Dairy Calf-to-Beef Conference
Type Event Proceeding
The conference covered advancements across the entire supply chain, from breeding and nutrition to health, processing, and marketing of beef calves originating from dairy herds.
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Globally, there has recently been a major increase in research and innovation in an effort to make dairy-beef systems more environmental sustainable and economically more profitable at farm level. The conference provides a platform for the presentation of both current and historical research, alongside
discussions of technological innovations aimed at promoting sustainability in the dairy-beef sector.
Day 1
Session 1 – Dairy calf to beef production systems
Evolution of Irish dairy-beef production in wake of market and policy change - Dr. Nicky Byrne, Teagasc
New Zealand pasture-based dairy beef production
Bob Thomson, AGFIRST, New Zealand
Field trip - Johnstown Castle and ABP Demo farm
Day 2
Session 2 - Health and Welfare
Bovine respiratory disease management in dairy beef calves
Professor Bart Pardon, University of Ghent, Belgium
Parasite control in young cattle - Dr. Dave Leathwick, AgResearch, New Zealand
Trends in calfhood diseases
Ciara Hayes, Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory
Calf welfare legislation
Stephanie Ronan, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
Summer scour syndrome
Dr. John Donlon, Teagasc
Session 3 - Panel Discussion on vertical integration of the dairy beef supply chain - Chaired by Phelim O’Neill
Panel Members:
- Kevin Cahill (ABP CEO)
- Gavin Hodgson (Sainsbury’s)
- Bob Thomson (AGFIRST, New Zealand)
- Shane Fitzgerald (dairy farmer, Portlaw)
- Laura Awdry (Nuffield Scholar)
Session 4 - Calf Nutrition
Calf nutrition: current feeding challenges from birth to yearling
Dr. Maria Devant, IRTA, Catalonia
Impact of early life nutrition on lifetime growth and carcass characteristics of dairy bred beef cattle
Professor David Kenny, Teagasc
The role of grass in the diet of the growing calf post-weaning
Dr. Emer Kennedy, Teagasc
Session 5 - Breeding and reproduction
Harnessing reproductive technologies to accelerate integration of the dairy and beef sectors
Professor Stephen Butler, Teagasc
The Dairy Beef Gene Ireland programme as a driver of the Dairy Beef Index and Commercial Beef Value in the Irish Dairy Beef industry
Niall Kilrane, ICBF
Experiences and future expectations on breeding schemes targeted beef on dairy
Dr. Jørn Rind Thomasen, Viking Genetics
Potential to increase the rate of gain for Irish beef sires on the dairy beef index
Dr. David Kenny, Abacus Bio