Yesterday’s (11 October) rejection by the Holstein UK board of a proposal for a new annual dairy event has been branded ‘very disappointing’ by the Council of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.

Herdwatch was presented with the RABDF Prince Philip Award 2016 by His Royal Highness at Buckingham Palace this week. The honour was made to the company for research and development in the field of dairy farming and the most practical, relevant and best technical exhibit at the Livestock Event. 

Nick Everington, chief executive of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) for nearly 15 years, has announced he will be retiring from the organisation in October.

More than 100 delegates left the hugely successful second annual Women in Dairy conference both challenged and inspired.

Themed “Resilience in Adversity”, chaired by RABDF council member, Di Wastenage and organised by RABDF and Promar International a Genus plc company, with support from AHDB Dairy, a high profile line up of speakers shared some of their solutions to managing a raft of challenges within the sector. The event was staged at Sixways Stadium, Worcester on 28 September

Nine in 10 dairy farmers participating in a new RABDF survey say that the farming industry must take a proactive lead in the battle against antibiotic resistance. Those questioned also think that over the next five years they could cut their own antibiotic use by almost a third in dry cow therapy and a fifth in clinical mastitis.

Dairy farmers are being urged to complete RABDF’s migrant survey which sets out to determine foreign labour’s current contribution to the sector.

In his first column 2016 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup winner Simon Bugler from Pilsdon in Dorset explains the latest herd problems and his aspirations for family life on the farm.

Have you booked your ticket for the Women in Dairy conference, to be staged at Sixways Stadium, Worcester on Wednesday 28 September? Resilience in Adversity is the conference theme and a high profile line up of speakers will be sharing some of their solutions to managing the raft of challenges within the sector.