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
    Taxonomically Restricted Wheat Genes Interact With Small Secreted Fungal Proteins and Enhance Resistance to Septoria Tritici Blotch Disease
    (Frontiers Media SA, 2020-5-7) Brennan, Ciarán J.; Zhou, Binbin; Benbow, Harriet R.; Ajaz, Sobia; Karki, Sujit J.; Hehir, James Gerard; O’Driscoll, Aoife; Feechan, Angela; Mullins, Ewen; Doohan, Fiona M.; European Union’s Horizon 2020; 674964
    Understanding the nuances of host/pathogen interactions are paramount if we wish to effectively control cereal diseases. In the case of the wheat/Zymoseptoria tritici interaction that leads to Septoria tritici blotch (STB) disease, a 10,000-year-old conflict has led to considerable armaments being developed on both sides which are not reflected in conventional model systems. Taxonomically restricted genes (TRGs) have evolved in wheat to better allow it to cope with stress caused by fungal pathogens, and Z. tritici has evolved specialized effectors which allow it to manipulate its’ host. A microarray focused on the latent phase response of a resistant wheat cultivar (cv. Stigg) and susceptible wheat cultivar (cv. Gallant) to Z. tritici infection was mined for TRGs within the Poaceae. From this analysis, we identified two TRGs that were significantly upregulated in response to Z. tritici infection, Septoria-responsive TRG6 and 7 (TaSRTRG6 and TaSRTRG7). Virus induced silencing of these genes resulted in an increased susceptibility to STB disease in cvs. Gallant and Stigg, and significantly so in the latter (2.5-fold increase in STB disease). In silico and localization studies categorized TaSRTRG6 as a secreted protein and TaSRTRG7 as an intracellular protein. Yeast two-hybrid analysis and biofluorescent complementation studies demonstrated that both TaSRTRG6 and TaSRTRG7 can interact with small proteins secreted by Z. tritici (potential effector candidates). Thus we conclude that TRGs are an important part of the wheat-Z. tritici co-evolution story and potential candidates for modulating STB resistance.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Secreting L-Cells Coupled to Sensory Nerves Translate Microbial Signals to the Host Rat Nervous System
    (Frontiers Media SA, 2020-4-30) Buckley, Maria M.; O’Brien, Rebecca; Brosnan, Eilish; Ross, R. Paul; Stanton, Catherine; Buckley, Julliette M.; O’Malley, Dervla; SFI-HRB-Wellcome; Department of Physiology, University College Cork; 108228/Z/15/Z Seed Award; 12/RC/2273
    An intact gut epithelium preserves the immunological exclusion of “non-self” entities in the external environment of the gut lumen. Nonetheless, information flows continuously across this interface, with the host immune, endocrine, and neural systems all involved in monitoring the luminal environment of the gut. Both pathogenic and commensal gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria can modulate centrally-regulated behaviors and brain neurochemistry and, although the vagus nerve has been implicated in the microbiota-gut-brain signaling axis, the cellular and molecular machinery that facilitates this communication is unclear. Studies were carried out in healthy Sprague–Dawley rats to understand cross-barrier communication in the absence of disease. A novel colonic-nerve electrophysiological technique was used to examine gut-to-brain vagal signaling by bacterial products. Calcium imaging and immunofluorescent labeling were used to explore the activation of colonic submucosal neurons by bacterial products. The findings demonstrate that the neuromodulatory molecule, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), secreted by colonic enteroendocrine L-cells in response to the bacterial metabolite, indole, stimulated colonic vagal afferent activity. At a local level indole modified the sensitivity of submucosal neurons to GLP-1. These findings elucidate a cellular mechanism by which sensory L-cells act as cross-barrier signal transducers between microbial products in the gut lumen and the host peripheral nervous system.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Genome-Wide Association and Genomic Prediction for Fry Color in Potato
    (MDPI AG, 2020-1-9) Byrne, Stephen; Meade, Fergus; Mesiti, Francesca; Griffin, Denis; Kennedy, Colum; Milbourne, Dan; European Union’s Horizon 2020; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; 658031
