Why should “when” and “how” a cows eats affect us?

21 October 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Why should “when” and “how” a cows eats affect us?

This s a question worth asking, and was answered at the Kudos Awards held this month at the Narrows Landing in Hamilton.

Winner of the Emerging Scientist category, Dr Pablo Gregorini, a research scientist originally from La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires, province of Argentina, is now living in New Zealand and working for Dairy NZ.  His research work applies to the strategic grazing management of grazing cattle.

Pablo established his scientific interest in agricultural and animal nutrition early on in his career, carrying out most of his research in “The Flooding Pampa Range”, which he describes as beautiful and one of the biggest dairying regions in his homeland of Buenos Aires.

 “Understanding the affects of the grazing process is necessary to help farmers control the nitrogen excretion of their cattle and therefore help to reduce greenhouse gases, such as methane.  Controlling nitrogen also helps to reduce water contamination,” explains Dr Gregorini.

Dr Gregorini’s research has contributed to developing a program giving New Zealand Dairy farmers new sustainable and profitable farming options.

His research into the more effective use of the nutrients that the pasture supplies is what has helped him clench the award.

The Emerging Scientist Kudos Award recognises a major, recent contribution that advancing a person's emerging career in science. 

The Kudos Awards celebrate the region’s most exciting science discoveries over seven award categories including medical, agricultural, environmental, science educator, emerging scientist, entrepreneurial science and lifetime achievement.

The cash prizes are used by the scientists to advance science in the Waikato region and are sponsored by the Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton City Council, Environment Waikato, WINTEC, Calder and Lawson House of Travel and the University of Waikato.

To find out more about the Kudos Awards and view a full list of winners go to www.thekudo.org.nz.

-ENDS-

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