SmartCow: fostering synergies through mapping cattle research infrastructures and research

The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) roadmap clearly identified the need for improved coordination, harmonisation and access to European research infrastructures (RIs) of farm animals. . One of the main objectives of the SmartCow project (www.smartcow.eu) funded by the European Commission for 4 years from 1st February 2018, is to link the RIs, resource capability, and research needs across Europe. There is huge research capabilities within the research communities, but there is very little known on what resources, research activities and databases are in use or available within RIs. We inventoried European animal RIs, databases and existing sample banks, and catalogued available equipment and related techniques, which are in use across the SmartCow consortium: France (INRA – Herbipôle and Le Pin), Ireland (Teagasc – Moorepark and Grange), England (University of Reading), Scotland (SRUC - Dairy and Beef Centres), Spain (IRTA), Netherlands (Wageningen University and WUR), Belgium (CRAW) and Germany (FBN Leibniz). Twelve of the centres are dairy based with a further 5 stations beef focussed. Dairy cow number totalled 2540 across the RI’s, the breed type dominated by Holstein Friesian cows. Total beef cow numbers were 740, dominated by Limousin, Angus, Simmental and Charolais breeds. The calving spread was spring calving in Ireland, all other countries had calving split between spring and autumn. Animal measurement capability was very standard across RI’s. The consortium has excellent expertise in animal methane methodology, with 6 RI’s having enclosed chambers, 7 RI’s having capability using the SF6 technique and 8 RI’s having the Green Feed - methane measurement technology. An interactive map of the RI’s and their capabilities has been generated and is available on the project website. The mapping of RIs will be completed in SmartCow participating countries and in the rest of Europe through a questionnaire sent through EAAP network.