Sustainability and Environmental Burdens of Milk and Beef Production
Dr Adrian Williams (Senior Research Fellow, Natural Resources Management Institute, Cranfield University, Bedford)
Livestock production incurs environmental burdens, like consuming fossil fuels or contributing to global warming through methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Burdens and relative sustainability are objectively assessed with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA shows how feeding and breeding dominate. Comparisons between types of production systems will be made.
Meeting the Environmental Challenge for the Dairy Sector
Mr Mark Holden (Head of Milk Branch, Livestock Products Division, Defra, London)
The dairy sector faces a number of environmental challenges over the coming years. The immediate issues concern EU environmental regulations which tackle pollution from diffuse sources. In addition there is a need to reduce the relatively high environmental impact of dairy production and consumption and its contribution to climate change.
Dealing with the Future - Profitably
Mr Derek Gardner (National Dairy Consultant, Promar, Alhampton, Somerset)
There can be a profitable future for dairy farmers, despite a new problem arriving every month! But it is only there for those who get the basics right, who are not "average" at how they run their herd and farm business, and are better than the competition - be it from next door, the next county, or overseas.
More Cows? There is another Way!
Mrs Jo Templeton BSc (Dairy Farmer, Syke Farm, Mauchline, Ayrshire)
With milk prices constantly in decline, do we milk even more cows or do we add value? In October 2005 we decided to start to process our milk into luxury ice cream for the high end wholesale market, with phase 2 incorporating an on-farm ice cream parlour and farm shop.
Constant Aim - Changing Means
Mrs Mary Quicke MBE (Farmer/Cheese Maker, Home Farm, Newton St Cyres, Devon)
Our aim for 30+ years has been to produce world class cheese profitably. Over the years this has resulted in varying milk production strategies developing through yield / yield of protein / high index / Fertility / heterosis in breeding aims & paddock grazing / zero grazing / easy feeding / TMR / extended grazing in management. This paper will explore these developments.
Staying the Course
Mr William Ley (Farmer, Thuborough Barton, Sutcombe, Devon)
Growing up during the 1950's, William Ley was always fascinated by the principles of breeding, and of special interest were 10 gallon/day 2000 gallon/lactation black & white cows. In the 1970's when he started farming on his own this was pursued further. Today, the 180 milking cows produce around 2 million litres of 4% bf 3.45% ptn milk on a grassland system virtually without bagged fertilizer on a balanced farming mix. Enough to win the NMR silver award as runner up in the 2006 Gold Cup.
Feeding for Fertility
Mr Wyn Morris (Ruminant Technical Manager, BOCM PAULS, Bristol)
Increasing milk yield in recent years has been accompanied by a steady decline in dairy cow fertility. Although nutrition is only one of a number of factors that are known to influence fertility, recent work has demonstrated that the correct nutritional approach can provide significant rewards. This paper will seek to review the work and suggest how nutritionists and vets might work together to reverse the decline in dairy cow fertility.
Breeding Robust Dairy Cows
Dr Eileen Wall (Researcher, SAC, Sir Stephen Watson Building, Penicuik, Midlothian)
Modern dairy cows appear to be less 'robust' than in the past, as seen by high involuntary culling and poorer health. The RobustCow project is investigating potential developments to breeding indices to help the industry breed for robustness. The welfare and behaviour of robust vs non-robust cows and adaptability of cows to different environments is also being studied.
Breeding for Tomorrow's more Profitable Cow... Began Yesterday
Dr Marjorie Faust (Director of External Research, ABS Global, Inc., Wisconsin, USA)
Dairy farmers require tomorrow's cow to have it all - high production, good reproduction, robustness, few health problems, good udders, sound locomotion and longevity. Today, management and longevity traits receive 50% or more of the relative weight in U.S. and many national selection indexes. Are you incorporating these fundamental principles into your sire selection decisions?
A Different Breeder
Mr Ian Crouch (Young Farmer, Lower Farm, Blandford, Dorset)
Ian is a partner in Blacknor Guernseys, an 80 cow herd established over 100 years, which he came to manage 11 years ago. He started buying his own cows 6 years ago, and the joint purchase of 27 Guernseys from Scotland began the partnership. The herd is now registered and showing at principal national shows.
A Change for the Better
Mr Ian MacAlpine (Dairy Farmer, Laneside Farm, Clitheroe, Lancashire)
Ian farms 165 acres of grassland. Having lost his 150 cow Holstein herd to the FMD cull he restocked with 200 Jersey cows producing high quality milk. He is a producer who has found a buyer who looks after him and he certainly has a story to tell.
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