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SRUC - The Dairy Cattle Research and Innovation Centre

Crichton Royal Farm is one of SRUC’s six research farms linked primarily to the SRUC’s Future Farming Systems applied research programme and is the centre for dairy research.

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Primary Contact: Paul Hargreaves (SRUC Crichton, Grassland Researcher)

[email protected] | 01387 403601

The farm has an area of 252 hectares and rise from near sea level to about 75m. SRUC also rents some neighbouring land.

Remit:

To find ways to improve the health and welfare of UK dairy herds and measure different systems’ effects on the environment.

Activities:

Studies undertaken at The Dairy Research Centre can be with grazing and/or housed cattle-either dry and/or lactating. There is also the capacity for research with dairy replacement stock.

Information from this work is regularly imparted to groups of farmers, vets, interested industry parties and government stakeholders, as well as being published in academic journals and presented at conferences.

Research interests:

Associated research work includes:

  • Dairy cow and young-stock nutrition
  • Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions
  • Examination of soil compaction
  • Nutrient profile

Two contrasting systems are examined at Crichton Royal; the forage system relies upon home-grown feeds with winter-housing, and the landless system relies on bought-in feeds that are by-products or co-products of crops primarily grown for human consumption.

Crichton is also undertaking projects looking at dairy sensors, Precision Livestock Farming, Climate Smart Cattle Farming and Keeping Cow with Calf.