- Location
- Glen Clova, Angus, DD8 4RD
I have just listened to Monday's Farming Today. In it a researcher from Aberystwyth talked about research to measure how long ewes lie down for as a marker of impending lambing. He justified the project saying it would lead to technology to warn shepherds when a ewe was coming up to lambing. He was challenged that this has no value to most flocks as they already know all they need from tupping date and scanning. He then justified it saying it's common in dairy cattle and increasingly used in beef breeding herds.
My first thought was he clearly hadn't thought about it from the farmer viewpoint. Lambing is a full-on 24hr business in most flocks. He claimed it could aid staff planning but I couldn't help thinking he was fighting to justify his research budget.
Are such studies a good use of funds?
How should agricultural research studiy subjects be chosen and funded?
Clearly the researchers have a conflict of interest. They need research to justify their existence. In many sectors, not just agriculture, this leads to research with no application which then seeks a marketable application to justify itself.
Thoughts?
My first thought was he clearly hadn't thought about it from the farmer viewpoint. Lambing is a full-on 24hr business in most flocks. He claimed it could aid staff planning but I couldn't help thinking he was fighting to justify his research budget.
Are such studies a good use of funds?
How should agricultural research studiy subjects be chosen and funded?
Clearly the researchers have a conflict of interest. They need research to justify their existence. In many sectors, not just agriculture, this leads to research with no application which then seeks a marketable application to justify itself.
Thoughts?