page updated 5 January 2010
Life Cycle Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ruminant AgricultureThe National Motorcycle Museum, NEC, Birmingham, 7 October 2009 There is both an increasing interest in the use of life cycle assessment to establish the carbon footprint of ruminant products and a lack of consensus on the appropriate methodology, framework and boundaries within which estimates should be made. This workshop brought together scientists, policy makers and representatives of the ruminant production industry and the food chain to explore the aim of stimulating debate and reaching a consensus on the most appropriate methodologies to use within the sector. Please see presentations and the notes from the Workshop Discussion. PresentationsAn overview of life cycle assessment and carbon footprinting (pdf) Building carbon footprints from the bottom up: issues of farms, farmers, scale and uncertainty (pdf)
Workshop Discussion |
BSAS Annual Conference, Southport Theatre and Convention Centre30 March-1 April 2009 Presentations are now available on the members area of the web-site. |
Student EventReading University, 11-12 November 2008 |
Moredun Research, Edinburgh, 24 September 2008
The Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre - (954kb) C Humble
Round the Bend: Biomechanical challenges to the racing greyhound (1.5mb) D Beary
Born to run - (506 kb) P Webbon
The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and the enabling power for Scottish Ministers to make regulations - (30 kb) I Strachen
Racehorse welfare: perception versus reality - (1 mb) M Johnston
Greyhound welfare: present and future - (1 mb) P Laurie
The UCD Review of horse welfare in Ireland 2007 - 2009 (part 1) (144 kb) J Collins
The UCD Review of horse welfare in Ireland 2007 - 2009 (part 2) (763 kb) J Collins
Horse Racing: The Need for Consideration of the Ethics of Exposure to Risk - (50 kb) M Kennedy
Problems investigations results IMPACT - (273 kb) T Parkin
17-20 May 2008
FINAL PROGRAMME (340 kb)
PROCEEDINGS (3.5mb)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (42 kb)
PRESS RELEASE (33kb)
Supported by BSAS, ICARDA, IRESA, OEP, EAAP, INRA, ILRI, ESF, RIU/DFID and the Scottish Government
Presentations
Setting the Scene
1 Climate Change: An environmental, development and security issue (4.7mb) R Watson
2 Greenhouse gases and global climate change (1.7mb) B Gerber and H Steinfeld
3 The consequences of global warming for agriculture and food production (5.8mb) B Seguin
4 The role of the carbon cycle for the greenhouse gas balance of grasslands and of livestock production systems (1.9mb) J-F Soussana
Food for thought
5 Impacts on livestock agriculture of competition for resources (2.9mb) C J Pollock
6 Water and livestock (4.2mb) T Oweis and D Peden
7 Climate change, vulnerability and livestock keepers: challenges for poverty alleviation (707kb) P Thornton and M Herrero
8 Impacts on livelihoods 4.6mb) C J Garforth
9 Coping and risk management strategies for a sustainable future (1.5mb) A E Sidahmed, A Nefzaoui and M El-Mourid
Mitigation I
10 Mitigating climate change: the role of livestock in agriculture (....) M Gill and P Smith
11 Livestock emissions and global climate change: some economic considerations (1.2mb) D Moran
12 Emission of greenhouse gas, developing management and animal farming systems to assist mitigation (2.4mb) J-Y Dourmad, C Rigolot and H van der Werf
Mitigation II
13 Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of ruminants through nutritional strategies (2.5mb) F P O’Mara, K A Beauchemin, M Kreuzer and T A McAllister
14 Developing breedings schemes to assist mitigation (1.8mb) E Wall, M Bell and G Simm
15 Genetic improvement of forage crops for climate change mitigation (4.2mb) M T Abberton, A H Marshall, M W Humphreys and J H Macduff
16 Application of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies on New Zealand farms (1.7mb) G C Waghorn
Adaptation I
17 Adapting livestock production systems to climate change - tropical zones (2.4mb) R Preston and R Leng
18 Adapting livestock production systems to climate change - temperate zones (2.5mb) P Rowlinson
19 Experiences on mitigation or adaptation needs in Ethiopia and East African rangelands (2.8mb) L MacOpiyo, J Angerer, P Dyke and R Kaitho
