: In development

Innovative milking facility with a lowenvironmental footprint providing essentialinformation for the precision managementof grazing dairy cattle, while supportingindustry dairy farm networks focused onprofitability and sustainability.Impact• The ability to define the attributes of robust cows that can sustain highproductivity

• Economic evaluation of managementtechniques and interventions

Precision GrasslandDairying Platform Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast


Research capability in the areas of grazingand indoor feeding systems with capacityto monitor precisely individual dietaryintake, behaviour, health and welfare frombirth through to adulthood. Dedicated calfand youngstock research facilities withability to investigate feed digestion,metabolism and overall gaseous emissionsfrom young and adult cattle.Impact• Better management of grasslands toensure animals convert grass into milk in an efficient and sustainable manner

• Profitable and sustainable farm system• Improved youngstock rearing regimes to enhance health, welfare and lifetimeperformance

Dairy


Centre for Dairy ScienceInnovation (C-DSI)University of Nottingham


Internationally-leading dairy scienceresearch facility at the forefront ofresearch into health, nutrition and welfareof dairy cows.Impact• Developing guidelines for precisionnutrition of cows

• Evaluating the impact of spatialenvironment on health, welfare andproduction of housed dairy cows

• New therapies to reduce impact ofmastitis while reducing or eliminatinguse of antibiotics


Additional expertise and facilities to support the pig sector are also available through the following CIEL academic partners: Harper Adams University;The Roslin Institute; Newcastle University; Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC); University of Bristol; and University of Nottingham.

Outdoor and Indoor Research & Innovation UnitUniversity of Leeds

Status:Outdoor – Fully operationalIndoor – Fully operational from mid 2019

In a first for the UK, enabling comparativetrials between indoor and outdoorsystems, these production-scale facilitiesfeature start-of-the-art instrumentationallowing monitoring of individual feedintake; feed efficiency; and physiological,environmental, health, behaviour & welfareparameters. Impact• Maximising animal welfare, productivityand profitability

• Precision management of pigs• Greater efficiency through improvedsow reproduction, higher piglet survival,better feed efficiency, improved healthand enhanced social behaviour

High Welfare Sow UnitScotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh


Upgraded facility ideal for studying sowand piglet behaviour and performance.Impact• Improved welfare without compromisingproductivity

• Reduced levels of piglet mortality andsolutions to combat aggression

AFBI Finisher UnitsAgri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)


Increased capacity for the study of feedefficiency and productivity combined withdetailed studies of metabolism.Impact• Precision feeding and new feed products• Increased efficiency of meat production• Optimisation of animal production andwelfare, including behaviour, health andfeeding

Challenges facing the UK pig sector include the need to further reduce antibiotic usage, price instability,international competition for export markets, andproducing pork efficiently while meeting consumerexpectations about production systems. All such factorsare critically important to improve farm profitability andposition UK pork as a premium product.

Productivity – Nutrition – Health – Behaviour – Reproduction

Expertise includes

Nutrition, gut function & metabolism, reproductive physiology Experimental design and data analysis Animal behaviour and welfare Precision farming Intensive and extensive production systems

Pigs

07

Whilst the poultry industry may be seen asthe most innovative and forward-thinkingfarm livestock sector, further research isrequired to unlock the potential of geneticlines and reduce impact of avian diseases.

Productivity – Nutrition – Health – Behaviour

Expertise includes

The study of interactions betweenhealth, environment, genotype andnutrition, from fertilisation throughto product

Detailed behavioural studies, fromindividual bird up to flock level, usingcutting-edge monitoring systems

Additional expertise and facilities to support the poultry sector are also available through the following CIEL academic partners: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI); Harper Adams University; The Roslin Institute; University of Leeds; University of Nottingham; and University of Bristol.

Bristol Poultry UnitUniversity of Bristol


Bridging the gap between commercialsystems and small experimental units,combining industry-standard housing withstate-of-the-art poultry monitoring (visual& audio) covering nutrition, behaviour,health & welfare, and product quality &safety, from flock to individual bird.Impact• Improved efficiency and enhancedwelfare for both egg and meatproduction

• Novel monitoring systems for birdproductivity and welfare

Poultry

SRUC Poultry UnitScotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh

Status: Fully operational from mid 2019

Largest capacity research facilities of theirtype in the UK, trialling new techniquesand products. Capacity of up to 6,000birds.Impact• Rapid testing and validation of productswithin commercially comparableconditions

• Comparisons of genetic lines ortreatments based on nutrition andhealth



Centre for Digital InnovationApplied to Livestock (C-DIAL)Newcastle University


Incorporating the latest technologies inprecision livestock farming and digitalimaging to develop monitoring &management systems aimed at the higheststandards for stock health & welfare.Wide-reaching technical expertise from aninterdisciplinary team comprising livestockscientists, veterinarians, computerscientists, mathematicians and engineersto address current industry challenges.Impact• Automated and accurate determinationof the welfare status of individualanimals

• Early diagnosis and intervention ofhealth or behaviour issues aidingquicker recovery and reduced need forantibiotics

• Enhanced animal health & welfare tosupport profitable production andsuperior product quality

