Ποια ήταν η πρόκληση/πρόβλημα που αντιμετωπίστηκε?

With trends in biodiversity heading the wrong way and agriculture being one of the causing factors, a group of dairy farmers wanted to explore the options available to them to reverse this decline, with particular attention to insects. This had to fit in to the current farming practices without making systemic changes. The level of biodiversity in dungpads on the fields of dairy farms in Ireland was relatively unknow. Ως εκ τούτου, we decided to do a baseline survey on a number of farms in the group spread across the county.

Dosing animals for stomach worms has been shown to damage insect populations and we surmised this to be especially true for populations interacting with dung pads. Therefore we also wanted to reduce the level of dosing on farm to promote insect populations while maintaining or improving animal health outcomes.

These challenges could not be solved by the group alone, additional expertise was needed to ensure a positive outcome.

Πώς λύσατε το πρόβλημα?

Briefly the group:

Weighted calves at turn out to grass and weighted every calf every 6 weeks to ensure that they were reaching their target weight helping inform dosing strategy.

Took faecal samples every month for each group of calves and sent them to

Αυτό που είναι καινοτόμο στην πρακτική σας περίπτωση?

Having done all this we came up with a dosing planner for our calves so that all members of the group could be confident that animal health wasn’t compromised while also promoting biodiversity.

We also launched a website making this dosing planner availa

Ποιοι είναι οι παράγοντες επιτυχίας στην επίλυση του προβλήματος?

Built a framework for how to educate farmers on the importance of biodiversity and its relationship with animal health

Successfully developed a practical Dosing planner for young stock to improve health and biodiversity outcomes

Created the first baseline

Διδάγματα

If starting a project like this again I would allow a longer lead in period to get expertise/administration etc. organised.

Ποιος είναι ο ρόλος του συμβούλου ή της συμβουλευτικής υπηρεσίας με την πρακτική περίπτωση?

Implemented the project. Facilitated the training days, managed the administration and oversight of the project.

Μπορεί η προσέγγισή σας να μεταφερθεί ή/και να προσαρμοστεί για άλλες προκλήσεις και περιοχές καινοτομίας?

Ναί

Εκτιμώμενη δυνατότητα μεταφοράς σε κλίμακα από 1 ΜΕΤΑ ΜΕΣΗΜΒΡΙΑΣ 5

(όπου 1 είναι εύκολο και 5 πολύ δύσκολο)

2

Για την ανταλλαγή εμπειριών σχετικά με την καλή πρακτική, παρακαλώ επικοινωνήστε

Lorcan Dooley

lorcan.dooley@teagasc.ie

Σύνδεσμος με εξωτερικές πληροφορίες

Μετάβαση στο περιεχόμενο://www.omooreinnovation.ie/