20 Climate Change in West Africa: Impact on livestock and strategies of adaptation (1.6mb) A Gouro, S Hamadou, A Soara and L Guerrini
21 Assessment of global climate changes on agriculture in the Mediterranean countries (2.7mb) S Sensoy and Ch. Ben Ahmed
Adaptation II
22 Livestock genetic diversity and climate change adaptation (2.5mb) I Hoffmann
23 Riding out the storm: animal genetic resources policy options under climate change (1.37mb) A G Drucker, S J Hiemstra, N Louwaars, J K Oldenbroek and M W Tvedt
24 Climate Change: A conceptual approach for assessing health impacts (9.3mb) J P Lacaux and Y M Tourre
Animal Health
25 Bluetongue and Rift Valley fever in livestock: a climate change perspective with a special reference to Europe, the Middle East and Africa (5.2 mb) R Lancelot, S de La Rocque and V Chevalier
26 Distribution of ticks (and tick-borne diseases) in relation to climate change. Illustration with soft and hard ticks (2.5mb) G Vourc'h and L Vial
27 Ticks and tick-borne diseases of livestock in North Africa, present state and potential changes in the context of global warming Part 1 (7mb) Part 2 (189kb) M A Darghouth and A Bouattour
28 New challenges for the control of helminth parasites of Scottish livestock in the face of climate change (1.4mb) P J Skuce, N D Sargison, F Kenyon, F Jackson and G B Mitchell
29 Identification of QTL for tick resistance using a bovine F2 population in tropical area (99kb) M G C D Peixoto, A L S Azevedo, R L Teodoro, M F A Pires, R S Verneque, M C A Prata, J Furlong, L C A Regitano and M A Machado
Coping Strategy - Management tools
30 The challenge of sustainability to design the future dairy farms (127kb) P Faverdin, X Chardon, L Delaby and J-L Peyraud
31 Management practices for adapting sheep production systems in the WANA region to climate change (2.2mb) B Rischkowsky, L Iñiguez and M Tibbo
32 Trade-offs among enteric methane production, non-milk nitrogen and performance in dairy cows during the winter feeding period (1.8mb) M G G Chagunda and D J Roberts
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34 Agroforestry and livestock: adaptation/mitigation strategies in agro-pastoral farming systems of Eastern Africa (3.2) A Kitalyi, C Rubanza and D Komwihangilo
35 Improving the utilization of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) tops in goats: effect of supplementation with Dichrostachys cinerea fruits (157kb) V Mlambo, T S Sgwane, R L Vilakati and J I Rugambisa
36 Reducing dairy herd methane emissions through improved health, fertility and management (1mb) M J Bell, E Wall, G Simm, G Russell and D J Roberts
37 Simulated global warming potential and ammonia emission figures for a range of suckler herd breeding strategies and beef cattle finishing systems (117kb) J J Hyslop
Coping and Mitigation Strategies - Nutritional Tools
38 Methane mitigation in ruminants: from rumen microbes to the animal (650kb) C Martin, M Doreau and D P Morgavi
39 Nutritional routes to attenuate heat stress in pigs (1.5mb) D Renaudeau, J L Gourdine, B A N Silva and J Noblet
40 Feeding strategies to alleviate negative impacts of drought on ruminant production (1.9mb) H Ben Salem and T Smith
41 Linseed oil and a combination of sunflower oil and malic acid decrease rumen methane emissions in vitro (470kb) J-P Jouany, Y Papon, D P Morgavi and M Doreau
42 Livestock nutrition in future: taking into account climate change, restricted fossil fuel and arable land used also for biofuel leading to high grain prices (209kb) E R Ørskov
43 A win-win scenario with flaxseed supplementation to reduce methane output and increase weight gains of grazing cattle (302kb) S L Kronberg and E J Scholljegerdes
44 The nutrient degradability of Acacia nilotica pods offered to indigenous goats after mixing with wood ash or polyethylene glycol (178kb) J L N Sikosana, T Smith, G Sisito and G Malaba
45 Effect of wattle tannins on the hatchability of gastrointestinal nematodes eggs in faeces of the Small East African goats (1.07mb) R A Max and J A S Warioba
Coping strategies - socio-economic impacts
46 The Gender-Livestock-Climate Change connection: local experiences and lessons learned from Morocco (47k) F Nassif