Precision Measurement ofGrass Yield and QualityNorth Wyke Farm Platform, Rothamsted Research, Devon

Status: Fully operational from late 2018

Precision yield and quality assessment inreal-time as grass is harvested tocharacterise the whole crop, utilizingsensors mounted on grass harvestingequipment for more precise assessment ofgrass quality and yield, accounting forvariation across the field.Impact• Improved modelling of grass productionthat will drive next generation pasturemodels for pasture rationingmanagement tools

• Increased efficiency with which grass isturned into meat or milk

Small Animal Metabolism Unit Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast


Unique bank of six indirect open-circuitrespiration calorimeter livestock chambersenabling detailed investigations into theimpact of animal genetics, diet andmanagement factors on energy andnutrient utilisation efficiency and gaseousexchanges (O2 intake, and CO2, CH4, N2O andNH3 emissions).Impact• Improved understanding of ruminantmetabolism leading to better rationingsystems.

• Increased efficiency of feed conversionto livestock production

Multi-species facilities Mobile CT ScannerScotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh


Portable, high-resolution assessment ofsheep and pig carcass or live animal bodycomposition, used for studies of growth,ewe productivity, genetic improvement oranimal health, able to serve farmers andbreeding companies across the UK. Impact• Helping to improve efficiency ofproduction systems and product quality

• Increased precision of assessment andintroduction of novel traits to geneticimprovement programmes

• Faster genetic gain, better breedingobjectives

09

CIEL has delivered significant investment in improving the UK’s capacity to deliverapplied livestock science, from new equipment and facility upgrades to major farmdevelopments. CIEL is just as committed to improving farm performance throughimpacts on animal health and on food quality & integrity.

Health – Genetics – Behaviour – Reproduction – Food Integrity

Expertise includes

Informatics and clinical genome sequencing Adopting cutting-edge human health science to develop novel, targeted innovations for the livestock and food sectors Characterising nutritional value, food quality, and investigating food fraud

Large Animal Research andImaging Facility (LARIF)The Roslin Institute, Edinburgh

Status: Launching from late 2019

A unique facility in Europe, bringingtogether advanced imaging techniques (CT, MRI, ultrasound), surgical equipment,and a specific pathogen-free containmentfacility to support the application of early-stage research from multipledisciplines including immunology,neuroscience and developmental biology.Impact• Linking One Health initiatives with farmanimal health and disease epidemiology

• Advancing study of the physiologicalstate of animals and gene expression

• Supporting research in animal health &veterinary therapies

• Advances in immunology and hostdefence, neuroscience anddevelopmental biology across multiplelivestock species

Complementary assets to CIEL-supportedlivestock facilities



Centre for Plasma in Agrifood(AGRIPLAS)Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast


State-of-the-art plasma research facilityfocusing on potential uses of cold plasma– non-toxic ionised gas or liquid withantimicrobial properties and which doesn’tleave a chemical residue, so ideally suitedto applications in livestock healthcare &biosecurity, food hygiene and shelf-lifeextension.Impact• Improved sanitization systems, reducingthe need for chemicals or antibiotics infood production; enhancingsustainability and global marketabilityof UK agrifood products

Selection for BovineTuberculosis ResistanceAgriculture and Horticulture DevelopmentBoard (AHDB)


Establishment of a large genotypedatabase asset required to deliver highaccuracy genomic measures of geneticmerit for resistance to Bovine TB (bTB),allowing us to put more selection pressureon bTB resistance for bulls and cows.Impact• Increased resilience of dairy herds inbTB challenged areas

11

E-GENESScotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh


A complete genomic evaluation anddelivery system delivering genomicevaluations across livestock species.Impact• Faster genetic gain applied to betterbreeding objectives for future farms

• Premium products from profitable,sustainable farming systems

Mobile Sensory (Meat Quality)LaboratoryScotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh


Thought to be the first mobile unit of itskind, this portable facility brings the latestimaging and meat quality testingtechnologies direct to where it’s needed,supporting research, animal breedingprogrammes and ensuring consumerpreferences are at the heart of theinnovation process. Impact• Assessment of product quality is used to provide signals to producers andbreeders that reward excellence

• Data collected will contribute tobreeding programmes for sheep, cattle,pigs or poultry to ensure breedingobjectives combine productivity,efficiency and product quality toproduce stock suited to profitable &sustainable farming systems

Imaging Technology at AFBI Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast


Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)for precise and accurate assessment ofbody or carcass composition (fat and leancontent, and bone mineralisation). Thermalimaging technology for non-invasiveassessment of thermal biometric changesin animal metabolism resulting fromincreased body temperature and changesin blood flow in response to environmentalor physiological conditions. A useful tool toassess general stress and indicateinflammatory processes.Impact• Improved evaluation capacity of theimpact of different diets and feedingstrategies on body and carcasscomposition of livestock animals

• Improved diet formulations to enhancehealth (bone mineral status), efficiencyand carcass quality

• Improved assessment capacity ofanimals’ health, physiology status andwelfare under different managementand rearing conditions

01904 567716 [email protected] Centre, York Science Park, Heslington, York YO10 5NP

JUNE 2018

investing in innovation - cielivestock.co.uk · ciel provides facilities to conduct research on...

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