South West Dairy Development Centre
Supporting sustainable UK milk production
State-of-the-art dairy facility
The South West Dairy Development Centre (SWDDC) is a state-of-the-art, 180-cow dairy unit in Somerset, the heart of the Southwest milk field. The Centre, a fresh vision for the UK dairy industry, provides a truly innovative environment for the development, testing and demonstration of new technologies and techniques to support sustainable, efficient and high health and welfare milk production.
The housing design, which reflects the best of the natural cow environment while providing automated protection from changing weather conditions, optimises the well being of the cattle, and includes enrichment elements such as rotary brushes, state of the art lighting and cubicles.
Key focus areas
Industry impact
A film produced by Cisco in conjunction with BBC Storyworks describes how 5G-connected technology is being tested at Agri-EPI Centre’s South West Dairy Development Centre in Somerset. The film, which is being broadcast internationally, highlights how 5G technology has the potential to bridge the connectivity gap between urban and rural areas, helping to ‘reinvigorate the businesses and industries that drive rural economies.
Precision grazing
The use of hyperspectral imaging and satellite data is to monitor and predict grass growth to optimise precision grazing. A network of cow tracks and automated grazing gates give the cows access to four fresh paddocks every day. The cows are free to return to the building, at any time they choose, to get milked by one of the three GEA robot milkers and return to the grazing.
5G project
The South West Dairy Development Centre was one of three UK ‘testbeds’ for the 5G RuralFirst project, the UK’s most ambitious connectivity project. A number of technologies utilising 5G data were trialled, including connected cow collars, monitoring health and welfare, drone technology to measure and monitor grazing, and 5G enabled farm security.
Measure to manage
Sensor technology – satellite and wearable technology – is used at the South West Dairy Development Centre to gather data to maximise precision in feeding, production, health and welfare of the cows, when indoors and outdoors, and permits our skilled staff to devote more time to cow health and welfare.
Innovation in dairy farm technology
Cow comfort
The building has been designed to ensure the herd’s comfort with:
- Excellent light levels and ventilation
- Well designed cubicles & mattresses to optimise lying time
- Enrichment activity includes rotary brushes
- Well laid out housing to ease cow flow from lying area to milking to feeding.
Sensor technology
The use of sensor technology allows us to:
- Manage information across the farm
- Access high speed internet connectivity that links data across the Agri-Tech programme and wider industry supporters
- Put wearable technology on the cows
- Access 3D imaging to monitor cow health.
Cow health
- A prototype 3D imaging system that measures incremental changes in cow body condition and mobility was tested at the South West Dairy Development Centre and is now a commercially available product.
- An agri-tech SME recently used the facilities to test prototypes of its in-line system to analyse progesterone levels in each cow’s milk to precisely identify oestrus status in the cows.
Controlled environment
- Curtain wall controlling airflow
- Adjusts to wind speed, rainfall, internal temperature
- Remote control via Cloud App
Automated milking system
- Three robots
- Providing high levels of data
- Low levels of cow stress
Automated feed system
- The feed system delivers precision diets multiple times a day
- Weigh cells on feed bins linked to feed mill to optimise supply logistics
Visitor Centre, meeting facilities and tours
We offer a well equipped and connected meeting facility, which is available for hire and can include a farm tour with a member of the farm team.
Virtual Reality experience
Don’t have time to visit the Centre? Take a look around the Dairy Centre with this VR experience.
Barclays has been supporting the agricultural sector for over 275 years and is committed to supporting the industry and looking at ways to improve efficiencies in food production for the UK and global market. This VR experience is brought to you by Barclays Eagle Labs to raise awareness for dairy innovation in the UK.
A leading partnership
The South West Dairy Development Centre was established in close partnership with independent dairy specialists, Kingshay.
Kingshay provides farmers with practical, unbiased information and support, which is based on its own trials and investigations. Kingshay’s range of services includes technical notes and reports taken from farm-based research, field scale evaluations, surveys and product comparisons.
With thanks to our sponsors
Network of dairy centres
The South West Dairy Development Centre is one of three world-class, complementary dairy facilities owned by Agri-EPI Centre. It has also established a youngstock research facility based at Scotland’s Rural College in Dumfries and a robotic milking and adaptable housing centre at Harper Adams University in Shropshire. Further dairy facilities have been established on commercial farms as part of the Agri-EPI network of satellite farms.
1. Scotland’s Rural College, Dumfries
2. Harper Adams University, Shropshire
3. Kingshay, Somerset
4. Satellite Farmers
On 6 October, we bring together the brightest minds during our Annual Conference. Industry expert Phil Wilkinson will join us as panellist for Session 4 'Agri-food Supply Chain, Retailer, Processor ... and Consumer Perspectives on AgriTech' More info: https://agri-epicentre.com/agri-tech-connect-2020/ #virtual
