With feed efficiency offering the greatest potential for savings on dairy units, DairyCo is launching a campaign covering all aspects of dairy cow feeding this autumn.

The campaign, feeding+, will address feed management and nutrition, including dry cows and youngstock, to help farmers improve feed efficiency and profitability.

The levy body has brought together experts on feeding and nutrition to produce feeding+.

Programme

Farm events, workshops and take-home resources will cover everything from understanding how the rumen works to feed face management and the role of grazing in livestock nutrition. The programme will look at both the chemical and physical aspects of feeding dairy cows and provide simple, practical ideas to improve the profitability of dairy businesses.

DairyCo has drawn on existing programmes, including grass+, pd+, breeding+ and 'What If?', to maximise the practical value of feeding+ and minimise duplication.

The programme is designed not to conflict with advice given by nutritionists and vets. The aim is to complement the information producers receive from other sources and challenge them to look at and question every bit of feed that goes into their cows.

Meetings

Eleven feeding+ launch events take place across Britain this autumn and producers will be contacted directly about their local event. At the meetings, two keynote speakers - a nutritionist and a vet - will discuss the importance of achieving the potential of both cow and feed.

Each meeting will also have four workstations looking at the technical aspects of dairy cow feeding, from clamp face management to rumen pH, and will give farmers money-saving tips to take back to their farms.

The campaign will be launched at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show on 17 and 18 September before being rolled out at on-farm events across the UK.

Dairy Event and Livestock Show

• The Dairy Event and Livestock Show, organised by RABDF, takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 17 and 18 September and covers the latest technical developments in ruminant species management. Featuring specialist exhibitions on commercial goats, sheep, beef and native breeds alongside the well-established dairy exhibitions and working machinery demonstrations, the event is a must for anyone involved in livestock farming. For more information, see the Dairy Event and Livestock Show website

Feeding+ launch events

• 23 September Meikle Camoquhill Farm, Balfon, Glasgow
• 24 September Peastree Farm, Durbar, Carlisle
• 25 September Venue TBC, Lancashire
• 2 October Washfold Farm, Leyburn, North Yorkshire
• 8 October Spond Farm, Alton, Staffordshire
• 14 October Trenithon Chancellor, Probus, Truro, Cornwall
• 15 October Lye Cross Farm, Redhill, North Somerset
• 22 October Kings Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire
• 28 October Venue TBC, Gloucestershire
• 29 October Wood Park Farm, (Liverpool University) Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral
• 30 October Pelcomb Farm, Pelcomb Bridge, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire

To attend an event, contact DairyCo on 01285 646 500 or email info@dairyco.org.uk