From Gate to Plate
Mark Brooking (Membership Director, Milk Link, Bristol, England)
The ultimate challenge for all dairy producers is to optimize their returns from milk sales. In an ever increasingly competitive market the challenge for new initiatives in the supply chain remains one of the main focuses. Milk Link, as one of the leading milk buyers, sets out how they have addressed these issues.
Changing Tack, or Milking for Profit - An Aim!
Mr John Archer (Dairy Farmer, New Moor Farm, County Durham, England)
As a family the Archers moved to New Moor Farm in the seventies, milking 300 black and white cows. In 2001 these were lost to Foot and Mouth disease and, in 2002, the family decided to restock with 300 Jersey cows. The objective was to market some of their own produce and this aspect of the business has now proved most successful.
Breeding - a Change-over from Old to New
Mr Rafal Kapica (Livestock Director, Top Farms, Glubczyce, Poland)
Mr Kapica tells us about his experiences in the changing-over of herds from the old style system and management to the new structure. His talk includes the conversion of sheds, the state of dairy farming in Poland today and the use of Sexed Semen.
Working with Granny!
Mr Andrew Sanders (Dairy Farmer, Ballalough, Isle of Man)
A practical farmer's experience of breeding a Gold Cup winning closed herd for 30 years for specific functional traits, where older cows are the norm. The Sandisfarne herd has over fourteen 100 Tonne cows milking, 100 over 50 Tonnes and some families where five generations are still walking around!
The Success of Using Modern Genetics - The Saxonian Holstein Breeding Programme
Dr Edwin Brade (General Manager, Sachsischer Rinderzuchtverband (SRV), Meissen, Germany)
Founded in May 1990 the programme has produced the highest milk production per cow in Germany (8200 kg milk; 3,47 protein), its success built on a Breeding philosophy for a new generation of young sires (150 young sires tested per year) with 235,000 first inseminations. Central to the programme is the Tessa Testing Station, Saxony, that houses potential bull dams which are selected for conformation and production. This is further complimented by an integrated data program designed to evaluate lifetime production, longevity, fertility and health important factors in total merit indexes.
Improving Dairy Profitability Through Reproductive Management
Dr Neil Michael (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, ABS Global Inc, Wisconsin, USA)
Historic measures of reproductive programs often fail to alert managers of the need for change or may lead to improper conclusions. More recent metrics such as 21 day pregnancy rate and pregnancy inventory methods are presented with a focus on profitable decision making.
Additionally, numerous opportunities to improve fertility are outlined and prioritized including time of breeding, synchronization, genetics, and animal environment.
Drive like an Italian!
Mr Andrew Warne (Managing Director, National Milk Records (NMR), Chippenham, Wiltshire, England)
Managing a dairy herd could be compared to driving a car - best results are obtained by looking forwards and not backwards. Italian drivers reputedly pay little attention to their rear view mirrors, maybe the UK dairy industry could emulate this forward thinking perspective. This paper shares NMR information on trends in the industry to paint a picture of the future.
Pedigree Route to Commercial Success
Mr Trevor Lloyd (Dairy Farmer, Ty Mawr, Anglesey, Wales)
Trevor operates a 400 acre farm on Anglesey carrying 200 pedigree Holsteins under the Islandpride prefix. Trevor provides some background to the establishment of the pedigree herd and its expansion from 70 cows. He also gives aims, objectives and aspirations for his herd and dairy business including his breeding policy.
The Value of Pedigree Genetics at Refined Holsteins
Mr Sam Foot (Dairy Farmer, Higher Ashton Farm, Dorset, England)
After being educated at Harper Adams, Sam returned to Dorset to become the fourth generation farmer. The 2250 acre farm is very much a family run business incorporating arable, dairy, beef and sheep. 600 cows are milked on 4 separate sites, 2 of which are pedigree. Sam has a keen interest in breeding and working with his team at Refined Holsteins.
Picston Holsteins - Past, Present and Future
Mr James Pickford (Spot Acre Farms, Staffordshire, England)
James farms with his brother Jonathan and mother Helen. They are this year's winners of the coveted NMR/RABDF Gold Cup Award. James delivers an insight into Picston Holsteins and Spot Acre Farms - their farming business, covering the development of the enterprise and how they intend to respond to the challenging future that lies ahead.
Dairy Cattle Breeding Plans using Multiple Breeds
Dr Les Hansen (Distinguished Teaching Professor, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, USA) and Brad Heins (University of Minnesota)
Commercial dairy producers are exploring the potential of crossing of breeds more than any time in history, because of the dissatisfaction with calving difficulty, pregnancy rate, and postpartum health of dairy cows of mostly North American Holstein ancestry. North American Holsteins are highly specialized and are unmatched for milk production, udder conformation, large body size, and angularity. The cross-breeding of this specialized breed of cow with other genetically-improved breeds of dairy cattle results in commercial dairy cows with both high productivity and superior functionality.
To read the full papers you need to be a member of the British Cattle Breeders Club. Click here for more information.
