A new €150,000 project, which could revolutionise testing for mastitis in milking cows, is to be run in Cork over the next two years. Danielle Crowley reports.
Cork County Council and the Science Foundation Ireland CONNECT Research Centre will both fund the project, due to be run by the Tyndall National Institute in UCC.
Mastitis is one of the most common diseases in the dairy industry and is very costly economically and in terms of animal welfare.
A 10% reduction in national somatic cell count would be worth over €37m to the Irish dairy industry.
The project’s goal is to create an in-line testing device which would use advanced nanosensor technologies to detect mastitis.
Integrated into milking machines
It would be integrated into milking machines in order to sample each quarter of the udder.
Alan O’Riordan, research fellow at Tyndall, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in developing new ways for early stage detection of mastitis that will lead to the reduced use of antibiotics and reduced losses in milk production.’’
“By further developing Tyndall’s nanosensor technology suite we’re not only addressing an Irish problem but a key global issue.”
Declan Hurley, Mayor of County Cork, has been very welcoming of the project and is quite excited by its potential.
As a dairy farmer I know only too well the effects of mastitis both from a welfare and economic perspective
“Any advances with early detection of this infection would be welcomed by the dairy industry all over the world.”
Tyndall is regarded as a European and global leader in its research areas, which include smart sensors and systems, ensuring the project strong foundations and high standards.
Source: Farmers Weekly