The South West Dairy Development Centre (SWDDC)
Designed as one of the UK’s leading dairy innovation testbeds, the South West Dairy Development Center (SWDDC) provides agri-tech businesses with a commercial-scale environment to test, validate and demonstrate next-generation dairy technologies within an advanced, data-rich production system The centre combines state-of-the-art facilities with comprehensive data capture across both housed and pasture-based systems, providing innovators with the opportunity to generate robust performance data and evaluate the impact of technologies on productivity, sustainability and animal welfare. Home to a 200-cow, year-round calving herd, SWDDC offers a uniquely detailed research and demonstration environment for businesses developing precision livestock, robotics, AI and sensor-based solutions. Agri-tech companies use the centre to: Trial and validate technologies in a commercial dairy setting Generate high-quality data for product development and investment readiness Develop sensors, automation systems and AI-driven tools Demonstrate innovations to farmers, supply chains and investors Collaborate on R&D projects with specialist technical support The centre operates as a fully automated, high-welfare dairy system where cows choose when to eat, rest and be milked, creating ideal conditions for testing robotics, digital technologies and precision management systems under real-world operating conditions. Facilities include: Automated milking and feeding systems The UK’s first fabric-roofed dairy building Dedicated demonstration and observational spaces Integrated sensor and monitoring infrastructure Current and recent projects span robotic milking, chemical-free milking systems, hoof health monitoring, grassland modelling, sensor integration and animal immunity research. Operated in collaboration with Steanbow Farms in Somerset, SWDDC connects agri-tech innovators with commercial farming expertise, real-world validation environments and opportunities to accelerate adoption across the dairy sector. In collaboration with: Steanbow farms is a family run farm in the heart of Somerset, UK. Caring for livestock and land since 1972. The Christensen family has been farming Steanbow Farms in Pilton, Somerset, since 1972 when Finn took on a three-generation tenancy. Two of Finn’s sons, Neil and Mike, returned to work the farm in 1990 and together the three bought the farm in 1992 ; building the farm up to everything it stands for today. Farm Network Our innovation farm network is a network made-up of commercial farms, serving as real-world testbeds for agri-tech trials, research and development. This collaborative environment breaks down barriers to adoption and accelerates the development and commercialisation of new agri-tech products. It establishes new benchmarks in agricultural excellence, providing the right environment for agri-tech developers to innovate and collaborate with farmers. Media / images Projects
