FOOD AND FARMING INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY (FFIT) CENTRE

For more information or to arrange a visit please contact: James Oddie Director of Farming Innovation and Technology - [email protected] John Wherry Deputy Princial Resources - [email protected]

Key Research contacts: Director of Research Dr David Elphinstone - [email protected] Animal Nutrition Anya Westland - [email protected] Field Trials Dr Richard Collins - [email protected] Ecology Dr Jaime Martin - [email protected] Animal Welfare Kirsty Aspinall - [email protected]

Myerscough College , Preston , PR3 0RY Tel: 01995 642222 Fax: 01995 642333 www.myerscough.ac.uk

Supported by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Welcome to the Food and Farming In total over 307 ha (758 acres). Livestock Innovation Centre RESEARCH PROGRAMME The livestock building itself is 2325 m 2 with silo and feed store These farms currently support the following livestock Innovation and Technology Centre occupying a further 740 m 2. This and the commercial farm enable production: us to: Past and Current A new centre for research and development in association • 220 Commercial Holstein Dairy Cows. • Assess alternative feeds & forage crops. We have conducted a number of commercial with the food and farming industries. A centre of excellence • 1500 Mule ewes. • House animals in at least 8 group pens. feed and supplements trials for livestock with a to develop the adoption of precision farming techniques • 20 Pedigree Aberdeen Angus - producing bulls. • Monitor animals with an EID weighing system & software. range of commercial partners. particularly within the livestock and grassland sectors, but • 60 Lowland Suckler Cows (Stabiliser & British Blue x • Accommodate rearing trials on grassland. with additional interests and capabilities in food Holstein put to Aberdeen Angus Terminal Sire. • We have field trial experience, mainly with • Monitor animal intakes, health and live weight gain development (local processing and adding value), , testing research that works GroSafeTM drinking trough technology. sustainable agriculture, food security and horticulture. at both laboratory and glasshouse level, at the • Undertake feed efficiency trials with GrosafeTM feeder field scale. The Food and Farming Innovation and Technology Centre (FFIT technology. Centre) is part of Myerscough College and is located at its • Assess grazing system using Wi-Fi technology. • These have recently included trials with Lodge Farm near the Preston Campus. • Forage crop and grass trials using split silage / forage rhizobacteria (bacteria which live in the vicinity Myerscough College has a long history in Agriculture and Land clamps. of the plant roots) to improve water use based education since its inception in 1896. The College offers • Perform intake trials using efficiency. We have undertaken commercial courses at both Further and Higher Education in subjects grazing paddocks. fertiliser trials and novel fertiliser treatments to including agriculture, agricultural engineering, game-keeping, • Promote precision farming improve nutrient recycling. countryside, arboriculture, horticulture, equine, animal welfare practices with associated • We have existing trials on animal welfare, mainly and management, ecology and research. This education embedded technology. with the University of Central Lancashire, or stretches across all levels from foundation learning to • Hand livestock with a state-of- commercial partners looking at horse welfare, postgraduate research. Within the College staff there is Track Record in Knowledge Transfer the-art hydraulic crush and hydraulic shedding system. tigers and pigs. expertise to cover livestock management, nutrition, agronomy, We also have an excellent record of accomplishment in acting as a • Clean and washing animals for presentation. management, statistics, research, trials and many other land conduit between academia and our extensive range of industrial • Maintain animal health efficiently with automatic based specialisms. contacts e.g. ventilation system. Future • Farm Northwest/Livestock Northwest (www.farmnw.co.uk), • Monitoring of animal behaviour via CCTV. The Food and Farming Innovation and The Future established in 2009 with the aim to improve farm Technology Centre opens many possibilities for The College is currently seeking to identify key partners to competitiveness, support farmers to enhance nutrient use Food future research programmes, particularly with assist with the development of the vision for the new FFIT efficiency and assist with animal health and welfare. • Product development labs where raw materials can industrial backing and matched public funding. • National Environmental Research Council (NERC), Green be developed into ‘value added’. Centre. Partners may be interested in the direct use of the • Rearing & Finishing on forages and Infrastructure Knowledge transfer looking at Urban life • Products such as cheese, yogurt, ice-cream or ready meals. facilities to undertake research and product development or alternative feeds. they may wish to support the adoption of innovative and Sustainable Cities, where we are working with Tree • There are storage facilities for the raw materials and the technology by current students, farmers, producers and the Officers, Landscape Architects, Tree Nurseries etc. to finished products (both dry and cold). • Mixed grazing systems with sheep and agricultural and food sector in general. select trees using physiological traits, that will give • Basic commercial kitchen facilities and equipment which grazing strategies. greater resilience to our urban tree stock. complies with Environmental Health standards. • Methane isotope outputs of dairy & beef on If you would like more information after having read this leaflet • Working with companies and Universities to test products, forage based feed systems. then please contact our Director Of Farming Innovation and commercial fertiliser trials, field scale testing of beneficial Resources Technology, James Oddie at [email protected] or • EID as an economic and performance organisms, feed and supplement trials. • Over 5 hectares available for field trials. telephone on 01995 643467. management tool. • Modern glasshouses. Conference and Meeting Facilities 2 • Maximising output kg meat per ha minimising Facilities and Expertise Available 1276 m of modern glasshouse facilities. Automatic climate The Food and Farming Innovation Centre (scheduled for completion control, CO2 enrichment and LED lighting options. inputs / nutrient efficiency / power labour etc. The Food and Farming Innovation and Technology Centre in July 2017) building includes: • Analytical equipment. • Lifetime performance cows, kg meat. provide facilities suitable for strategic research, industrial A range of modern equipment is available including onsite UK • Conference facilities (between 40 to 100 capacity). • Effect of climate change on forage quality and trials and product development. This will enable the Met Office weather station. demonstration of new products and research at the “farm and • Meeting breakout rooms. animal performance. fork” levels, gaining full impact and independent verification. • Social and dining areas. • Product development labs and food stores. • Work with local abattoirs on new VIA technology, sheep finishing, stock selection and carcass The College Farms • Data/ instrument room with IT links to sensors around the farm. quality. Myerscough Lodge Farm is 6 miles north of Preston (135 ha). • Field laboratory for processing and preserving material. • Calf production in Kg/ha from different dairy Myerscough Hall Farm is the site of the main campus with activities • Grassland monitoring and cross dams. including Equine, Animal Care, Green Infrastructure (parks, gardens, improvement. • Climate change, atmospheric gas change and roadside, greens and woodland), Golf and sports-turf. • Teaching laboratory. effects on crop production. Lee Farm is suitable for grassland or arable cropping (93 ha). • An area immediately adjacent to Light Ash Farm & Primrose Hill provides grassland cereal and the site is available for Field trials. • Developing resilience in plants and crops to alternative forage production. (79 ha) climate change.