RABDF Farm walk: 26 October, Chance Hall Farm, Moreton-Cum-Alcumlow, Congleton, Cheshire
Livestock farmers can find out how to improve their youngstock rearing at a farm walk hosted by Tom and Karen Halton at Chance Hall Farm Moreton-Cum-Alcumlow, Congleton, Cheshire on 26 October.
Organised by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers and sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, GLW Feeds, Volac and XLVets, and supported by AHDB Dairy, the event will focus on calf diet and feeding for lifetime performance, environmental management and Johne’s control together with BVD free and the impact on calf health.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the Halton’s unit which carries a 500 cow cross bred herd, together with 400 youngstock and followers. Calves destined as heifer replacements are fed dam’s colostrum for the first five days before being introduced to a computerised feeding system and weaned after 56 days weighing an average 80kg. The heifers are retained with their group introduced to a larger shed and on to youngstock cubicles at around eight months.
Schedule
11.00 Welcome by RABDF
11.10 Farm introduction by Tom and Karen Halton.
11.20 Farm walk commences covering the following key areas:
• Being BVD Free – the impact on calf health, Nicky Bowden, Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd
• Feeding for Lifetime Performance - Paul Mardell and Lyn Smith, GLW Feeds
• Practicalities of Milk Feeding - Howard Gilbert, Volac
• Johnes Control - Mike Christie and Mark Hickinson, Lambert Leonard & May Vets on behalf of XL Vets and Karen Halton, host farmer
• Managing the Calf Environment - David Ball, AHDB
13.20 Lunch and opportunity to speak to farm suppliers and event sponsors
“This event is one of a series staged on farms throughout the UK designed to provide information for all cattle farmers to enable them to improve overall performance and efficiency within their beef and dairy calf rearing units,” commented RABDF livestock and farm events co-ordinator, Lucy Mellor.
To reserve a free place, please go to www.rabdf.co.uk or phone 0845 458 271