Livestock Technology Centre
May 12, 2025
Opened in 2019, the Livestock Technology Centre is located at Abingdon and Witney College’s Common Leys Farm campus on the outskirts of Witney. It provides young people with an innovative learning experience through the latest agricultural technology.
With 556m2 of learning space in the heart of rural Oxfordshire, the centre is well-positioned to attract young people towards future opportunities across farming-related careers.
More widely the centre enables a pipeline of future talent, addressing an agritech skills shortage in Oxfordshire.
OxLEP secured £1.139 million-worth of investment for the project via the Government’s Local Growth Fund, part of an overall cost of £1.9 million.
Take a look at this short film to see the impact the project has already had:
This centre of excellence and innovation comprises of a research centre, employer engagement hub and training facility for agriculture-related apprentices and full-time students, helping to provide a solution to the agritech skills shortage in Oxfordshire.
Based within surroundings optimised for agritech and farming careers, students can use a NEDAP Pig Performance Testing station, Shearwell Data for sheep stock analysis and a live feedback system through the large screen installed on the wall. This enables theory to be taught within the livestock area alongside the practical tasks, giving students a unique learning experience.
The building also houses a classroom, student changing areas with ample room for their equipment, and a range of animals, including sheep, pigs and goats.
Outcomes of the project include 215 new learners assisted (in courses leading to a full qualification) achieved, 3 new jobs created and 556m2 of new learning floorspace achieved.