IOTA is bringing to the SOLID project input from practical dairy advisers and the experience of past dairy research and development. SOLID provides an important opportunity for organic advisers to contribute to the development of dairy farming through research.
As a partner the Institute of Organic Training and Advice (IOTA)(part of Organic Research Centre), is bringing to the project a group of experienced organic advisers, together with information collated from the review and analysis of organic research that we have been doing over the last 10 years.
Building on this experience we look forward to making some significant steps forward in feeding, management and health of cows and being able to play a valuable role in disseminating the results from the project.
By Mark Measures, Director IOTA
Initially IOTA contributed to SOLID Work Package 1, Innovation through stakeholder engagement and participatory research, providing input to identifying research
priorities, supporting the development of research projects and being involved in sustainability assessment. IOTA has previously helped developed a farm sustainability
assessment tool (ORC Public Good Tool) which is used by advisers to help farmers identify opportunities for farm development. IOTA advisers have been using the tool in the SOLID project to identify sustainability parameters, assess current farming practices and systems and to inform future research priorities.
Active participation from farmers through a series of farm meetings and a workshop at the ORC Producer Conference has identified the principle areas of interest, namely forage production, cow feeding and health. This builds on the research review work done by IOTA in the past, including the reviews on forage production (Grass Clover Leys, Herbal Pastures and Whole-crop) and Dairy Cow Feeding and Mineral Supply. All five reviews are available here. Related issues such as soil fertility, milk from forage, alternatives
to antibiotics and protein requirements and supply are all highlighted by farmers, as well as questions around breeding (also reviewed by IOTA) and suckled calf rearing.
While it is not possible to pursue all these topics in SOLID several are now well underway.
IOTA has contributed to useful discussions at the SOLID management meetings and were involved in the dairy nutrition work package with a meeting in Rome in March.
This will include the development of a farm decision making tool which will optimize the forage types and management in the light of new information on the effects of high forage diets on dairy cow energy requirements.
A key role, which IOTA will play, is the dissemination of the outcomes and recommendations of the project. While that work has not yet started it is clear that the project has already succeeded in getting the engagement of both farmers and advisers in addressing ongoing problems with organic dairy farming and in addition becoming more aware of and exploring the results of previous research
work. For example interest in diverse sward mixtures and alternative soil analysis have both been stimulated by the project.