Dairy and beef farmers will have the opportunity to hear the latest expert opinion on grassland management and cattle nutrition at a series of free Forums at the 2008 Grassland and Muck Event. The event is organised by the Royal Agricultural Society of England and being held at Stoneleigh Park on the 21 and 22 May.
The Forums will be combined with practical demonstrations and are open to all visitors on a first-come, first-served basis on both days of the event. Sponsored by Richard Keenan UK Ltd and partnered by the British Grassland Society, the content will be focused on accurately measuring dry matter from grazed grass, managing grass swards for quality and feeding the dry dairy and suckler cow whilst at grass.
“The aim of the Forums is to provide an opportunity to hear directly from the experts on a number of topical grass-related issues,” says Jessica Buss, Director of British Grassland Society. “The topics have broad appeal and will be of interest to both farmers and advisors and the linked demonstrations will bring a strong practical element to the Forums.”
The morning sessions will appeal particularly to dairy farmers, while the afternoon is dedicated to beef producers.
Peter Kendall, NFU President, will open with an explanation of the new NVZ rules and their implications to livestock farmers. Peter will be followed by Hugh Kerr of Keenan who will be advising on management of the dry dairy cow at grass. “It’s important to prepare a cow to be capable of taking advantage of the feed offered to her,” he says. “Her dietary ‘training’ needs to start in the dry period and is crucial to her milking success in the subsequent lactation.
“Often the farm management focus tends to be on the feed itself, for example ensuring silage quality, and the cow is often seen as a secondary priority. However, a good preparation period puts the cow first, ensuring optimum body condition, and prepares her for milking,” Hugh says.
Hugh Kerr’s presentation will be followed by a practical demonstration on feeding straw effectively as part of the dry cow ration. This will show how to get the feeding and the mix right to maximise gut fill and nutritional value.
Professor David Beever of Keenan will concentrate on improving pasture utilisation and balancing grass intake with other feedstuffs to provide the ideal diet for gut fill and food conversion efficiency. “Although cheap and in easy supply, grass provides a high protein, low fibre diet which can lead to a loss of body condition,” says David. “At times, grass provides 24% protein compared to the 17% a cow actually needs; couple this with the low fibre content in spring grass and cudding time will be significantly reduced leading to poor ration utilisation.
“Don’t believe that milk quantity and quality is the whole story,” says David. “Of course, farmers are paid for high quality milk, but in the long term, herd performance will be penalised if calving dates slip because cows are not in optimum body condition.”
Tom Nunan, a dairy farmer from County Wexford, will also be speaking, concentrating on getting the most out of grass. He says: “It’s more important than ever to get more production from grass because of increasing feed and fertiliser costs, and if you get feeding grass right it can contribute significant benefits to the bottom line,” he says. Tom’s Forum slot will be followed by an invaluable practical demonstration on calculating available dry matter. The plots will be accurately weighed and measured for DM content, and then farmers will have the opportunity to test their assessment of dry matter by eye.
The morning Forums will conclude with Heather McCalman of the Grassland Development Centre IGER, explaining how IGER R&D can help farmers improve their swards and in turn, enterprise profitability. Heather will discuss breeding progress in grass varieties and new establishment and overseeding techniques. Her talk will also highlight the potential of red and white clover, with recommendations for optimum clover percentages.
The afternoon beef-related sessions will focus on providing a balanced grass diet for beef producers. Keenan Nutritionist Seth Wareing will suggest how to best utilise grass whilst maintaining body condition in suckler cows and beef youngstock. Tom Nunan will follow by highlighting the benefits of grass monitoring and budgeting beef production from grass.
Professor David Beever will conclude by discussing the value of a high fibre diet in suckler cow rations. He will explain how the right inclusion rates of straw can for improve liveweight gain and feed efficiency and can contribute to easier calving, stronger calves and a good, sustained milk supply. “Achieving premium beef prices increases total farm income,” David points out. “At the same time, controlling feed input costs increases the chances of making a reasonable return on investment of money and time.”
For more details and to save money by booking tickets in advance go to www.grasslandevent.co.uk. Tickets are priced at £12 for adult tickets booked before 15th May and £15 on the gate. Student tickets are priced at £10 but only available in advance and RASE member tickets are £8 in advance and £10 on the gate. Visitors can earn up to 3 BASIS points by attending different areas of the event and pig producers attending the Manure and Nutrient Management Centre can earn 2 PIPR points.
---Ends---
For more details on the Grassland and Muck Event 2008 go to www.grasslandevent.co.uk
Notes for Editors
Forum Programme
(which will include practical demos after Hugh Kerr, David Beever
and Tom Nunan – details below)
Time Title Speaker
10.00 NVZs - what are the rules? Peter Kendall, NFU President (day
1) Andrew Clarke, NFU (day 2)
10.30 Managing the dairy dry cow (1) Hugh Kerr, Keenan
11.00 Mix quality matters Prof David Beever BSc PhD, Keenan
11.30 Working grass harder (2 ) Tom Nunan, Dairy Farmer
12.00 Quality yields – Improving Swards for Profit Heather McCalman
(day 1) Chris Duller (day 2) Development Centre IGER
1.30 Managing the suckler cow (1) Seth Wareing, Keenan
2.00 Mix quality matters Prof David Beever BSc PhD, Keenan
2.30 Working grass harder (2) Tom Nunan, Dairy Farmer
Associated
demos
1. Tom Nunan – measuring and accurately assessing dry matter for
effective rationing
2. Hugh Kerr/David Beever – feeding straw effectively as part of the
dry cow ration – mixing big bale silage and straw – getting the
feeding right and the mix right to maximise gut fill and nutritional
value.
