The meeting is designed to take the mystique out of breeding and genetics and will cover:

• Assessing your own herds breeding requirements and the effect management decisions have on herd performance
• A user friendly look at the tools available for farmers to assess their herd’s genetic potential:
  • Including Herd Genetic Reports (HGR),
  • Profitable Lifetime index (£PLI) and
  • Spring Calving Index (£SCI)
• Selecting bulls for YOUR system, ensuring farms complement their genetic strengths but also address any weaknesses
• Future developments in genetics including:
  • genomics and
  • and evaluation to help farmers reduce their susceptibility to TB
•  & much more! (Do come along with your own questions you want answers to!)

Biography: After graduating from Harper Adams in 2000 Andy gained a sound knowledge of dairy farming working on and managing a number of dairy units. In April 2009 he moved to DairyCo as South Midlands Extension Officer. Since then he has developed his role and is now Technical Extension Officer for Breeding and Genetics. This role involves discussing with farmers and third parties how to make strategic breeding decisions, demonstrating how to understand and use bull proofs and where to access and utilise the key genetic and physical data about their herds.

For catering purposes in please book in with Sarah Bolt by lunchtime Monday 28th September: email: sarah.bolt@ahdb.org.uk or mobile: 07717 501564

(Text or leave a message where necessary stating which meeting you will be attending, name and numbers hoping to join us)