January Update: Cumbria Farmer Groups and Monitor Farms

THE following information is an update on the livestock programme farmer group work and monitor farms organised by Cumbria Farmer Network

Croglin:

The Croglin group with Kate Gascoyne held their January meeting on nutrition, the speaker was Gillian Butler, an independent ruminant nutritionist based at Newcastle University. Their topic was the cost-effective use of grass and some of the wider issues, e.g. maximising parasite resistance through good nutrition. The next meeting on 17th February, will cover minerals for maximum grass growth and stock health, including a presentation from Glenside Soil Systems. Read Kate's full report >>

Organic:

Kate is also working with a group of organic farmers who want to make the best use of speaker resources. They have their first meeting planned for during the day on 17th February at the Greyhound pub in Shap with the theme of looking at minerals for grass growth and stock health, again with Glenside Soil Systems.

Ravenstonedale Group:

Minerals also feature in the January meeting that Sally Dixon has arranged for the Ravenstonedale Group, using the data obtained from their own samples the group will discuss with Cliff Lister from Carrs, the optimum minerals to use when feeding their silage to ensure there are no imbalances. The meeting on February will feature Clive Brown from Eblex discussing the benefits of using EBV values in the selection of breeding stock and the improvements they can make long term in the performance of both cattle and sheep.

Broughton in Furness:

The Broughton in Furness farmer meeting organised by Dorothy Wilkinson will also have input from Clive Brown when they have a meeting on stock selection in early February. This will not only feature what the market requires when farmers select lambs for slaughter, but the damage that can be done to the carcass by poor animal welfare when administering drugs and handling the animals.

Seathwaite and Langdale:

Dorothy also works with the Seathwaite and Langdale group, who are having a meeting in mid February to look at improving grassland performance with Jim Bretherton from AgSope.

Crooklands:

Richard Vecqueray from Evidence Based Veterinary Consultancy, gave a presentation on dry cow transition at a meeting of local farmers at the Crooklands Hotel on January 12th. Unfortunately numbers attending were low due to the weather, however those attending certainly had plenty to think about with Richard’s talk raising a remarkable amount of discussion both during and after the presentation. There was plenty of pockets of information for those there to take home and implement, including giving the cows 30 ltrs of warm water straight after calving and improving their dry cow diets.

For further information on any aspects of farmer group meetings, including the opportunity to develop a new group in your area, contact Cumbria Farmer Network on 01768 868616

 

Monitor Farms:

Dairy - Hesket Farm

Click Here to read what went on at the the farm's first business group meeting (written by farm facilitator Robert Burrow)

 

Beef and Sheep - Fellside House

The date for the next business meeting for the beef & sheep monitor farm, focusing on the report by independent industry consultant Lesley Stubbins on the performance of the beef and sheep at Fellside House has not yet been arranged. Once the date is finalised, all the group members will be notified and it will also be on the this website.

 

 

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