Sheep and beef farmers sought for Yorkshire Dales Efficiency Group

SAC Consulting and Dalehead Vets have joined forces to run a new programme that will help sheep and beef producers in the Yorkshire Dales improve their efficiency. They are appealing for local farms to sign-up.

 

The Yorkshire Dales Beef & Sheep Group will run between December 2011 and February 2012. Led by SAC Agricultural Consultant James Hadwin and Dalehead Vets’ Neil Roberts, the Lantra-funded programme will be structured around local producers’ current needs, using information gathered from participants. The aim is to help farmers in the Dales take effective steps to control and reduce input costs and maximise output and profitability.

 

James Hadwin said: “The key advantage of the new Yorkshire Dales Sheep and Beef Group is that meetings will be led by the actual needs of local participants. Information gathered from each farm and shared anonymously within the group will highlight the key issues that are affecting local producers. The group’s members will then decide which topics they would like future meetings to focus on. This could include issues such as extended calving periods, high barren rates, trace element deficiencies leading to poor growth rates, steps for reducing fertiliser usage and nutrient management. The programme is free and we are urging local producers to get involved.” 

 

James and Neil will start by gathering data on the performance of local beef and sheep farms focusing inputs and outputs, giving feedback to each farm and also collating the results to share, anonymously, with the wider group. They will look at herd and flock performance and issues that directly affect output and profitability, such as pneumonia, lameness, calf scour and wormer resistance.

 

Costs of inputs including concentrates, fertiliser and diesel will also be examined, not only to assess the different levels of usage between farms but also understand more about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While many farmers may not welcome GHG monitoring, it is becoming more widespread and is being demanded by processors as the consumer demands more information on the emissions associated with their food.

 

The first evening meeting will be held for producers in December where Neil and James will provide feedback to the group and members will discuss the content of future meetings.

 

Four meetings will be held based on the chosen subject between December 2011 and February 2012, on-farm where possible, and involving presentations by SAC experts.

Producers who would like to get involved should contact SAC’s James Hadwin on 07825522930 or Neil Roberts on 07968163392.

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