The Challenge of the Future to the UK Cattleman!
Peel Holroyd (Agriculture and Food Consultant, Peel Holroyd Associates, Berkshire)
The UK, EU and Worldwide Cattle industry will have to function under new and ever changing standards due to freer world trade, EU enlargement, global sourcing and fierce market competition. Mr Holroyd believes the future is all about honesty, open audit, risk management, flexibility and creativity with a clear focus on all that is excellent, traceable and trustworthy.
Expansion and Management of a U.S. Dairy Farm in a Post-Quota Environment
Scott Ruby (Dairy Farmer, Oregon, USA)
In 1983 the abolition of milk quota created an opportunity for dairies to expand. Fir-Ridge Holsteins has grown in that time from 180 to 650 cows and a second facility has been purchased with 400 cows. The presentation will cover the opportunities and challenges of this expansion, as well as key management aspects that have increased the 305-day rolling herd average from 19,800 lbs to 26,000 lbs per cow in five years.
The Effect of Selective Dry Cow Treatment on new Intramammary Infections
Dr Elizabeth Berry and J E Hillerton (Institute for Animal Health, Berkshire)
Breeding for Improved Dairy Cattle Fertility
Mike Coffey (Leader, Dairy Cattle Breeding Section, SAC, Midlothian)
The large and continuous increase in merit for milk production over the last 20 years has been associated with a decline in fertility. Whilst the application of good management techniques to genetically improved stock raises profitability, in the medium term we must address the question: how do we genetically improve dairy cow fertility?
The Use of Milk Progesterone Profiling to Improve the Phenotypic and Genetic Properties of Fertility
Dr Melissa Royal (Research Associate, Department of Animal Physiology, University of Nottingham)
The significant genetic and phenotypic correlations among endocrine and traditional measurements of fertility and milk yield, highlight the need to: 1) improve the management of fertility and 2) broaden breeding goals to include fertility. This paper will discuss recent research into both short and long-term improvement strategies using endocrine fertility profiles that may have the potential to help halt and reverse the current decline.
Against the Grain: Improving Fertility in Dairy Cattle
Dr Richard Esslemont (Senior Lecturer, Department of Agriculture, University of Reading)
Fertility is declining in dairy herds as seen by delays in pregnancy and extra culling for failing to conceive. Dr Esslemont will ask what is this costing (a lot) and what can be done about it (quite a bit)? Ways in which farmers can measure and improve fertility will be described and cost benefits shown.
The Practical Management of Fertility Control in the Dairy Herd
Mark Glover (Partner, Kebir House Veterinary Group, North Yorkshire)
Fertility control in the dairy herd continues to be a challenging area. At this veterinary practice a strategy has been devised using efficient recording systems, client education, routine herd visits and milk progesterone testing to deliver high levels of reproductive efficiency and profitability.
Tackling Staphylococcus aureus Mastitis
Peter Edmondson (Veterinary Surgeon, Shepton Mallet Veterinary Centre, Somerset)
The incidence of Staphylococcus aureus has been increasing. This paper will provide help with the diagnosis, epidemiology and options for infected cows and deal with practical decision making. Advice on helping to control the spread of infection will be discussed.
The Role of Vaccination in the Control of Environmental Mastitis in Dairy Cows
Dr Mike Thorne (Veterinary Surgeon, Pharmacia Animal Health)
Vaccination of dairy cows with the J-5 antigen has become as much accepted in the US dairy business as the 5-point plan. The reduction in incidence and severity of coliform mastitis has proved cost-effective for herds of all sizes, and there are clear animal welfare benefits.