Céad Mile Fáilte go T-Stór (Welcome to T- Stór)

Update:  The repository was upgraded in July 2025 to a new DSpace version.

T-Stór is Teagasc’s Open Access Repository, maintained by the Teagasc Library Service. Stór is the Gaelic word for Repository or Store or Warehouse, and T-Stór is an online “store” of Teagasc Research outputs and related documents. T-Stór collects preserves and makes freely available scholarly communication, including peer-reviewed articles, working papers and conference papers created by Teagasc researchers. Where material has already been published it is made available subject to the open-access policies of the original publishers. Click here to read more about Teagasc. 

Featured Items

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A comparison of grassland vegetation from three agri-environment conservation measures

O hUallachain, Daire; Finn, John; Keogh, Blathnaid; Fritch, R.; Sheridan, Helen; Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Programme

Semi-natural grassland habitats have declined significantly throughout Europe. To halt the decline, grassland conservation measures have been included in most European agri-environment schemes. This is the first study to compare the botanical composition of grassland habitats managed under the Irish Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). Sixty fields on drystock pastoral farms in receipt of agri-environment payments for grassland conservation were surveyed, with 20 fields being enrolled in each of the following AEOS options: Traditional Hay Meadow (THM), Species-Rich Grassland (SRG) and Natura 2000 species-rich grassland (Natura). The vegetation quality of sites enrolled in the Natura measure was higher than the quality of those enrolled in the THM and SRG measures. Natura sites had the greatest species richness, with a mean >40 species per site, which included approximately 17 species indicative of high botanical quality. Traditional Hay Meadows sites had the lowest species richness (mean: 29 species per site) and were dominated by species associated with improved grassland. Some THM sites had good levels of botanical richness and were similar in composition to Natura sites, with some Natura sites having lower vegetation quality, more similar to that of THM sites. Species-Rich Grassland had botanical richness that was intermediate between THM and Natura sites. A thorough assessment of the effectiveness of these measures was confounded by a lack of quantitative objectives for the target community composition to be attained. We discuss limitations and potential opportunities regarding the design, targeting, implementation and cost-effectiveness of these agri-environment measures.

2016-12

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Learning from Agricultural Land Market Regulation Policies in EU Member States

Loughrey, Jason; Geoghegan, Cathal; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; 2019R414; 2019R414

This article draws from economic theory and the recent European Commission report on agricultural land market regulation to assess the suitability of selected regulatory policies for agricultural land markets in Ireland. Insights from policy in other EU Member States indicates that some flexibility is always required to permit the existence of temporary land leasing contracts. Farmland rental prices in Ireland have mainly followed the underlying returns to agriculture and been much less influenced by speculative bubbles relative to farmland sales markets. The land rental data for 2019 do not point to the need for maximum price regulation. The availability of reliable statistics is not a sufficient condition to prevent bubbles from emerging, but farmland markets need to be closely monitored with up-to-date official statistics informing potential market participants and public policy.

2024-06-18

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The MAP model: approaching behaviour change conversations on farm

Gribben, Laura; Burrell, Alison; Walsh Scholarship

With the increasing focus on preventative medicine, herd health management and sustainability, farmers are continually being challenged to make changes to their farm routine and farm behaviours (Bord Bia, 2022; Svensson et al., 2022). In this context, the role of the veterinary practitioner becomes ever more critical as an advocate for change. However, to fulfil the potential of this role, it has been recognised that veterinary practitioners could benefit from training in evidence-based communication strategies, specifically designed to support behaviour change (Bard et al. 2019). The behavioural sciences such as health psychology have extensively studied the area of behaviour change, exploring its theoretical underpinnings and developing strategies which can be used to encourage it. This has led to a growing interest in adapting behavioural science-based behaviour change communication strategies to the field of veterinary medicine (Svensson et al. 2020a; 2020b; Bard 2018). One such behaviour change communication strategy which may be applicable is the MAP (Motivation, Action and Prompts) of Behaviour Change model (NHS Education for Scotland (NES), 2022).

