Monitor Farm: Assessing calf nutrition on farm

Ian Farrant joined AHDB’s Farm Excellence programme last year as a Beef & Lamb Monitor Farm. He buys and finishes 750 dairy cross beef calves per year. 60% of these are sourced from his cousin’s dairy farm and 40% come from Meadow Quality. He is moving from predominantly British Blue cross calves to Aberdeen Angus cross and all finished animals are processed through Dovecote Park. As part of the Monitor Farm programme, Ian is striving to become carbon neutral and is looking at how growing a home-grown ration for his weaned calves, can help achieve this.

At this meeting, we will hear from Ian and his nutritionist, Rob Watkins, Pinnacle Agri. They will cover how the calves are currently fed and managed to optimise health and growth as well as the home grown feed options that Ian is looking to trial. The challenges Ian faces with TB restrictions and changing legislation around AFUs will also be discussed.

We will also hear from Andy Dodd, Farm Consultancy Group, on managing nutrition to ensure calf health and growth, the practicalities of weighing calves and selecting the correct milk powder for your system.

What we will cover;

• The nutritional requirements of pre and post weaning beef calves
• The key health issues in very young calves and how these can be prevented and managed
• What home grown feeds are suitable for inclusion in a weaned calf diet and in what ratio
• How to maximise the growth rates of the most feed efficient animals on the farm

Tea and coffee refreshments available, plus lunch will be provided. 

We look forward to welcoming you to the event. You can register for your free place by booking online, emailing KE.events@ahdb.org.uk or calling 01904 771218. Attendees must be over 16 years of age and suitable footwear must be worn.