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Teagasc and UCD are leading a new research project on biosecurity and the contract-rearing of dairy heifers.
They are currently recruiting farmers to participate in the two-year study, which will see heifers monitored from birth to first milking.
The study will compare the health, fertility and productivity of heifers that are contract-reared with those that are not.
The research team will blood sample heifers to assess their exposure to infectious disease and the team will conduct biosecurity risk assessments for the animals.
Alongside the contract-reared heifers, the researchers will assess heifers reared on their farm of origin and use those as a comparison group for health, production and fertility.
Teagasc and UCD are collaborating with the ICBF, Department of Agriculture and the University of Ghent in Belgium.
Farmers involved in contract-rearing who are interested in taking part in the study are asked to contact Teagasc by email to contractrearing@teagasc.ie before 15 January.
Watch: contract dairy heifer rearing in Tyrone
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