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49 Industry and Government strategies for reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions from New Zealand agriculture (372kb) H Clark, M Aspin and H Montgomery
50 Global farm animal production and global warming: Impacting and mitigating climate change (...) G Koneswaran and D Nierenberg
51 The potential of livestock to reverse desertification and sequester carbon, mitigate global climate change and create enhanced rural livelihoods (1.8mb) S Horst
31 March - 2 April 2008, Spa Complex, Scarborough, UK
Press releases and technology transfer
Fertility in Dairy Cows
30-31 August 2007, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park Campus, Liverpool, L16 9JD, UK
FINAL PROGRAMME - CLICK HERE (updated 10 August 2007) |
Slide show of conference preview: Meet the key note speakers |
Synopsis Summaries click here |
Powerpoint presentations - available in the members area of the website |
The now well-documented decline in dairy cow fertility has prompted new research into diverse aspects of dairy cow reproduction. It has also prompted the development of new technology and applications in the field. The purpose of this conference was to provide an update on these activities and provide a forum for bridging the gaps between the different disciplines involved and between researchers, practitioners and the industry.
The conference included sessions dealing with the following topics:
Factors pre-disposing reproductive disorders
Towards better indices of reproductive abilities
Impact of new on-farm technologies on reproductive management
Led by keynote speakers recognised as international experts in their field the conference shed light on questions such as: Why has the frequency of reproductive abnormalities increased? How can we better distinguish poor management from poor genetics for reproductive traits? How will sexed semen and on-farm progesterone measurements affect reproductive managment? A Proceedings of the meeting is expected to be published by the end of 2007. For further information please contact bsas@sac.ac.uk or mdroyal@liverpool.ac.uk
2-4 April 2007
Every Spring BSAS holds its Annual Conference in the UK. This attracts some 500 delegates to discuss and debate some 200 academic papers on all aspects of Animal Science and Production and related topics. A series of invited expert speakers give papers on specially selected topic themes that change each year. The conference offers a once a year opportunity to interact with the UK's top animal scientists as well as those from Europe and overseas.
Annual Conference Proceedings Click here to view proceedings of the Annual BSAS Conference for previous years.
17-19 April 2007, University of Keele, Staffordshire, UK Programme.
Three scholarships were available from BSAS to allow postgraduate students and early-career scientists to attend this conference.
23-24 May 2007, School of Veterinary Science, Langford, Nr Bristol
click here to download the programme.
TB in Cattle and Badgers - Disease Control, Ethics and Welfare
19 October 2006, Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
Tuberculosis in cattle continues to be a major problem for livestock farmers In the UK. Suggested methods of control/eradication of the disease are proving controversial. The relationship between TB in cattle and badgers is a complex one and informed discussion is often difficult. The aim of this meeting, organised by SCAWS, is to explore the many facets of this intractable problem.
Powerpoint presentations from meeting (pdf's).
Bob McCracken - Welfare Aspects of Bovine Tuberculosis (162Kb)
Dick Sibley - Bovine Tuberculosis: A Welfare Issue? (1.26Mb)
Jan Rowe - Costs and Welfare issues of TB in Cattle Herds (1.34Mb)
John McInerney - Tuberculosis in Cattle & Badgers - disease control, ethics and welfare (475Kb)
Mike Hutchings - Badger Ecology and TB (681Kb)
Neville Gregory - Experiences with TB in Possums in New Zealand (636Kb)
A major part of the first day included the presentation of 80 posters from scientists throughout Eastern Europe. Peter Buttery, BSAS President, represented the Society and extended his appreciation to Professor Waldyslaw Migdal and Piotr Pasciak who organised the event so well.
During the Conference delegates came together for a formal dinner in the beautiful Royal Castle in the old part of historic Krakow.
