Reminder: Global dairy calf to beef event in Wexford next week
An international conference focused on dairy calf to beef production is set to take place in Co. Wexford, on October 16 and 17.
The event will be hosted by Teagasc with the support of the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) and ABP Food Group.
The technical conference will focus on the production of beef from the dairy herd and attendees will hear the latest information and discuss the newest innovations.
At the event, leading national and international scientists will discuss:
- Intensive concentrate-based and pasture-based dairy-beef systems and their impact on financial and environmental sustainability;
- The impact of new developments in beef cattle genetics targeted for use in the dairy herd;
- Nutrition of dairy-beef calves in early life;
- Health of dairy-beef calves in intensive and pasture-based systems;
- Measures to support better vertical integration of the dairy-beef industry.
The aim of the conference is "to promote sustainability within the sector and to underpin the future viability of dairy and beef sectors" according to Teagasc.
Leading national and international scientists from Ireland, the UK, New Zealand, Belgium, Denmark and Spain will present research at the event.
Speaking in advance of the conference, Teagasc director prof. Frank O'Mara said: "Leading national and international scientists will compare intensive concentrate-based and pasture-based dairy-beef systems and their impact on financial and environmental sustainability; the impact of new developments in beef cattle genetics targeted for use in the dairy herd; nutrition of dairy-beef calves in early life; health of dairy-beef calves in intensive and pasture-based systems, as well as measures to support better vertical integration of the dairy-beef industry.”
Commenting on the event, managing director of ABP Ireland and Poland,Kevin Cahill said: “ABP is delighted to partner with and support Teagasc and BSAS at the upcoming Dairy Calf-to-Beef International Conference.
"As a beef processor, evidence-based research is an integral part of our operation. ABP has a long-standing relationship with Teagasc on key dairy beef projects.
"In 2014, we developed the dairy beef breeding programme in collaboration with Teagasc and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), and in 2015, we established the ABP Trial Farm, providing industry-leading research to inform our Advantage Beef Program which supports Irish farming families.”
President of the BSAS, Dr. David Kenny said: “As the leading society in the UK and Ireland, for the dissemination of livestock science, BSAS is acutely aware of the requirement for an objective scientific forum to discuss state-of-the-art science based best practice in the breeding, nutrition and health management of dairy origin beef cattle.”
Dr. Ellen Fitzpatrick, Teagasc research technologist in Livestock Systems said: ”This conference will give a platform to leading national and international scientists to give their prospective on optimising dairy-beef production."
The topics that will be covered over the two-day event include:
- Dairy-beef production systems;
- Animal health and welfare;
- Calf nutrition;
- Vertical integration;
- Breeding and reproduction.
Delegates will also get the opportunity to visit the Teagasc dairy-beef research herd at Johnstown Castle and the ABP Demonstration Farm.
