Several expert speakers including SRUC’s Senior Dairy Consultant, David Keiley and Harbro’s Ruminant Nutritionist, Matt Palmer will advise on how to maximise dairy cow fertility while managing costs, at a free discussion forum at Woodhead Farm, Newmilns on Monday 7 September.
Farmers from across Ayrshire and the South West are invited to attend the event as John and Anne Kerr mark the end of their first year in the Scottish Government funded initiative ‘Farming for a Better Climate’, which aims to improve farm efficiency and reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.
The dairy industry has changed considerably since Woodhead Farm opened its gates to become a focus farm with milk prices dropping dramatically. Scotland’s dairy farmers need to make efficiencies without compromising cow fertility.
The event organised by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) will also hear from SRUC Vet Helen Carty and Nutritionist Donald Brown as the speakers focus their attention to fertility and benchmarking, cow signals and interpreting cow behaviour, and managing the negative energy balance in order to get cows back in calf.
Speaking ahead of the event guest speaker David Keiley commented:
“The fertility of dairy cows drives cash flow, so cow fertility has never been more important than it is today. In the present challenging times farmers need to focus on managing costs and getting cows back in calf. The meeting will focus on two key areas – fertility as already mentioned, and nutrition.
“First cut silages this season are wet with acid fermentations, however energy and protein contents are good. Managing these silages will be key to optimising intakes and utilising the available nutrient in the forage. Making good buying decisions of supplementary feeding will be discussed along with mixing protocols for TMR’s.
“Developing fertility protocols with veterinary assistance will also be discussed. This aims to maintain tight calving intervals and ensure that cows are treated appropriately post calving.
“The philosophy of the focus farm system is that two heads are better than one and the exchange of ideas in a discussion group, stimulated by myself and other respected experts can achieve a lot. Visitors will also be able to see the changes already happening at Woodhead.”
All farmers are welcome to attend.
