Bristol invests in state-of-the-art unit

Veterinary students at the University of Bristol are to benefit from a new £2 million dairy farm, which is being opened officially today by Countryfile presenter, Adam Henson.

A major rebuild has taken place at the Wyndhurst Farm dairy unit, with the aim of creating a world-class teaching facility for the university's 600 veterinary students.

The farm will also support research and continuing professional development (CPD) for veterinary surgeons, farmers and others involved in the dairy industry, both in the UK and internationally.

A number of features are included in the new facility which aim to ensure high welfare standards.

For example, the dairy herd will be housed in deep sand bedded cubicles, and fed a mixed ration of grass, maize and whole crop wheat silages grown on the farm itself. To protect the cows' feet, parts of the floor will be covered in soft rubber.

At around 250 acres, the new facility has gained a further 70 pedigree Holstein cows, and the herd is expected to reach 200 in number soon. Each cow gives over 9,000 litres of milk each year.

Since the new facility was built, a breeding flock of 100 New Zealand Romney ewes has also been established at the farm.

Commenting on the opening, Professor Jo Price, head of the university's School of Veterinary Sciences, said: "This is an exciting time for the Vet School. The new dairy unit will enable our undergraduate and postgraduate students to be taught in a world-class facility. 

"It will provide the best standards of animal welfare for our dairy herd and will support our research on the prevention and treatment of diseases of farm animals."