2023-02

Recent Submissions

  • ItemOpen Access
    Development and characterisation of brown seaweed hydrolysates and fermentates with potential to reduce enteric methane
    (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025-7-1) De Bhowmick, Goldy; Rai, Dilip K.; Olatunji, Oyenike; Kilcawley, Kieran; Skibinska, Iwona; Shannon, Emer; Kennedy, Deirdre; Walsh, Desmond; Mora, Leticia; Hayes, Maria; European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme; European Research Area on Sustainable Animal Production; ICT-Agri-2; 696231
    Seaweeds are a valuable source of bioactive molecules widely discussed as having potential to reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions from livestock. The brown seaweeds, Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis and Himanthalia elongata (Linnaeus) S. F. Gray are rich in polyphenols, specifically phlorotannins, with known antimicrobial and astringent bioactivities. Brown seaweeds can find use as animal feed additives if issues concerning their palatability and digestibility as well as the impact on protein absorption by the animal are overcome. Fermentation and hydrolysis are traditional processes used for preservation of biomass, but which may beneficially improve palatability and digestibility of feeds. The aim of this work was to assess the potential of fermented and hydrolysed brown seaweeds as agents for CH4 abatement. Ascophyllum nodosum and Himanthalia elongata of Irish origin were fermented and hydrolysed independently with commercially available lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and xylanase enzyme. Molecular weight cut off (MWCO) fractions generated from treated seaweed biomasses were assessed for their antimicrobial activities against the methanogens Methanococcus maripaludis and Methanobrevibacter ruminantium using 96-well plate and well diffusion assays. Batch experiments were carried out using anaerobic conditions at 37 °C for a period of 11 days. The A. nodosum fermentate and H. elongata hydrolysate were characterised for their polyphenol, phlorotannin, peptide, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and volatile compound contents using different mass spectrometry methods including GC-MS and LC-MS. Inhibition of M. maripaludis and M. ruminantium was observed in the presence of MWCO extracts generated from the treated seaweeds using the 96-well microtiter plate and well diffusion assays at concentrations of 1 mg/mL. The most antimicrobial A. nodosum MWCO fractions included the polyphenol fractions ≤ 100-kDa & 50-kDa in size, the A. nodosum phlorotannin extract ≤ 100-kDa in size and the H. elongata tannin fraction ≤ 100-kDa in size. 147 and 82 novel peptide sequences were identified in the 3 kDa MWCO fractions generated independently from the A. nodosum fermentate and H. elongata xylanase hydrolysate. Fifty volatile compounds were identified in the A. nodosum fermentate. The H. elongata hydrolysate and A. nodosum fermentate contained significant levels of palmitic acid -1536.37 µg fatty acid/g and 1139.37 µg fatty acid/g lipid, respectively.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Insights into the resistance of a synthetically-derived wheat to Septoria tritici blotch disease: less is more
    (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2020-9-3) Benbow, Harriet R.; Brennan, Ciarán J.; Zhou, Binbin; Christodoulou, Thalia; Berry, Simon; Uauy, Cristobal; Mullins, Ewen; Doohan, Fiona M.; Science Foundation Ireland; Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; 14/1A/2508; 14/S/819
    Abstract Background Little is known about the initial, symptomless (latent) phase of the devastating wheat disease Septoria tritici blotch. However, speculations as to its impact on fungal success and disease severity in the field have suggested that a long latent phase is beneficial to the host and can reduce inoculum build up in the field over a growing season. The winter wheat cultivar Stigg is derived from a synthetic hexaploid wheat and contains introgressions from wild tetraploid wheat Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccoides, which contribute to cv. Stigg’s exceptional STB resistance, hallmarked by a long latent phase. We compared the early transcriptomic response to Zymoseptoria tritici of cv. Stigg to a susceptible wheat cultivar, to elucidate the mechanisms of and differences in pathogen recognition and disease response in these two hosts. Results The STB-susceptible cultivar Longbow responds to Z. tritici infection with a stress response, including activation of hormone-responsive transcription factors, post translational modifications, and response to oxidative stress. The activation of key genes associated with these pathways in cv. Longbow was independently observed in a second susceptible wheat cultivar based on an independent gene expression study. By comparison, cv. Stigg is apathetic in response to STB, and appears to fail to activate a range of defence pathways that cv. Longbow employs. Stigg also displays some evidence of sub-genome bias in its response to Z. tritici infection, whereas the susceptible cv. Longbow shows even distribution of Z. tritici responsive genes across the three wheat sub-genomes. Conclusions We identify a suite of disease response genes that are involved in early pathogen response in susceptible wheat cultivars that may ultimately lead to susceptibility. In comparison, we hypothesise that rather than an active defence response to stave off disease progression, cv. Stigg’s defence strategy is molecular lethargy, or a lower-amplitude of pathogen recognition that may stem from cv. Stigg’s wild wheat-derived ancestry. Overall, we present insights into cv. Stigg’s exceptional resistance to STB, and present key biological processes for further characterisation in this pathosystem.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Monitoring Viscosity and Total Solids Content of Milk Protein Concentrate Using an Inline Acoustic Flowmeter at Laboratory Scale