This very successful meeting was the second BSAS meeting in Krakow on Meat science. The next in the series will be held in Lithuania in June 2007 - watch the BSAS website for details.
These conferences are part of the BSAS’ strategy to work with partner scientists in Eastern Europe to exchange information on topical aspects of animal science. This approach is forging closer collaboration between UK and Polish scientists, as well as an increase in BSAS members from that part of Europe.
Summaries of all the papers presented will shortly be available to members free of charge on the BSAS website.
14-15 September 2006, Writtle College, Chelmsford, UK.
The beautiful and friendly campus at Writtle, Essex hosted the BSAS specialist conference on Ethnoveterinary - Harvesting knowledge, Pharming Opportunities in mid-September. The width of papers presented was stunning material. Delegates appreciated that the topic has wide implications especially in developing countries. A satellite workshop also brought in a team of world experts from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Authority) in Vienna, who contributed papers to the main conference.
13 September 2006 - Writtle College, Chelmsford UK
The student day at Writtle was a great success, even the sun came out to greet us. It was well attended with 27 students enjoying a diverse range of topics. The first part of the day was dedicated to core requirements such as Viva, writing and presentation skills. The subsequent industry forum gave students a chance to meet with and find out requirements of future employers including WALTHAM, Farmers weekly, and EBLEX. Professor Jamie Newbold from Aberystwyth gave real insight into the requirements for an academic career whilst David Garwes talked about the types of research which might attract future funding. After a long hard day it was time for everyone to let their hair down. The evening's entertainment started with a rounders match at dusk on the front lawn of the college. A barbecue, balloon antics, and a fiercely competitive pub quiz followed ensuring a rewarding day ended, as it should, with a very lively social night.
Langford Food Industry Conference - New developments in sheepmeat quality
24-25 May 2006, School of Veterinary Science, Langford, Bristol
27-29 March 2006, University of York
This year BSAS held its Annual Conference in York, England. This attracted some 500-600 delegates to discuss and debate some 200 academic papers on all aspects of Animal Science and Production and related topics. A series of invited expert speakers gave papers on specially selected topic themes. The World Poultry Science Association (UK Branch) held their meeting at the same time.
Annual Conference Proceedings Click here to view proceedings of the Annual BSAS Conference:
(All information contained in .pdf files)
25-26 November 2005, London Zoo.
The symposium examined the interactions of mammals with the process of human food production. Download leaflet
14-18 November 2005, Khon Kaen University, Thailand
20-21 September, 2005 Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, UK
Applying Equine Science: Research into Business was the second BSAS conference in its Equine series and followed the highly successful ‘Emerging Equine Science’ run in September 2003. The 2005 format was similar with world experts explaining the role of science in areas vital to equine practitioners. This time the emphasis was on business and was of particular relevance to all involved in running commercial equine operations whether they be racing, eventing, trekking or polo. The papers presented covered the major aspects of keeping horses and was also important for anyone wishing to understand how science could help them look after their horses in a more cost effective way.
The first day concentrated on business matters with an exciting and innovative afternoon of visits to practical horse enterprises and husbandry facilities. It included a polo match with commentary and insights into organising and managing the equine side of such an event.
The second day brought scientists in to talk about nutrition, behaviour, physiology as well as practitioners involved in alternative therapies.
Summaries of the meeting are available from the BSAS office at a cost of £10.00 per copy. A Proceedings of the conference will be published by Nottingham University Press in early 2006.
Every Spring BSAS holds its Annual Conference in York, England. This attracts some 500-600 delegates to discuss and debate some 200
academic papers on all aspects of Animal Science and Production and related topics. A series of invited expert speakers give papers on specially selected topic themes that change each year. The conference offers a once a year opportunity to interact with the UK's top animal scientists as well as those from Europe and overseas. The World Poultry Science Associations hold their meeting at the same time. Annual Conference 4-6 April, 2005, University of York.
Next Annual Conference 27-29 March 2006, University of York
Annual Conference Proceedings
Click here to view proceedings of the Annual BSAS Conference:
(All information contained in .pdf files) ![]()
6th and 7th May 2005 CAFRE, Greenmount Campus, Antrim
Conference organised in association with BSAS, Irish Grassland Association And Ulster Grassland Society, was well attended with over 200 delegates coming together for this very popular and practical conference: Profit from Your Labour. See Newsletter for details
Programme and papers from the meeting.
