FULLY BOOKED - Dumfries and Galloway: Calf Health and Management

Join us to discuss the decisions that can affect the health and welfare of your calves, and ensure they reach their potential.

Scottish strategic dairy farmer, Gareth Owen, Potstown, near Lockerbie, will be joined by Colin Mason, Veterinary Centre Manager, SRUC and Jimmy Goldie, Chief technical officer at Carrs Billington to discuss the needs and practical protocols in rearing healthy calves.   

After feed, raising heifer calves is the second largest annual expense for dairy businesses so it is important to reduce losses. We will take a look at some results from a mini trial run at Potstown to monitor the performance in their calves.

Colin will be discussing how minimising a calf’s exposure to disease, providing a clean and disease free environment is fundamental, while Jimmy will take us through the importance of managing the needs of calves through the correct nutrition.

The main topics will include:

• Disease management in calves eg. cryptosporidium
• Colostrum and milk replacers
• Achieving calf growth
• Water – an essential nutrient
• Managing the transition to solid feed

Who should attend?

If you are interested in learning about how to raise a healthy calf that grows well and has the best chance of achieving its full lifetime potential.