|
Harper Adams
University College, the leading provider of higher education for the
land-based industries, is doubling the size of its pig unit with
the intention of significantly strengthening its research capabilities. “We
are investing over £500,000 ($US 1,000,000)” comments Principal,
Professor Wynne Jones, “as we believe in the very real need of
the pig industry for relevant and robust research to feed the requirement
to continuously adapt to new pressures and market signals”
Unit Manager, Richard Hooper intends to replicate high
productivity units by choosing JSR Genepacker 90’s. “This is a major investment
in facilities and stock and will allow us to simulate high output commercial
units and ensure research projects continue to be relevant to today’s
modern high performance pigs.”
Recognised within the industry as
delivering near market, applied research, the pig unit at Harper Adams
will double in size from 120 sows to 240
with new dry sow and farrowing units being built in two phases; the
first phase is now almost complete. Current research projects already
reflect
the needs of the industry and include: nitrogen retention and meat
eating quality, feed additives for immune system enhancement and control
of
diffuse phosphate pollution control. These will soon be joined by additional
projects as the new facilities come on stream.
Commenting on the co-operation,
Tim Rymer, JSR’s Chairman said “We
are delighted to be able to build upon our long relationship with Harper
Adams. At a time when research organisations and government have been
pulling back from pig research this is a real boost for the industry.
To reinforce our commitment to the future JSR are pleased to announce
that we will be sponsoring a technician’s post at the University
College, initially for a two year period”.
The University College
has a highly skilled scientific team and combined with this investment,
the close working relations with other scientific
centres and stakeholders and the commitment from JSR will ensure pig
research can deliver results which are meaningful to the commercial
industry now and into the future.
Dr Grant Walling, JSR’s R&D
Director is excited for the unit and its ability to strengthen its commercially
relevant research and
points out that an added bonus will be the supply of valuable data on
the performance of the Genepacker 90 on a commercial unit to add to the
existing wealth of knowledge on purebred performance.
For further details
log onto www.harper-adams.ac.uk and www.jsrgenetics.com
[7 Jul 07]
|