According to the BBC news, the Easter Bush Research Consortium has experts from Roslin Institute, Scottish Agricultural College, Moredun Research Institute and Edinburgh University.

A two-day conference in Edinburgh from Monday will mark the EBRC's launch.

The BBC says delegates will address issues such as the spread of diseases and how to meet the increasing demand for livestock while minimising environmental impact.

Professor David Hume, director of The Roslin Institute, which recently joined with the University of Edinburgh, said the new set-up would create one of the largest concentrations of experts in animal life sciences in the world.

Research within the EBRC will look at effective disease controls and treatments, food safety, animal welfare and sustainable management of farm animals. A major focus will be on the role that genes play in animal health.