Conferences & Workshops

Conferences, Training & Workshops

 

We are renowned for the delivery of cutting edge, high quality, knowledge transfer to a wide range of participants. Our training courses very much fit in with our business aim to provide independent ‘evidence based’ guidance on the latest livestock research, development and technical innovation.

Our flagship knowledge transfer event is the annual TotalDairy Seminar – which is well recognised as the leading technical conference for the dairy industry. This two day event has the aim of ‘Delivering Global Dairy Expertise’ by bringing speakers from around the world to present the latest research and ideas on a wide range of dairy topics.

Our annual programme of short courses, ‘Feeding the Dairy Herd’, aims to provide a comprehensive knowledge of dairy herd nutrition based on the most recent research and information available.

As well as our yearly fixed programme of courses and conferences, we are able to run bespoke training courses to suit individual needs. For more information, please contact julia.moorhouse@mapof.ag

Keep Informed

 

Feeding the Dairy Herd

Our programme of short courses include:

  • Youngstock Nutrition and Management – An Evidence-Based Approach: This course is tailored towards veterinary surgeons and dairy farm advisors who wish to develop their understanding of dairy youngstock nutrition from birth through to first calving.
  • Practical Feeding Management and Finances for the Dairy Herd: This course which aims to provide delegates with a thorough understanding of practical feeding management for dairy herds along with knowledge relating to the financial aspects of feeding a dairy herd.
  • Fundamentals of Dairy Cow Nutrition and Ration Formulation: This short course is aimed at delegates who wish to develop their knowledge of ruminant nutrition. The course is specifically designed for those who have recently become involved in giving on-farm advice including animal nutrition advisors, veterinary surgeons and teachers.
  • Dry Cow Feeding and Management: Dry cow feeding and management is crucially important to the success of a dairy operation.

We are offering a 10% discount for the booking of all four courses at once.

 

 

Practical Feeding Management and Finances for the Dairy Herd

Date: 22nd – 23rd March 2023
Duration: 2 Days
Time: Course starts 10am on the first day and finishes at 4pm on the second day
Venue: The Gables Hotel, Bristol Road, Falfield, South Gloucestershire, GL12 8DL
Cost (Course): £450 + vat
Cost (Inc DBB): £560 + vat

Course Aims

This course which aims to provide delegates with a thorough understanding of practical feeding management for dairy herds along with knowledge relating to the financial aspects of feeding a dairy herd.

Course Content

The course will cover:

Feed Assessment and Analysis

  • Methods of determining the nutrient content of feed stuff and their rumen dynamics
  • Strengths and weaknesses of differing analytical techniques
  • How to read between the lines of forage analyses and choose the right tests in the right circumstances

Feeding Systems

  • Reviewing the principal methods of feeding; strengths and weaknesses within different production systems
  • Understanding and assessing where issues may occur

Feeding Behaviour and Management

  • Reviewing the principals and science of feeding, grazing and bunk management
  • Understanding how cow behaviour influences feeding and nutrition

Milk Contracts

  • How contracts are structured and what influences farm income
  • Dissecting contracts and understanding what the incentivise, and how to maximise income

Manipulating Milk Constituents

  • What drives milk constituent production, and how can we change it?
  • Troubleshooting quality issues

Appraisal of Feed Costings on a Dairy Herd

  • Understanding the metrics within feed costings, and their appropriateness for different systems
  • Becoming familiar with key metrics, and understanding how to easily calculate them in the field

Course tutors: Richard Cooper and Julia Moorhouse.

If you are booking 5 or more delegates, please contact us for a group discount.

Register for this course here.

Fundamentals of Dairy Cow Nutrition and Ration Formulation

Date: 20th – 21st June 2023
Duration: 2 Days
Time: Course starts 10am on the first day and finishes at 4pm on the second day
Venue: The Gables Hotel, Bristol Road, Falfield, South Gloucestershire, GL12 8DL
Cost (Course): £450 + vat
Cost (Inc DBB): £560 + vat

Course Aims

This short course is aimed at delegates who wish to develop their knowledge of ruminant nutrition. The course is specifically designed for those who have recently become involved in giving on-farm advice including animal nutrition advisors, veterinary surgeons and teachers.

The objectives of the course are to establish a thorough working knowledge of nutrition and diet formulation. By the end of the course delegates will be able to solve practical problems based on a knowledge of nutritional theory and devise suitable rations for dairy cows.

Course Components

The course content will cover the principles of dairy cow nutrition including; rumen function, energy and protein nutrition, feed intake, practical ration formulation and mineral nutrition.

Course tutors: Julia Moorhouse and James Husband

Register for this course here.

Dry Cow Feeding and Management

Date: 10th – 11th October 2023
Duration: 2 Days
Time: Course starts 10am on the first day and finishes at 4pm on the second day
Venue: Caer Llan Conference Centre
Cost (Course): £640.00
Cost (Inc DBB): £760.00

Course Aims

Dry cow feeding and management is crucially important to the success of a dairy operation.

Most metabolic and infectious diseases occur in the first month post calving at a time when cows are approaching peak yield and the service period. If things go wrong in the time around calving production, health, fertility and profitability can all be negatively affected.

As vets and nutritionists, we need to understand the physiological challenges the cow experiences and how best to manage the ration and environment to maximise the chances of a successful transition into lactation.

Course Components

This highly acclaimed course aims to bring together vets and nutritionists to provide a practical grounding in:

  • Ration formulation
  • Metabolic disease prevention and trouble-shooting- milk fever, displaced abomasums, ketosis
  • Monitoring strategies- cow (condition, blood, urine) and data-based
  • Mineral and vitamin supplementation and assessment of ‘value added products’
  • Housing, grouping and movement and the ‘art of feeding’

 

Course tutors: James Husband & Alastair Hayton

 

 

Youngstock Nutrition and Management – An Evidence-Based Approach

Date: TBC 2024
Duration: 2 Days
Time: Course starts 10am on the first day and finishes at 4pm on the second day
Venue: TBC
Cost (Course): £450 + vat
Cost (Inc DBB): £560 + vat

Course Aims

This course is tailored towards veterinary surgeons and dairy farm advisors who wish to develop their understanding of dairy youngstock nutrition from birth through to first calving. The aim of the course is to improve competence in basic and intermediate dairy youngstock nutrition and feeding management techniques that will facilitate delivery of consultancy services to dairy clients.

Course Components

  • Key performance indicators in heifer rearing – the evidence behind them, setting targets and the challenges of monitoring them.
  • Pre- and peri-parturient management of the pregnant cow: impacts on foetal viability and mortality.
    Colostrum: the evidence base for the ‘standard’ advice and why this doesn’t always guarantee success. Monitoring, investigation and intervention in the dairy herd.
  • Feeding the pre-weaned calf: role of milk and ‘hard’ feeding in the development of the ruminant. Critical assessment of feeding systems and delivery of nutritional advice.
  • Weaning and the post-weaned heifer: options and approaches to obtaining reliable growth, fertility and safe delivery to first calving.

Course tutors: Richard Cooper and Julia Moorhouse.

If you are booking 5 or more delegates, please contact us for a group discount.

 

Terms and Conditions

Cancellations 14 or more days prior to the course will receive 100% refund. 8 to 14 Days will receive 50% refund and 7 or less will not be refunded.

Bookings which have not been paid for in full before course registration will be subject to a 10% surcharge. We reserve the right to refuse admission to delegates for whom payment has not been received at the time of registration, until the invoice has been settled.