Published: Wednesday, 14th October, 2009 5:00pm

Teagasc event to focus on feeding for profit

Siobhan Kavanagh, Teagasc nutrition specialist; with John Doherty, Teagasc Ballyhaise; Bernard Smith, drystock specialist; Michael McHugh, sheep specialist; and James Keane, drystock advisor at Ballyhaise, preparing for the Feed Event in Ballyhaise College next week.

The Teagasc National Fodder and Feed event will include a morning conference and a series of feed advice demonstrations on the Ballyhaise Agricultural College farm in the afternoon. The afternoon session will give you an opportunity to meet and discuss various aspects of winter feeding with Teagasc advisers, teachers, specialists and research staff.

In the morning session, Pat Shiels from Lakeland Dairies will outline the challenges facing the animal feed sector over the coming years while Morgan Sheehy from Devenish Nutrition will deal with the role of minerals in feeding systems for beef and dairy cattle. Teagasc researchers and specialists will speak on the relative cost and relative value of forages and concentrates as well as options for dealing with a fodder shortage.

The outdoor demonstrations will address issues such as a feeding strategy for finishing cattle and weanlings, setting up the farm for early grass, as well as feeding replacement heifers and dry cow feeding. The performance of the sheep flock at Ballyhaise will be dealt with as well as feeding regimes for the early and mid season flocks. The role of fodder crops on will also be dealt with. Teagasc staff will be available on site to deal with fodder shortage issues at the feed clinic.

This is an ideal opportunity for dairy and drystock farmers to discuss developments in animal nutrition and assess options for future feeding strategies. Booking in advance is essential. Contact Eileen McCabe at Ballyhaise College 049-4338300. (Charge: €20 / head, including lunch). Cheques should made payable to Teagasc.

Conference (am)

The Global Feed Market - Trends and Issues; Pat Shiels, Lakeland Dairies.

Mineral Nutrition for Beef and Dairy Cattle; Morgan Sheehy, Devenish Nutrition.

Dealing with a Fodder Shortage; Siobhán Kavanagh, Teagasc Kildalton.

Relative Cost of Forages; Paul Crossan, Teagasc Grange.

Outdoor Demonstrations

Dairy

Replacement heifers - targets and feeding regime

Body condition scoring and dry cow feeding

The Ballyhaise Herd - current performance

Beef

Suckler herd progeny - targets and feeding regime