A new national event for farmers, calf rearers and advisors will provide the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of the GB Calf Strategy, while exploring practical innovations in calf rearing.
Taking place at Hartpury Agri-Tech Centre on 21 April, the Calf Action Conference will bring together those working across the dairy and beef sectors to share experience, discuss what works in practice, and help shape future approaches to calf management through a programme of talks, workshops and live demonstrations.
Emily Linton, livestock vet and chair of the GB Calf Strategy’s Right Start Pillar, says the conference will play an important role in supporting one of the strategy’s key aims: consistent, practical and evidence based advice is available to all calf rearers.
“There is already a huge amount of information available, and in some cases it can be difficult to navigate where advice differs,” she explains.
“This conference creates an opportunity for farmers, calf rearers, advisors and researchers to come together, share their experience, and discuss practical approaches to hygiene, feeding, disease management, and calf housing.
“That will help us develop guidance that is consistent, practical and adaptable to different farm systems.”
Ms Linton adds that the conference will also gather industry input on future skills and training.
“Recognising and supporting good stockmanship is essential. We want to hear directly from those working with calves about what effective training looks like in practice, and how it can support better outcomes on farm.”
As well as workshop discussions, attendees will take part in a guided farm walk to explore calf housing design and management, see a demonstration of calf lung scanning, and hear an update on the national TB position and its relevance to calf health.
Whether working directly with calves or in an advisory role, the conference offers an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from others and explore approaches that support both calf performance and farm business resilience. Attendees will also have the opportunity to contribute directly to how the GB Calf Strategy is applied in practice.
A limited number of early bird farmer tickets are available at: www.tickettailor.com/events/innovationforagriculture/2022622
More information and the event agenda can be found at: www.i4agri.org/event/calf-action-network-conference