    Potatoes destined for crisping are normally stored above 8 degrees; below this glucose accumulates leading to very dark fry colors and potential acrylamide build up. Unfortunately, sprouting occurs above 4 degrees and impacts product quality, necessitating the use of sprout suppressant chemicals. Therefore, a goal of breeders is to develop potatoes with excellent fry color, which is maintained under storage below 8 degrees. Genomic or marker-assisted selection offers an opportunity to improve the efficiency of potato breeding and thereby assist breeders in achieving this goal. In this study, we have accumulated fry-color data on a large population of potato lines and combined this with genotypic data to carry out a GWAS and to evaluate accuracy of genomic prediction. We were able to identify a major QTL on chromosome 10 for fry color, and predict fry color with moderate accuracy using genome-wide markers. Furthermore, our results provide evidence that it is possible to identify a small subset of SNPs for processing characteristics that can give moderate predictive ability, albeit lower than that achieved with genome-wide markers.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Financial Analysis of Herd Status and Vaccination Practices for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Swine Influenza Virus, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in Farrow-to-Finish Pig Farms Using a Bio-Economic Simulation Model
    (Frontiers Media SA, 2020-11-9) Calderón Díaz, Julia Adriana; Fitzgerald, Rose Mary; Shalloo, Laurence; Rodrigues da Costa, Maria; Niemi, Jarkko; Leonard, Finola C.; Kyriazakis, Ilias; García Manzanilla, Edgar; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; 14/S/832
    This study aimed (1) to quantify the effects of positive status and vaccination practices for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv), swine influenza virus (SIV) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO) on the profitability of farrow-to-finish pig farms and (2) to examine the financial impact of vaccination status in PRRSv and SIV positive farms. Data from 56 Irish farrow-to-finish pig farms were used for this study. Production effects associated with herd status for the three pathogens were incorporated into the Teagasc Pig Production Model (TPPM), a bio-economic stochastic simulation model for farrow-to-finish pig farms. In the analysis, farms negative (–) for either PRRSv, SIV or MHYO were assumed as baseline when presenting results for farms positive (+) for each pathogen. While all MHYO(+) farms used vaccination against the pathogen, not all PRRSv(+) or SIV(+) farms vaccinated against the disease. For all scenarios, a 728-sow farrow-to-finish farm with weekly farrowing batches was simulated. Financial risk analysis was conducted by Monte Carlo simulation within the TPPM using the Microsoft Excel add-in @Risk. Mortality rates, feedstuff costs and price per kg of meat produced were included as input stochastic variables and annual net profit was set as stochastic output variable. Positive farms sold fewer pigs and produced less kg of meat than negative farms and had increased feed usage during the weaner and finisher stages. Variable costs increased in positive farms due to increased feed costs, more dead animals for disposal and healthcare costs. Annual mean profit was lower by 24% in vaccinated PRRSv(+), 14.6% in unvaccinated PRRSv(+), 36.7% in vaccinating SIV(+), 12.8% in unvaccinated SIV(+), and 41% in MHYO(+) farms. Negative farms were first order stochastically dominant over positive farms, indicating that for a given level of profit, the financial risk is lower by avoiding respiratory pathogens. Similarly, unvaccinated farms were second order stochastically dominant over vaccinating farms suggesting that farms that do not vaccinate are less affected by the disease. Results from this study provide further evidence to encourage farmers to undertake improved disease control measures and/or to implement eradication programs.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Expansion of known ssRNA phage genomes: From tens to over a thousand
    (American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2020-2-7) Callanan, J.; Stockdale, S. R.; Shkoporov, A.; Draper, L. A.; Ross, R. P.; Hill, C.; Science Foundation Ireland; SFI/12/RC/2273
    The first sequenced genome was that of the 3569-nucleotide single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) bacteriophage MS2. Despite the recent accumulation of vast amounts of DNA and RNA sequence data, only 12 representative ssRNA phage genome sequences are available from the NCBI Genome database (June 2019). The difficulty in detecting RNA phages in metagenomic datasets raises questions as to their abundance, taxonomic structure, and ecological importance. In this study, we iteratively applied profile hidden Markov models to detect conserved ssRNA phage proteins in 82 publicly available metatranscriptomic datasets generated from activated sludge and aquatic environments. We identified 15,611 nonredundant ssRNA phage sequences, including 1015 near-complete genomes. This expansion in the number of known sequences enabled us to complete a phylogenetic assessment of both sequences identified in this study and known ssRNA phage genomes. Our expansion of these viruses from two environments suggests that they have been overlooked within microbiome studies.
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