Date set for construction to begin on UCD dairy research facility
The facility is part of a €2m investment supported by Dairymaster, Devenish Nutrition, Glanbia, Munster Cattle Breeding Group, Progressive Genetics and the Irish Holstein Friesian Breeders Association.
“Continuing investment in research is critical to the success of the Irish dairy industry and to the quality of the education of the student population,” said Dr Karina Pierce, UCD.
“The herd will be comprised of spring calving and autumn calving groups and the emphasis initially will be on the role of supplementation in a grass-based system to maximise production and improve milk quality throughout the season.”
The new centre will support research programmes in dairy production, including genetics, nutrition and herd health management.
Lyons Research Farm consists of over 580 acres located near the village of Newcastle in Co Kildare. It is used for teaching and research field activities by the UCD College of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin. The research farm will have a capacity for 200 cows.
The new facilities will come on stream in the spring of 2015, just as the dairy industry in Ireland begins a major expansion following the abolition of milk quotas, and they will facilitate research which will complement that being carried at other research centres in Ireland.
The research outputs from the new facility will be made available through publications, a dedicated website and open days on the farm. The facility will serve as an international showcase for the best in Irish dairy technology.
The facility will provide new facilities for teaching students in agriculture and veterinary medicine.
