The Animal Health & Welfare Strategy - a framework for partnership working
Mrs Diana Linskey (Head of Animal Health & Welfare Strategy & Delivery Division, Defra)
The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain sets out a vision for improved animal health and welfare. Implementation of the Strategy is being taken forward through Implementation or Advisory Groups, and can be seen in action through important partnership initiatives such as Johnes in beef, and Farm Health Planning.
UK Dairy: Joining Europe or Drifting Away?
Mr Stuart Ward (Independent Consultant, Belgium)
Troubled with the pressures of policy, farm gate prices, livestock markets and inherently high levels of capital investment the UK dairy industry really should appraise itself. The E strategy is Efficiency, Expansion, or Exit. Which one for you?
Breeding in Europe under the Competition of the Global Market
Mr Niels Bo (General Manager, Dansire, Randers, Denmark)
The changing structure in the dairy cattle industry creates new challenges for the AI Industry. Cross border semen and embryo trade is increasing and there is a need for reliable breeding values across countries. With lower milk prices and higher production costs all traits of economic importance should be included in total merit indexes for selection. AI centres and breeding organisations need to work together more to develop better indexes, progeny testing schemes and breeding schemes in general, to the benefit of all European dairy farmers.
Unlocking the Potential of the Test Day Model
Dr Mike Coffey (Head of Genetics Evaluations Unit, SAC, Penicuik, Scotland )
The new Test Day Model method of analysing production data will increasingly deliver benefits as more facilities are used. However, there are benefits also for other traits such as SCC, delivering SCC proofs that vary over time. This may enable finer selection for health and welfare traits based on time of incidence rather than frequency. The power of genetic selection for production has been proven – with the TDM and good recording UK breeders can do the same for health and welfare.
Data Collection and Genetic Evaluation of Health Traits in the Nordic Countries
Dr Gert Pedersen Aamand (General Manager, Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation, Aarhus, Denmark)
For more than 20 years Nordic countries have had a systematic method of disease registration in dairy cattle. The registrations are stored in central national databases and used for both management and breeding purposes. All Nordic countries have estimated breeding values for disease resistance and weighted disease resistance and these have been part of the breeding goal for more than 15 years.
Making the most of Recording Systems (seek and you will find)
Mr Steve Borsberry BVSc, DBR, Cert CHP, MRCVS (Partner, 608 Veterinary Group, West Midlands)
With severe constraints both on financial investment and staff time, accurate recording will allow analysis to provide details of strengths and weaknesses. Once identified they will provide details of the areas of greatest concern and help identify the areas where efforts need to be concentrated.
Cows, profit, lifestyle
Mr. Stuart Bacon (Farmer, Honeydown Farm, Seaborough Hill, Crewkerne, Somerset)
The challenges of today's market have initiated an improved business discipline on many farms. Here is an opportunity to listen to one of the farmers that has achieved success in just this area and been chosen as the Cepravin Dairy Farmer of the Year.
How We Keep Our Cows Happy, Healthy And Profitable
Mr Chuck Ripp (Farm Manager/Partner, Ripp's Dairy Valley, Wisconsin, USA)
At Ripp's Dairy Valley we focus on cow comfort and the health of our cows. High production, quality feed and consistency are the key factors in our success and profitability of our dairy. In 1999 we expanded our dairy operation from 250 to 800 cows. Today, through teamwork we have become a very profitable and efficient dairy.
The Link between Health & Wealth - Planning for a Healthy, Profitable Herd
Mr Matthew Dobbs BVM&S, Cert CHP, MRCVS (Partner, Westpoint Veterinary Group, West Sussex)
Poor health costs UK dairy herds up to 3ppl through the impacts of disease, mastitis, lameness, inappropriate nutrition and poor fertility. A planned approach to proactive preventative medicine provides the structure to focus on key areas where improvements and investment will give the greatest economic impact.
Once a day milking
Mr Jonathan S Rider (Dairy Farmer, Horton House, Wiltshire)
We run a spring calving herd of 500 cross bred cows on a crown tenanted farm in Wiltshire. The cows have been milked once a day for the last 8 years, providing a system that is simple to manage and kind to the cows.
High Yields are Happiness
Mr Ken Proctor (Partner in Dairy/Arable Farm, The Grange, Norfolk)
Airfield Holsteins is a 250/300 cow unit on an ex-World War II airfield. The Herd averages 11300 kg milked twice daily. Yield and type go hand-in-hand with the emphasis being put on long lasting cows. At present there are 50 'excellent' cows, many having produced 50 tonnes plus. Cows are housed apart for exercise. Maize is fed all year.
Going for Gold Top
Mr Charles Reader (Barnowl Jersey Stud, Northamptonshire)
Pedigree Jersey cows have been the focus of my farming life and a lifelong interest. Our 'Barnowl' herd has been developed with a balanced breeding policy combining type and production. To capitalise on the unique appeal of the Jersey breed and its high quality milk we have embarked on a number of marketing initiatives including organic conversion as we sought to take on the new challenges of marketing our milk.
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