Speaker Biographies
Hugh Kerr
Hugh has gained vast experience in ruminant nutrition during his 20
years working with Keenan.
He has worked in a number of worldwide markets including Australia and New Zealand, where he has picked up and applied many cow feeding techniques at farm level.
Hugh’s experience has enabled him to successfully apply nutrition principles and practices to promote economic milk production.
He feels very strongly that ration is one half of the equation, but the cow is equally important, and cow preparation is every bit as important as ration preparation and presentation.
Professor David Beever
International Nutrition Director, Richard Keenan & Co, Co Carlow,
Ireland.
David joined Keenans in 2004 as their International Nutrition Director.
A farmer’s son from Yorkshire, after graduating from Newcastle University he spent 20 years at Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, and was Head of Ruminant Nutrition and Metabolism for the last 7 years.
After closure of the Institute he joined Reading University as Professor of Animal Science and became the Director of the Centre of Dairy Research (CEDAR). He remained at CEDAR until his appointment to Keenans.
David’s research interests have always focused on the nutrition of ruminant livestock, principally dairy cows and beef cattle. He has written over 500 scientific papers and presented at many major National and International conferences. He was awarded the Roche National Livestock Award in 2003.
In his new role David remains committed to his science but also to the delivery of that knowledge to the farming community for which he retains considerable passion.
Tom Nunan
Tom Nunan is a dairy farmer from Co. Wexford in south east Ireland.
He graduated from University College Dublin in 1991 with a degree in
Agricultural science and worked as a nutritionist for Glanbia,
Irelands’ largest dairy processor until 2000. During this time (in
1997) Tom graduated from Reading University with a Masters degree in
Dairy animal science. He then joined Richard Keenan and Co. as a
mixed ration and grassland specialist before returning to the home
farm in 2001. His main focus is on grass based spring milk
production taking all progeny to beef.
Heather McCalman
Dr Heather McCalman is the IGER Grassland Development Centre
Manager. Heather graduated in agriculture from University of North
Wales, Bangor, and gained her PhD from Wye College. Heather worked
for ADAS as a livestock specialist before travelling and working
abroad. She developed an interest in organic farming research &
development and advice at UWA and been a member of the Grassland
Development Centre team at IGER Aberystwyth.
The Grassland Development Centre (GDC) at IGER seeks to bridge the gap between farming and research through a range of extension methods. GDC works closely with the other Development Centres,(Red meat, Organic, Dairy and Centre of Alternative Land Use) to offer technical support to farmers and land managers. This is part of a multi functional process that enables ‘feedback’ to IGER Scientists for future R & D. There is much IGER research of relevance to farming and rural communities as we move into the new era of government policy for the countryside. Key to survival will be the successful integration of profitable agricultural production, environmental enhancement and new prospects for land use. Identifying and optimising opportunities offered by the Rural Development Plan must be seized by all those wishing to remain in the rural land-based industries.
Seth Wareing
Keenan Rumans Consultant Seth Wareing is “passionate” about his
work. “I feel like this as I know that the Keenan System really does
help to improve and progress farmers,” he explains. “I go onto both
beef and dairy units throughout the North of England, and within a
few weeks of these farmers buying a Keenan and using dedicated
Keenan nutrition, I can see tremendous improvements. How can you
fail to be passionate about this?” he asks.
After leaving school Seth made a conscious decision to work in farming and this choice took him to New Zealand where he milked for a year, and then onto a BSc degree in animal science from Northampton University. He managed a 120 cow organic herd, and worked with a large sheep dealer, who also had an 80 cow Charolais suckler herd.
He joined Keenan in 2005 as a nutritionist and intends to make this his long term career. “I love livestock farming, and in this job I’m still working closely with both stock and farmers”. He never gets bored, as he knows that he is working at the “cutting-edge” of animal nutrition coupled with the best mixer wagon on the market.
“It’s great working with farmers, and seeing pre-conceived ideas of animal feeding and finishing times go out of the window.” He also is confident that he is giving the very best advice on-farm which is not only independent, but improves the bottom line.
Grassland & Muck 2008
Grassland and Muck 2008 is the triennial event for the industry. Partnered by Yara UK Limited and proudly presented by the Royal Agricultural Society of England.
Yara UK Limited
- Yara UK Limited is the UK business unit of Yara International ASA, with our head office at Immingham in NE Lincolnshire.
- Yara UK Limited is the leading supplier of agricultural fertilizer-both in solid and liquid form- and horticultural and amenity fertilizer, to the UK market.
- Yara International ASA, the parent company of Yara UK, is a leading chemical company that converts energy and nitrogen from the air into essential products for farmers and industrial customers. As the number one global supplier and developer of mineral fertilizers and agronomic solutions, we help provide food for a growing population.
- Yara International ASA has 6,800 employees, operating in 120 countries and with a turnover in excess of £3.5billion. The head office of Yara International is in Oslo, Norway.
- The Business model for Yara comprises three business
segments:
- Upstream- global production plants
- Downstream- the global sales and marketing of fertilizers and plant nutrition products, divided in to nine business units of which the UK & Ireland is one unit.
- Industrial- the sales and marketing of products for industrial applications
- The name “Yara” is taken from a Nordic word meaning ‘good harvest’.
- For further information on Yara UK Ltd, please see www.yara.co.uk
- For further information on Yara International ASA, please see www.yara.com
For further information please contact:
Alice
Bell, RASE
Tel: 02476 858 276
Email:
aliceb@rase.org.uk
Jane Craigie, Event PR
Tel: 01466 780078
Email:
jane@janecraigie.com
