RESEARCH GROUP
Forage utilization
Updated: May 2025
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Our unit focuses on forage utilisation in ruminant production and dairy nutrition, including strategies to reduce GHG emissions, satellite-based GHG estimation, feed efficiency and evaluation, grazing systems, young cattle rearing systems, animal welfare, and milk quality.
Our objective is to advance knowledge for the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of forage based dairy farming. We aim to understand dairy systems and their environmental interactions through research and education.
Key areas:
Dairy Cow Nutrition:
- Measuring GHG emissions using in vitro, in vivo methods, and Methane Lab.
- Screening diets for emissions and digestibility, predicting methane production.
- GreenFeed and satellite data for farm-level methane estimation.
- Sustainable alternatives to edible feed, using by-products and waste.
- Comprehensive feed evaluation (in vitro, in situ, and in vivo).
Grazing Systems:
- Research focused on pasture use, quality, biodiversity, and animal interactions for sustainability.
- Examining lactating cow metabolism during the transition from indoor feeding to grazing.
- Grazing Living Lab: Developing knowledge for sustainable pasture production, including virtual fencing and biodiversity.
Milk Quality:
- Silage quality impact on milk composition and dairy products.
- Transfer of silage microbiology into milk.
- Silage esters causing milk off-flavours.
Animal Behaviour and Welfare:
- Dairy cow ingestive behaviour and feeding system impacts.
- Accelerometers in grazing studies to monitor cow behaviour.
- Young cattle management for better performance, health, and welfare – the impact of bedding and housing on calves.
Contact
Would you like to collaborate with us? Do you have any questions? Please contact Mohammad Ramin, who leads the research group on forage utilization.