Sharing ideas to improve performance

Monday 26 October 2009

LIVER Fluke control, EID, nutrient management, grassland improvement and animal health and welfare planning were all on the agenda at the Lancashire beef and sheep monitor farm launch day.

Malcolm and Judith Sanderson welcomed over 50 fellow beef and sheep farmers to Lower Highfield Farm at Halton, Lancaster, to see and hear what the farm has planned under the Northwest Livestock Programme.

The couple and their two children, James (12) and Laura (15), were keen to get involved in the monitor farm programme as they see it as a way of adding to their knowledge and understanding of beef and sheep farming and an opportunity to improve business performance to safeguard their farm for future generations.

Monitor farms encourage farmers to share ideas and experiences in order to learn from one another. This first meeting proved an opportunity to explain the concept and introduce farmers to the type of topics and industry specialist advice forthcoming meetings will look at.

David Hall from EFFP (English Farming and Food Partnerships) explained the concept, the aims of the programme and the benefits of taking part. He was supported by Clive Brown of EBLEX who outlined how the levy board is supporting this work and what they can do to help improve margins.

The Sandersons' vet, Alan Pearson from Lanes Veterinary Group, discussed liver fluke control in cattle and sheep, the damage caused to the liver and how this affects animal performance.

Ian Cairns from SAC was also on hand to discuss the programme’s animal health planning project which is open to all livestock farmers in the North West. The Sandersons are currently working with Lanes Vets and SAC at improving the health of their beef and sheep herd – finding out why losses occur and how to tackle them.

Click here to find out more about SAC’s Animal Health and Welfare Planning

Promar’s Richard Bell discussed Nutrient Management Planning, the processes used on farm focusing on cost saving following soil analysis.

Out in the fields, where the Sandersons plan to reseed next spring, Helen Mathieu from British Seed Houses discussed seed choice and whether reseeding or rejuvenating was the best option.

There was a demonstration of an aerator and a sward lifter in that field, a look at Malcolm’s winter wheat in one field, that followed a crop of swift, and rape / grass mixture in a another field.

Shearwell then gave a mini-demonstration and explanation of EID technology, how to meet new legislation and how it can be a useful management tool to monitor flock performance.

On display was a miniature sheep race, electronic ear tags, boluses and scanning equipment, with the opportunity for the farmers in attendance to ask individual questions about how EID could work on their farm.

EBLEX has published a Farmer’s guide to EID, to learn more about the technology and how to meet legislation click here to read the fact sheet.

Monitor farms are about local farmers taking the lead with support from industry advisors, addressing issues farmers want to improve on by working together.

Malcolm is keen for everyone to share ideas and get involved, he said: “Through the health planning we’ve found drench resistance in our lambs which we would never have known without testing. Now we have the opportunity to do something about it.”

As long-standing associates of the farm, John Hughes from North West Auctions, and John Clarke and Kieran Fitzgerald from Carrs Billington, will be supporting the Sanderson’s participation in the monitor farm project.

The next monitor farm meeting is planned for Thursday 26th November at Lancaster Auction and will discuss ewe and cattle nutrition (11am to 2pm). John Naylor, Carrs Billington’s beef and sheep specialist, will be in attendance.

For further information please contact James Hadwin on 01955 642206

Comments

Ian McTurk

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 at 11:37AM

VISITING ABATTOIRS There was an excellent presentation by Alan Pearson of `Sandersons' Vetrinary discussing control of Liver-Fluke. My suggestion from the floor, is important for producers to seriously consider! If they market their stock on a dead-weight basis, they should take time to consider that when their stock are destined for slaughter, that they request via their livestock procurement officer (buyer), not only to witness the weighing & grading process but also, either via the OVS or the senior meat-inspector, to ask for any information relating to health/disease associated with their particular batch of stock. All good abattoirs welcome this sort of interest from their clients. N.B. on most ocassions it will be the senior meat-inspector, who is seen by producers - he is usually working on the processing line; as the OVS is generally too busy, required on other essential work.