    (MDPI AG, 2020-9-17) Bista, Archana; Tobin, John T.; O’Donnell, Colm P.; O’Shea, Norah; Enterprise Ireland; TC/2014/0016.
    Control of milk concentrate viscosity and total solids (TS) content prior to spray drying can improve dairy ingredient manufacture. However, the availability of hygienic and appropriately pressure rated process viscometers for inline monitoring of viscosity is limited. An acoustic flowmeter (FLOWave) is an inline process analytical technology (PAT) tool that measures changes in acoustic signals in response to changes in liquid properties (i.e., acoustic transmission (AT), acoustic impedance (AI), temperature and volume flowrate). In this study, an acoustic flowmeter is evaluated as an inline PAT tool for monitoring viscosity of milk protein concentrate (MPC85), protein and TS content of (MPC85), and standardised MPC (sMPC). Laboratory scale experiments were carried out at 45 °C for five different concentrations (4–21%) of MPC85 and sMPC. Results showed that AT decreased with an increase in MPC85 viscosity (e.g., AT was 98.79 ± 0.04% and 86.65 ± 0.17% for 4% and 21% TS content, respectively). Non-linear regression was carried out to develop a relationship between AT and offline viscosity (R2 (coefficient of determination) value = 0.97 and standard error of prediction = 1.86 mPa·s). AI was observed to increase at higher protein and TS content which was dependent on protein to total solid ratio (P_TSR). Multiple linear regression was carried out to develop the relationship between AI, protein content, TS content and P_TSR. Results demonstrated that AI could be used to monitor the protein and TS content of milk protein concentrate (R2 > 0.96). Overall this study demonstrated the potential of an inline acoustic flowmeter for monitoring process viscosity, protein and TS during dairy concentrate processing.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Electrostatic spray drying: A new alternative for drying of complex coacervates
    (2024-03-04) Talita, A. Comunian; Laura, Gomez-Mascaraque; Audrey, Maudhuit; Guillaume, Roelens; Denis, Poncelet; Stephan , Drusch; Andre, Brodkorb; European Union's Horizon 2020 Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine
    Complex coacervation can be used for controlled delivery of bioactive compounds (i.e., flaxseed oil and quercetin). This study investigated the co-encapsulation of flaxseed oil and quercetin by complex coacervation using soluble pea protein (SPP) and gum arabic (GA) as shell materials, followed by innovative electrostatic spray drying (ES). The dried system was analyzed through encapsulation efficiency (EE) and yield (EY), morphological and physicochemical properties, and stability for 60 days. Small droplet size emulsions were produced by GA (in the first step of complex coacervation) due to its greater emulsifying activity than SPP. Oil EY and EE, moisture, and water activity in dried compositions ranged from 75.7 to 75.6, 76.0–73.4 %, 3.4–4.1 %, and 0.1–0.2, respectively. Spherical microcapsules were created with small and aggregated particle size but stable for 60 days. An amount of 8 % of quercetin remained in the dried coacervates after 60 days, with low hydroperoxide production. In summary, when GA is used as the emulsifier and SPP as the second biopolymer in the coacervation process, suitable coacervates for food applications are obtained, with ES being a novel alternative to obtain coacervates in powder, with improved stability for encapsulated compounds. As a result, this study helps provide a new delivery system option and sheds light on how the characteristics of biopolymers and the drying process affect coacervate formation.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Semi-dynamic in vitro digestion of sourdough bread enriched with flaxseed oil coacervates
    (Elsevier, 2024-03-22) Talita, A. Comunian; Daniela, Freitas; Gaetan, Drouin; Audrey, Maudhuit; Guillaume, Roelens; Denis, Poncelet; Stephan, Drusch; Andre, Brodkorb; Talita Aline Comunian has received funding from the Research Leaders 2025 Programme cofounded by Teagasc and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement number 754380. André Brodkorb is a funded investigator by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine on behalf of the Government of Ireland under Grant Number (16/RC/3835, Vistamilk). Daniela Freitas received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement number 898013. The authors thank Nexira (Rouen Cedex, France) for the Acacia senegal donation.
    Food structure and addition of encapsulated compounds can impact the gastro-intestinal digestion of food. Flaxseed oil was encapsulated by complex coacervation using soluble pea protein and gum arabic as shell materials, dried by either spray or electrostatic spray drying and incorporated into sourdough dough before baking. Three bread formulations were prepared using spray-dried (B-SD), electrospray-dried coacervates (B-ES) and free ingredients used in the encapsulation (B). The standardised semi-dynamic INFOGEST in vitro digestion method was used. Cumulated protein/free NH2 release and cumulated free fatty acids (FFA) release were used to assess protein and lipid digestion. Coacervates were resistant to bread preparation since they were visible in B-SD and B-ES. The total release of protein, free NH2 and FFA by the end of intestinal digestions ranged between 41.58–45.23%, 1.08–1.22 µmol/g protein and 22.26–63.54%, respectively. There were no significant differences between formulations. There was a statistically significant increase (p < 0.5) of about three times in FFA release between the oral and gastric phases. Our findings help to understand the behaviour of coacervates when incorporated into solid food. In this study, the delivery structures did not affect in vitro digestion and may be used to increase the polyunsaturated fatty acid content by 50%.
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