Harper Adams working with ASDA on sheep feeders

Posted 17 September 2019

Harper Adams University have recently installed three NEDAP feeders for use in sheep feeding trials; with an aim to identify the most nutritionally efficient sheep – that is to identify those sheep that can grow the fastest whilst consuming the least amount of feed. The feeders, which were provided by ASDA, have the capability to measure individual feed intake of sheep.

 

Dr Sven Peets, Senior Lecturer in the Engineering Department at Harper Adams and a group of five interested third and fourth year students -  Joe Robinson, Harvey Moseley, Callum Doonan, Jonathan Johnston and Ashley Vaughan - took on the challenge of assessing how sheep use the feeders and have devised modifications which take into account the natural behaviour of sheep and improve the feeders’ capabilities.

 

Kate Phillips, Senior Lecturer, said: "I was impressed by the students’ project and looking forward to using the feeders for sheep feeding trials later in the year”. 

 

Rachel Gilder, from Dunbia is also involved in the project as the main red meat supplier to ASDA. This collaboration between Harper Adams University, ASDA and Dunbia is seen as the foundation to build more educational and research projects in the future.