project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group

Investigation of the effect of contrasting dairy production systems in West Wales on the profile of milk fatty acids (especially omega-3 and 6)
Investigation of the effect of contrasting dairy production systems in West Wales on the profile of milk fatty acids (especially omega-3 and 6)

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Objectives

Twenty dairy farmers from South West Wales have come together to investigate whether milk from production systems in west Wales already contain valuable levels of omega-3. They aim to identify which pasture-based management practices produce the highest levels of the fatty acid.

Objectives

Mae ugain o ffermwyr llaeth o Dde Orllewin Cymru wedi dod at ei gilydd i ymchwilio a yw systemau cynhyrchu llaeth yng Ngorllewin Cymru eisoes yn cynnwys lefelau gwerthfawr o omega-3. Eu nod yw dynodi pa arferion rheoli ar sail porfa sy’n cynhyrchu’r lefelau uchaf o asid brasterog.

Activities

Every farm will provide monthly bulk-tank milk and feed samples. Samples will be tested for their fatty-acid profile with particular emphasis on omega-3 and omega-6. Forage samples will also be collected from all 20 farms monthly, aligned with every bulk milk sample. Four dairy production systems will be examined:
1) Conventional Housed Winter/Grazing Summer
2) Herds housed all year round
3) Organic herds
4) Spring Block Calving
In the second year more focus will be given to testing rations where systems are producing higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids to provide further information on the cow nutrition that produces optimum levels.
 

Activities

Bydd pob fferm yn darparu samplau tancer bylc a phorthiant. Bydd y samplau yn cael eu profi am eu proffil asid brasterog gan roi pwyslais arbennig ar omega-3 ac omega-6. Bydd samplau o borthiant hefyd yn cael eu casglu o’r 20 fferm yn fisol, wedi eu cysylltu â’r sampl o laeth tancer bylc. Archwilir pedair system gynhyrchu llaeth gwahanol:
1) Confensiynol Dan do yn y gaeaf/allan yr haf
2) Buchesi sydd dan do trwy’r flwyddyn
3) Buchesi organig
4) Buchesi sy’n lloea mewn bloc yn y gwanwyn
Yn yr ail flwyddyn, bydd mwy o bwyslais ar brofi dognau pan fydd systemau yn cynhyrchu lefelau uwch o asidau brasterog omega-3 i roi rhagor o wybodaeth am y maeth i’r fuwch sy’n cynhyrchu’r lefelau gorau.
 

Project details
Main funding source
Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
Rural Development Programme
2014UK06RDRP004 United Kingdom - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Wales
Emplacement
Main geographical location
South West Wales

€ 46990

Total budget

Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.

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1 Practice Abstracts

The human body isn’t capable of producing omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. These are termed “essential fatty acids” as they have to be consumed from our diet. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t getting enough omega-3 and tend to have much higher levels of omega-6 in our diets. This imbalance of fatty acids can negatively affect our health. Increasing our omega-3 intake and getting the right balance of the two is vital and is found to have multiple health benefits to both our mind and body.

Twenty dairy farmers from South West Wales have come together to investigate whether milk from production systems in west Wales already contain valuable levels of omega-3. They aim to identify which pasture-based management practices produce the highest levels of the fatty acid. The results could give dairy farmers the opportunity to consider forage-based options as a way of producing milk with enhanced levels of omega-3. This could provide a marketing advantage without going to the extra cost of adding supplements to their forage. The group supply their milk to several different milk buyers and processors, including commodity liquid milk, premium organic liquid milk, cheese manufacturers and high value food ingredient manufacturers. All of these milk outlets could potentially take advantage of the project results by marketing the products for their high omega-3 content.

Nid yw’r corff dynol yn gallu cynhyrchu’r asidau brasterog omega-6 ac omega-3. Gelwir y rhain yn “asidau brasterog hanfodol” gan fod rhaid iddynt gael eu bwyta yn ein diet. Yn anffodus, nid yw’r rhan fwyaf ohonom yn cael digon o omega-3. Rydym yn dueddol o gael lefelau llawer uwch o omega-6 yn ein diet. Gall y diffyg cydbwysedd hwn mewn asidau brasterog gael effaith negyddol ar ein hiechyd. Mae cynyddu faint o omega-3 yr ydym yn ei gael a chael y cydbwysedd cywir rhwng y ddau yn hanfodol a gwelwyd bod i hynny fanteision amrywiol o ran iechyd i’r meddwl a’r corff.

Mae ugain o ffermwyr llaeth o Dde Orllewin Cymru wedi dod at ei gilydd i ymchwilio a yw systemau cynhyrchu llaeth yng Ngorllewin Cymru eisoes yn cynnwys lefelau gwerthfawr o omega-3. Eu nod yw dynodi pa arferion rheoli ar sail porfa sy’n cynhyrchu’r lefelau uchaf o asid brasterog. Gallai’r canlyniadau roi cyfle i ffermwyr llaeth ystyried y dewisiadau ar sail porthiant o gynhyrchu llaeth gyda lefelau uwch o omega-3. Gallai hyn roi mantais wrth farchnata heb fynd i’r gost ychwanegol o ychwanegu ategolion at eu porthiant. Mae’r grŵp yn cyflenwi eu llaeth i nifer o wahanol brynwyr a phroseswyr llaeth, gan gynnwys llaeth hylifol, llaeth hylifol premiwm organig, cynhyrchwyr caws a chynhyrchwyr cynhwysion bwyd uchel eu gwerth. Mae potensial i’r defnyddwyr llaeth yma i gyd fanteisio ar ganlyniadau’r prosiect trwy farchnata eu cynnyrch am eu cynnwys omega-3 uchel.

 

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Contacts

Project coordinator

  • Jeremy Bowen Rees

    Project coordinator

Project partners

  • Andrew Rees

    Project partner

  • Dai Gravell

    Project partner

  • Dai Miles

    Project partner

  • David & Eirian Thomas

    Project partner

  • Deian Evans

    Project partner

  • Derrick Davies

    Project partner

  • Dylan Evans

    Project partner

  • Dylan Harries

    Project partner

  • Gareth & Sharon Richards

    Project partner

  • Gareth Thomas

    Project partner

  • Hugh & Rael Thomas

    Project partner

  • James George

    Project partner

  • Jamie Adams

    Project partner

  • John Griffiths

    Project partner

  • Lloyd Thomas

    Project partner

  • Nick & Kristy Hughes

    Project partner

  • Rhys James

    Project partner

  • Roger & Moira Ridgway

    Project partner

  • Roger Evans

    Project partner

  • Seimon Thomas

    Project partner

  • Tom & Francisca Harries

    Project partner