Breeding dairy cows for longevity - Stonyhurst, Clitheroe, Lancashire

You are invited to attend one of the meetings sponsored by Defra and organised by ADAS for dairy farmers, herdsmen and those associated with dairy farming on: Breeding dairy cows for longevity.

Involuntary culling continues to be a major cost to the UK dairy industry, with the main cost due to mastitis, lameness and fertility, with mastitis estimated to represent 38% of the dairy farm health cost and lameness 27%.

The lameness cost has been estimated at £14,700 per year for a typical 150-cow herd, equivalent to 1.5ppl and £180 million a year in the UK. Similarly, the average culling rate due to poor fertility is 18%, compared to a target of 10%. This higher culling rate is equivalent to 12 extra cows per year in the typical 150 cow dairy herd. At a cost of £1,330 per replacement this equates to £15,960 per year or 1.6ppl and amounts to £190 million a year in the UK.

Defra is sponsoring a series of on farm meetings across England for dairy farmers, herdsmen and those associated with dairy farming. The events are being organised by ADAS. The speakers will be Marco Winters, Head of Genetics with DairyCo; and breeding specialists Nick Holt-Martyn and Bas van Santen from the The Dairy Group.

Venues in the North West

Cheshire - Date: 26/01/2012 R. Hocknell, Hollins Farm, Cranage, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, CW4 8DP 

Lancashire -  Date: 08/02/2012 - David Holden, Winkley Hall Farm, Whalley Road, Stonyhurst, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 9PN

Cumbria - Date: 09/02/2012 - Andrew Addison, Spittals Farm, Low Moor, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1XQ

PROGRAMME:

The events take place on commercial dairy farms to provide the opportunity to see the type of cows that have survived to their 4th lactation, the bulls that have been used and their longevity traits. This will be an opportunity to discuss the practical management issues relating to longevity and topics such as cross breeding and genomics. Please bring clean foot wear capable of being dipped. Two identical sessions (a.m. and p.m.) are being run in a day.

Morning Session (10-15am start) Afternoon Session  (1-15pm start)

• Arrival (coffee/tea)
• Breeding for longevity
• The 5 step plan
• The role of cross breeding • Genomics  
• 12.30 pm (Morning) Discussion & Close • 3.30 pm (Afternoon) Discussion & Close

Space is limited so please book early

To book a place please e-mail:

karen.hobbs@thedairygroup.co.uk or phone 01823 444488 and state which meeting you would like to attend and how many people.