This on-farm event will focus on two key areas: 1) breeding; and 2) forage and grazing management. It will provide an opportunity to see how practical changes can be implemented on a commercial dairy farm to improve efficiency and performance.
The event will include contributions from Professor Elizabeth Magowan from AFBI, who will provide an overview of the UK-DCN project. David Little from Germinal will address forage and grazing management, with a particular focus on reseeding and sward performance. Hannah Martin from Sustainable Ruminant Genetics Northern Ireland will cover breeding, including the use of genomic information to support breeding decisions, with a focus on improving herd performance alongside environmental efficiency.
The UK-DCN is working with over 50 dairy farms across the United Kingdom to put practical, farm-ready solutions for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into action. Led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the project brings together a consortium of research organisations and industry partners. The Northern Ireland UK-DCN Farm Network is managed by AgriSearch.
The Williamson family milk 90 autumn-calving pedigree Holsteins on 110 acres, with a strong focus on making the most of grazing and home-grown forage. The farm provides a practical example of how breeding decisions and grassland management can be aligned to support performance within a dairy system.
John Morrow, Agriculture Manager at AgriSearch, said: “These farm walks are about demonstrating what can work in practice on commercial farms. This event will bring together practical experience from the host farm with input from across the industry, giving farmers clear and relevant take-home messages.”
All are welcome to attend. A light lunch will be provided to all those who register in advance. For further information and to register to attend visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-dairy-carbon-network-farm-walk-breeding-grazing-and-forage-management-tickets-1985994981451?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true