India Partnering Award: Health and welfare consequences of maladaptation of high-producing cross-bred dairy cattle to environmental stressors in India
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Clinical Veterinary Science
Abstract
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Organisations
- University of Bristol (Lead Research Organisation)
- Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University (Collaboration)
- Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GHANA (Collaboration)
- University of Western Australia (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI (Collaboration)
- Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Project Partner)
| Description | This is the first stage in developing a range of welfare and risk assessments for dairy farming in India. Already a set of priorities has been identified derived and adapted from best practice in the UK which the Indian ECR took back to India for systematic assessment in the period before the return visit of the Bristol ECR, which occurred in November/December 2016. These were be targeted at specific hazards (e.g. heat stress) and practices (e.g. tethering) in India. A workshop was convened in Kerala, India, to discuss the outcomes of the two exchange visits. From this, a standard welfare and welfare risk assessment tool is being developed, tailored to the specific needs in Kerala. We have identified some specific and strategic needs in order to advance welfare in India. Specific needs are to identify the key signs of heat/humidity effects on dairy cattle, to quantify foot problems in relation to freedom of movement, and recognising sterotypies in relation to housing conditions. A quick win, with a low level of associated risk, is to discourage the use of tethering whilst cattle are housed within the shed. Strategic goals should be to encourage the formation of welfare groupings within academic institutions, to encourage researchers to recognise welfare as a career option, and to perform a socio-economic study to identify the drivers (or lack of) of improved welfare in India, being public awareness, academic activity, farmer education or economic incentives. |
| Exploitation Route | Having developed standard welfare assessment protocols, we need to apply these on test farms to test for practicality, utility and efficacy, measured against farmer expectations, welfare improvements, and effects on productivity/profitability. We need to plan additional studies to further these outcomes, and we intend to progress these with our Indian partners. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Environment,Retail,Other |
| Description | Findings led directly to an award by the Worldwide Universities Network examining the potential for Dairy cooperatives to improve the efficiency of smallholder dairy farmers. The follow on from the WUN project has led to additional funding from the British Council of £25,000, Enhancing smallholder dairy feeding systems to improve productivity and mitigate climate change impacts in Malawi. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | Enhancing smallholder dairy feeding systems to improve productivity and mitigate climate change impacts in Malawi |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Not Known |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | GENESIS: Modular Insect Bioconversion System for On-site Animal Feed Production |
| Amount | £572,566 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 104387 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | Smallholder Dairy Cooperatives in Addressing Sustainable Development Goals in ODA Countries |
| Amount | £22,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Worldwide Universities Network |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | Cattle welfare and productivity in India |
| Organisation | Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Building on the WUN funded Global Farm Platform initiative, and the BBSRC India Partnering Award two workshops have been organised, in India and Bristol, UK, and an International Scientific Meeting, Steps to Sustainable Livestock, 12th-15th January, 2016, University of Bristol, UK |
| Collaborator Contribution | Delegates from our Partner in Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University have attended workshops and scientific meetings in the UK, and both organised (2015) and hosted (2016) two workshops on sustainable intensification of livestock production. |
| Impact | Three international workshops One International Scientific Meeting |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Cattle welfare and productivity in India |
| Organisation | Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources |
| Country | Malawi |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Building on the WUN funded Global Farm Platform initiative, and the BBSRC India Partnering Award two workshops have been organised, in India and Bristol, UK, and an International Scientific Meeting, Steps to Sustainable Livestock, 12th-15th January, 2016, University of Bristol, UK |
| Collaborator Contribution | Delegates from our Partner in Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University have attended workshops and scientific meetings in the UK, and both organised (2015) and hosted (2016) two workshops on sustainable intensification of livestock production. |
| Impact | Three international workshops One International Scientific Meeting |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Cattle welfare and productivity in India |
| Organisation | University of Ghana |
| Country | Ghana |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Building on the WUN funded Global Farm Platform initiative, and the BBSRC India Partnering Award two workshops have been organised, in India and Bristol, UK, and an International Scientific Meeting, Steps to Sustainable Livestock, 12th-15th January, 2016, University of Bristol, UK |
| Collaborator Contribution | Delegates from our Partner in Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University have attended workshops and scientific meetings in the UK, and both organised (2015) and hosted (2016) two workshops on sustainable intensification of livestock production. |
| Impact | Three international workshops One International Scientific Meeting |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Cattle welfare and productivity in India |
| Organisation | University of Nairobi |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Building on the WUN funded Global Farm Platform initiative, and the BBSRC India Partnering Award two workshops have been organised, in India and Bristol, UK, and an International Scientific Meeting, Steps to Sustainable Livestock, 12th-15th January, 2016, University of Bristol, UK |
| Collaborator Contribution | Delegates from our Partner in Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University have attended workshops and scientific meetings in the UK, and both organised (2015) and hosted (2016) two workshops on sustainable intensification of livestock production. |
| Impact | Three international workshops One International Scientific Meeting |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Cattle welfare and productivity in India |
| Organisation | University of Western Australia |
| Department | Western Australian Institute for Medical Research |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Building on the WUN funded Global Farm Platform initiative, and the BBSRC India Partnering Award two workshops have been organised, in India and Bristol, UK, and an International Scientific Meeting, Steps to Sustainable Livestock, 12th-15th January, 2016, University of Bristol, UK |
| Collaborator Contribution | Delegates from our Partner in Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University have attended workshops and scientific meetings in the UK, and both organised (2015) and hosted (2016) two workshops on sustainable intensification of livestock production. |
| Impact | Three international workshops One International Scientific Meeting |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Global Farm Platform |
| Organisation | Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Attended three international workshops. Obtained funding for research with KVASU, India Publication in Nature Organised an International conference with 180 delegates from over 30 countries |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sethu Madhavan, KVASU; organised two workshops in Kerala, India in 2013 and 2015. Co-Applicant on BBSRC India Partnering Award. Graeme Martin, University of Western Australia; organised workshop in Perth Australia in 2014. Contributed to a co-authored Nature paper. |
| Impact | Nature Paper. Steps to sustainable livestock International conference; Steps to sustainable livestock BBSRC India Partnering Award |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Engagement activity with Smallholder dairy farmers and Cooperative management personnel in Ghana |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An exchange visit between early career researchers from Malawi (LUANAR), Ghana (University of Ghana) and Kenya (University of Nairobi) to interview smallholder dairy farmers in Rural Ghana, and management and workers of dairy cooperatives, followed by a workshop attended by the ECRs, local supervisors and advisors from the University of Bristol and the University of Western Australia. Extension activities with smallholder farmers included approximately 60 subjects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Extension activities in Malawi |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An exchange visit between early career researchers from Malawi (LUANAR), Ghana (University of Ghana) and Kenya (University of Nairobi) to interview smallholder dairy farmers in Rural Malawi, and management and workers of dairy cooperatives, followed by a workshop attended by the ECRs, local supervisors and advisors from the University of Bristol and the University of Western Australia. Extension activities with smallholder farmers included approximately 60 subjects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Extension studies and workshop involving smallholder dairy farmers and cooperative management personnel i Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An exchange visit between early career researchers from Malawi (LUANAR), Ghana (University of Ghana) and Kenya (University of Nairobi) to interview smallholder dairy farmers in Rural Kenya, and management and workers of dairy cooperatives, followed by a workshop attended by the ECRs, local supervisors and advisers from the University of Bristol and the University of Western Australia. Extension activities with smallholder farmers included approximately 60 subjects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |