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Torsten Eriksson

Presentation

Research interests

Techniques for handling, conservation and upgrading of ruminant feed
Optimization of the ruminant’s role in resource utilization and minimization of their environmental load
Analytical methods for ruminant feeds and for markers in milk, urin, feces and exhaled breath
Precision livestock farming (PLF) – utilization of automated recordings for monitoring and management of the feeding of dairy cows and other livestock

Research goal
Develop techniques for improved utilization of feeds, especially in ruminants but also in other species
Contribute to an agricultural sector with optimal resource utilization and minimized environmental footprint
Improve the understanding of the factors the affect the total utilization of the feed resource, the flow of the nutrients and the environmental load it cause in the entire farming system
Develop cost efficient and reliable analytical methods for use on-farm and in research
Develop the interpretation of automated recordings for feeding management

Research skills
Handling, conservation and processing of ruminant feed
Analytical methods for feeds and markers for feed metabolism in ruminants
In vitro techniques for rumen metabolism and for the microbial feed metabolism in monogastric animals
Design, sampling, analysis and interpretation of dairy cow experiments including production, nitrogen balance and rumen studies
Handling, interpretation and presentation of data from automated recordings

Activity in the scientific society
Reviewer for scientific journals
Organizer of the Nordic Feed Scinece conference annually since 2010
In the editorial board for the Proceedings of the Nordic Feed Science conference annually since 2010

Activity with stakeholders outside the scientific society
Member of NorFor’s Feed Table group
Cooperation with companies associated to feed science
Assignments with feed evaluation for Växa Sverige
Cooperation with DeLaval on utilization of automated recordings
Reviewer of research proposals Board member of Uppland Grassland society

On-going projects

Development project EIP-Agri: On-farm measurement of milk urea

GIGACOW - An infrastructure for automated data collection on dairy farms. Steering group member

Widening the harvest window of ley by increasing stubble height

Improved utilization of regionally grown protein feeds for Swedish dairy cows

Managing forage shortage crises with forest by-products

Milk production with extensively processed silage for increased forage intake

New mower technology for fractionation into two qualities at ley harvest

The organic dairy farm as a carbon sink - added value from biochar

Competitive research grants as main applicant, last 10 years

Widening the harvest window of ley by increasing stubble height - what are the effects on nutritional value and total annual yield? Lantmännen Research Foundation, 698 000 SEK. Project period 2021-2022. Main applicant.

The organic dairy farm as a carbon sink – added value from biochar. SLU Ekoforsk, 2 454 000 SEK. Project period 2020-2022. Main applicant.

New mower technology for fractionation into two qualities at ley harvest. RJN, 589 000 SEK. Project period 2019-2020. Main applicant.

Managing forage shortage crises with native or upgraded forest by-products. FORMAS, 2 992 000 SEK. Project period 2019 – 2021. Main applicant.

Improved utilization of regionally grown protein feeds for Swedish dairy cows by adapted handling technology and monitoring of milk urea concentration. The Kamprad Family Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research & Charity, 3 600 000 SEK. Project period 2016 – 2019. Main applicant.

Drinking water intake as an estimate of feed intake, optimal milk urea concentration and health in dairy cows. Swedish Farmer’s Foundation, 869 000 SEK. Project period 2014-2016. Main applicant.

Protein evaluation with hydrogen sulphide. Swedish Farmer’s Foundation, 550 000 SEK. Project period 2014-2015. Main applicant.

Milk urea concentration relative to rumen protein balance and urinary N excretion - How is the relationship influenced by ration mineral content and by diurnal variation? Swedish Farmer’s Foundation, 550 000 SEK. Project period 2012-2013. Main applicant.

FTIR spectroscopy for on-farm analysis of ammonia in dairy cattle slurry and as a research method for monitoring nitrogen transformations in simulated barn environments. Swedish Farmer’s Foundation, 120 000 SEK. Project period 2012-2013. Main applicant.

Teaching

Own basic pedagogic training and training in supervision of PhD-students
Teaching on BSc. and MSc. Level
Course leader PhD student courses Advanced use of Excel and Environmental Impact of Animal Production within research school GS-VMAS
Supervision of students at BSc., MSc. And PhD. level

Selected publications

Kismul, H., Spörndly, E., Höglind, M. & Eriksson, T. 2019. Nighttime pasture access: Comparing the effect of production pasture and exercise paddock on milk production and cow behavior in an automatic milking system. J. Dairy Sci. 102:10423 –10438. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16416

Kismul, H., Spörndly, E., Höglind, M., Næss, G. & Eriksson, T. 2018. Morning and evening pasture access – comparing the effect of production pasture and exercise pasture on milk production and cow behaviour in an automatic milking system. Livest. Sci. 217:44-54.

Mgbeahuruike, A.C., Nørgaard, P., Eriksson, T., Nordqvist, M. & Nadeau, E. 2016. Faecal characteristics and milk production of dairy cows in early lactation fed diets differing in forage types in commercial herds. Acta. Agric. Scand. Sect. A Anim. Sci. 66:8-16.

Bertilsson, J., Åkerlind, M. & Eriksson, T. 2017. The effects of high-sugar ryegrass/red clover silage diets on intake, production, digestibility, and N utilization in dairy cows, as measured in vivo and predicted by the NorFor model. J. Dairy Sci. 100:7990–8003 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-12874

Eriksson, T. & Rustas, B.- O. 2014. Effects on milk urea concentration, urine output and drinking water intake from incremental doses of potassium bicarbonate fed to midlactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 97: 4471–4484.

Udén, P. & Eriksson, T. 2012. Evaluation of some factors influencing the reliability of buffer soluble N recovery in feeds. Anim. Feed Sci. and Technol. 177:218– 224

Eriksson, T., Norell, L. & Nilsdotter-Linde, N. 2012. Nitrogen metabolism and milk production in dairy cows fed semi-restricted amounts of ryegrass-legume silage with birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) or white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Grass and Forage Science 67:546–558.

Pelve, M.E., Olsson, I., Spörndly, E. & Eriksson, T. 2012. In vivo and in vitro digestibility, nitrogen balance and methane production in non-lactating cows and heifers fed forage harvested from heterogeneous semi-natural pastures. Livest. Sci. 144: 48-56.

Lorenz M., Eriksson T. & Udén P. 2010. Effect of wilting, silage additive, PEG treatment and tannin content on the distribution of N between different fractions after ensiling of three different sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) varieties. Grass and Forage Science 65: 175-184.

Eriksson, T. 2010. Nitrogen metabolism in dairy cows fed restricted amounts of grass-clover silage supplemented with seeds from narrow-leafed lupin or pea. Livest. Sci. 131:39–44.

Åkerlind, M., Weisbjerg, M., Eriksson, T., Thøgersen, R., Udén, P., Ólafsson, B.L., Harstad O.M & Volden, H. 2011. Feed analyses and digestion methods. In: Volden, H. (ed). NorFor - The Nordic feed evaluation system. EAAP publication No. 130. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, The Netherlands. pp 41-54.

Eriksson, T., Ciszuk, P. & Burstedt, E. 2009. Proportions of potatoes and fodder beets selected by dairy cows and the effects of feed choice on nitrogen metabolism. Livest. Sci. 126:168–175.

Eriksson, T., Murphy, M., Ciszuk, P. & Burstedt, E. 2004. Nitrogen balance, microbial protein production and milk production in dairy cows fed fodder beets and potatoes, or barley. J. Dairy Sci. 87:1057-1070.

Eriksson, T., Ciszuk, P., Murphy, M. & Wilson, A.H. 2004. Ruminal digestion of leguminous forage, potatoes and fodder beets in batch culture. 2. Microbial protein production. Anim. Feed Sci. and Technol. 111:89-109.

Eriksson, T. & Murphy, M. 2004. Ruminal digestion of leguminous forage, potatoes and fodder beets in batch culture. 1. Fermentation pattern. Anim. Feed Sci. and Technol. 111:73-88.