18- 19 May, 2005. Eighth Langford Food Industry Conference, University of Bristol.
A really interactive 1½ days at a very good time for producers, processors, retailers and scientists. This conference brought speakers from Poland, France, the USA, and the UK to address and challenge the 100+ delegates.
This new format of 1½ days with presentations, a dinner, debate and practical food tasting sessions worked well, and is likely to be repeated next year with sheep as the possible topic.
Throughout the conference there was an emphasis on explaining quality from a consumer view point. The picture painted by those looking at the future was more optimistic than depressing. Demand for beef in the UK and Europe is good and the opportunities to get a good return from quality products is high, despite the potential competition from countries like Brazil. However, getting better returns back to producers remains a challenge and the need for the whole production and processing chain is vital.
Our congratulations to the Langford team of Jeff Wood, Rita Hinton and colleagues on organising an excellent conference. Programme Proceedings
A joint BSAS, Krakow University, Bristol University and Hellenic Society of Animal Production Conference.
14-15 October 2004. University of Krakow, Poland.
Programme (pdf, 325K)
Conference information (pdf, 179K)
Equine Proceedings published by Nottingham University Press, edited J Alliston, M Moore Colyer, A Hemmings and J Hyslop, BSAS Publication No 32, ISBN 1-897676-47-6
9-10 September 2003, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
Conference information (pdf, 44 kb).
Proceedings publishing by Nottingham University Press, edited by J E Thompson, B P Gill & M A Varley, BSAS Publication No 31, ISBN 1-904761-50-X
Mexico, October 2003
Proceedings published by NUP, edited by C A Sandoval-Castro, F D DeB D Hovell, F Torres Acosta and A Ayala-Burgos, BSAS publication No 34, ISBN 1-094761-52-6
25-27 November 2002, University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Responding to the increasing global demand for animal products.
Proceedings, BSAS Publication No 30, edited by G Simm, B Villanueva, K D Sinclair & S Townsend, ISBN 1-897676-15-8
12-15 November 2002, UADY, Mexico
Book of summaries - programme and summaries (pdf)
Click on the blue titles in this programme and they will take you to the relevant summary.
Proceedings - Responding to the Livestock Revolution
The role of globalisation and implications for poverty alleviation, BSAS Publication No. 33
Edited by E Owen, T Smith, MA Steele, S Anderson, AJ Duncan, M Herrero, JD Leaver, CK Reynolds, JI Richards and JC Ku-Vera, ISBN 1-904761-51-8
Monday 8th April 2002, University of York
Report from the satellite held at the Annual Conference 2002. (pdf,176KB)
4-6 October 2001, Athens, Greece.
A joint international conference organised by the Hellenic Society of Animal Production and BSAS, abstracts £10.00, Proceedings £45.00 ISBN 9 076998086
11-12 September 2001, Cambridge, Publication 28.
Available on CDRom please contact BSAS for details, edited by C M Wathes, A R Frost, F Gordon and J D Wood. £17.00
5-7 September 2000, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus.
Available from BSAS £55.00
18-20 September 2000. Ardoe House, Aberdeen.
27th September 2000, Belgrave Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
Publication no 27 - papers from the meeting (pdf)
16-17 September, 1999. Occasional Meeting held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Summaries from the meeting (pdf, 44KB) Proceedings out of print, CDRom available £17.00
20-22 September, 1999. Galway, Ireland.
Contact BSAS for Proceedings, Publication No 26, edited by M G Diskin, ISBN 0-906562-34-1
Paperback Vol. 1 282 pp. £35.00
Paperback Vol. 2 229 pp. £35.00
ISBN 0 906562 27 9 £7.50 member, £10.00 non-member Contact BSAS for a copy
Proceedings from a meeting at Appleby, 1997. Proceedings include executive summary of the literature review, the invted papers, summaries of contributed posters, and a synopsis of each of the workshop sessions.