All roads lead to AFBI Hillsborough Dairy Open Day

Keep Wednesday 16 September free as AFBI will be hosting a major Dairy Open Day on the theme 'Surviving Today - Planning for Tomorrow' at this critical time for the industry. The event is being organised by AFBI in partnership with AgriSearch, CAFRE and the Ulster Grassland Society.

Speaking at the launch event, Dr Sinclair Mayne, Director of AFBI’s Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division, said, “We recognise the very severe financial pressure dairy farmers in Northern Ireland are facing as a result of current low milk prices.  Whilst milk price is largely outside of producers’ control, producers do have a degree of control over the costs of production and managing these costs is critical to surviving the current difficult period.”

Dr Mayne said, “The AFBI Open Day will focus on several important areas in which production costs can be controlled in the short term, based on the latest research findings from Hillsborough.  For the longer term, we will also highlight the potential for new technologies to improve performance and the need to refocus on efficient milk production through better utilisation of grass and forage. Key performance indicators for both low and high input production systems will be presented.

 We are delighted that AgriSearch, CAFRE and the Ulster Grassland Society have joined with us in organising this event at a critical time for the dairy industry”.

Key topics to be featured at the Dairy Open Day include:

• Growing grass – Slurry and fertiliser management;
• Grazing management – Producing more from grass;
• Controlling feed costs this winter – what are the options? and
• Heifer rearing – reducing costs and optimising life-time performance.

AFBI researchers will highlight the latest research results and CAFRE advisers and technologists will be available at focus points to discuss the key issues and provide important practical advice.

A 'must attend' event for all dairy farmers in these very challenging times.

Notes to editors: 

AFBI carries out high-quality technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DARD and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies.

AFBI's Vision is “Scientific excellence in Northern Ireland … serving the world”.

All media enquiries to AFBI Press Office

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