Dairy Research Conference (online)

The Dairy Research Partnership online conference will share the outcomes of research projects undertaken as part of our Dairy Research Partnership Initiative, led by the University of Nottingham. 

During the week you can register for sessions on the following topics:

• Dairy Health
• Lameness
• Reputation
• Efficiency, nutrition and fertility
• Grass and soils
• Breeding and genetics
• Optimising youngstock performance

You will need to book on each individual session you would like to attend. The agenda for each of the sessions are as follows. 

Monday 22 November

Morning session: Dairy health

11:00 – 11:05:  Chair’s introduction. Dr Mandy Nevel, Head of Animal Health and Welfare, AHDB

11:05 – 11:25: Relationship between cow status, transition management and Johne’s Disease risk: results of a lifelong cohort study. Matteo Crotta and Steven Van Winden, Royal Veterinary College

11:25 – 11:45: Effect of tuberculin skin testing on Johne’s Disease test results: evidence of distinct effects in cows with and without Johne’s disease. Erica Nunney and Javier Guitan, Royal Veterinary College

11:45 – 12:00: Mastitis Pattern Analysis Tool. Professor James Breen, University of Nottingham

12:00 – 12:10: An update on bovine ischaemic teat necrosis. Hayley Crosby-Durrani, PhD Researcher, University of Liverpool

12:10 – 12:25: Question and Answer session

12:25 – 12:30: Summary by Chair. Dr Mandy Nevel, Head of Animal Health and Welfare at AHDB

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Afternoon session: Lameness

13:00 – 13:05: Chair’s introduction. Derek Armstrong, Lead Veterinary Science Expert, AHDB.

13:05 – 13:25: Effective prevention and treatment of claw horn lesions. James Wilson, PhD Researcher, University of Nottingham

13:25 – 13:35: Non-infectious lameness causing lesions; bringing together current theories. Bethany Griffiths, PhD Researcher, University of Liverpool

13:35 – 13:45: How does lameness affect milk production and feed efficiency?  Chloe Geoghegan, PhD Researcher, University of Nottingham

13:45 – 14:00: Pre-recorded PhD Showcase – Controlling Digital Dermatitis. Amy Gillespie, PhD Researcher, University of Liverpool

14:00 – 14:15: Question and Answer session

14:15 – 14:20: Summary by Chair. Derek Armstrong, Lead Veterinary Science Expert, AHDB.

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Tuesday 23 November

Morning session: Reputation

11:00 – 11:05:  Chair’s introduction. Dr Jenny Gibbons, Senior Animal Health and Welfare Scientist at AHDB

11:05 – 11:25: Reputation factors that are important to consumers – looking across environment & welfare. Susie Stannard, Consumer Insight Manager, AHDB

11:25 – 11:40: Duty, grass and fellow cows: Perceptions of dairy farming among the UK public. Amy Jackson, PhD Researcher, University of Nottingham

11:40 – 11:55: Dairy cow housing: the impact of living space on productivity, health and welfare. Jake Thompson, PhD Researcher, University of Nottingham

11:55 – 12:05: Dairy Calf Strategy. Nic Parsons/Duncan Wyatt, AHDB

12:05 – 12:20: Question and Answer session

12:20 – 12:25: Summary by Chair. Dr Jenny Gibbons, Senior Animal Health and Welfare Scientist, AHDB

12:25 – 12:35: Pre-recorded PhD Showcase – Optimising lying comfort. Laura Shewbridge Carter, PhD Researcher, Harper Adams University

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Wednesday 24 November

Morning session: Efficiency, nutrition and fertility

11:00 – 11:05:  Chair’s introduction. Siwan Howatson, Animal Health and Welfare Senior Scientist, AHDB

11:05 – 11:25: Copper: Can you have too much of a good thing? Dr James McCaughern, Harper Adams University

11:25 – 11:45: Can you feed low protein diets based on high protein forages without affecting performance?  Professor Liam Sinclair, Harper Adams University

11:45 – 12:05: What impacts your Dairy Farm Efficiency? Professor Phil Garnsworthy, University of Nottingham

12:05: 12:10: Phosphorus management in GB dairy farming: Where are we and what can we achieve? Brad Harrison/Dr Partha Ray, University of Reading  

12:10 – 12:25: Question and Answer session

12:25 – 12:30: Summary by Chair. Siwan Howatson, Animal Health and Welfare Senior Scientist, AHDB

12:30 – 12:40: Pre-recorded PhD Showcase – Evidence synthesis to improve dairy herd fertility. Chris Hudson on behalf of Ed Hayes, PhD Researcher, University of Nottingham

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Afternoon session: Grass and soils

13:10 – 13:15: Chair’s introduction. Dr Amanda Bennett, Resource Management Scientist, AHDB

13:15 – 13:35: Developing new soil health indicators. Dr Elizabeth Stockdale, NIAB

13:35 – 13:50: Silage clamp slippage. Dr Dave Davies, Silage Solutions Ltd

13:50 – 14:00: 21st century recommended grass and clover list varieties. Ellie Sweetman, NIAB

14:00 – 14:05: Should Utilisable Metabolisable Energy (UME) make a comeback? Siwan Howatson, Animal Health and Welfare Scientist (Grass and Forage), AHDB

14:05 – 14:20: Question and Answer session

14:20 – 14:25: Summary by Chair. Dr Amanda Bennett, Resource Management Scientist, AHDB

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Thursday 25 November

Breeding and genetics

11:00 – 11:05:  Chair’s introduction. Alex Brown, Breeding Projects Manager, AHDB

11:05 – 11:25: Introducing new indexes and traits: Healthy Cow, EnviroCow and Gestation length. Marco Winters, Head of Animal Genetics, AHDB

11:25 – 11:45: Using mid-infrared technology to predict pregnancy and TB. Professor Mike Coffey, SRUC

11:45 – 12:05: Economic return from improving genetics. Tim Harper, Promar

12:05 – 12:25: Question and Answer session

12:25 – 12:30: Summary by Chair. Alex Brown, Breeding Projects Manager, AHDB

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Friday 26 November

Optimising youngstock performance

11:00 – 11:05:  Chair’s introduction. Derek Armstrong, Lead Veterinary Science Expert , AHDB

11:05 – 11:15: The impact of early life thermal environment on calf performance. Dr David Bell, SRUC

11:15 – 11:30: Practical housing and management changes for healthy and productive calves. Robert Hyde, PhD Researcher, University of Nottingham

11:30 – 11:45: Optimising heifer grazing systems. Robert Patterson, PhD Researcher, AFBI

11:45 – 11:55: The role of adult cattle in the transmission of Cryptosporidium to dairy calves. Dr Hannah Shaw, Harper Adams University

11:55 – 12:05: Heifer rearing targets and lifetime performance. Lucy Ross, PhD Researcher, University of Nottingham

12:05 – 12:25: Question and Answer session

12:25 – 12:30: Summary by Chair. Derek Armstrong, Lead Veterinary Science Expert, AHDB

Book now

Dairy Research Partnership 2016-2021

Our five-year Dairy Research Partnership initiative began in June 2016. It was funded by AHDB Dairy (£1,700,000) with financial contributions from the academic partners - University of Nottingham, Harper Adams University, Royal Veterinary College and SRUC - bringing the total to £2,100,000. 

What does the research partnership involve?

The partnership, led by University of Nottingham, addresses three of our strategic priorities:

1. Feed efficiency and sustainability
2. Optimising cow performance through health & welfare
3. Creating a positive image for dairy farming.

Learn about the seven work packages in the Dairy Research Partnership Programme by visiting our webpage.