UK Dairy Day set for bumper event

• Thousands of visitors expected to attend

• Showcase of best British dairy sector

• Exhibitors from UK and overseas

Final touches are being put to this year’s UK Dairy Day event, which takes place next month at the International Centre, Telford, Shropshire.

The dedicated annual event for the dairy industry on 10 September brings together all facets of the industry for face-to-face networking – alongside a showcase of some of the UK’s best dairy cattle breeds.

A Sharing Knowledge Zone will feature seminars and industry panels cover a range of topics related to dairy herds and farm businesses. A careers board will showcase job vacancies and the details of individuals looking for work.

Seminar topics will include the latest updates on tax changes and planning options for farmers and landowners; with a special focus on sustainability, data and people during the morning sessions.

Good practice

Taking place throughout the day, AHDB and Shropshire Farm Vets will demonstrate how lung scanning can help dairy farmers assess lung damage caused by pneumonia – and understand its impact as calves transition into the milking herd.

Carolyn Baguley and the team from Scarsdale Vets will present their innovative calf painting demonstration to highlight ways that good management practice can enhance animal health and welfare.

Tim Carter will give a practical demonstration on foot trimming, blocking and knife sharpening. Demonstrations will take place throughout the day and streamed to a large TV screen with live commentary.

Some 300 businesses are expected to attend the event from the UK and further afield. Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the show – with six different breeds judged in the main ring. Judges for this year’s keenly fought cattle classes have now been announced.

Top cattle show judges for Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey and Jersey will cast their professional eyes over the breeds under the spotlights during a full day of cattle classes.

Ayrshire and Guernsey judge Peter Berresford runs the 140-cow Heydale Ayrshire herd 1,000 feet up in the Derbyshire Peak District. He has judged at most major shows in the UK and his herd has had five All-Britain winners and numerous show winners.

Brown Swiss Judge Andrew Cope, of the Huddlesford herd in Staffordshire, is on the Brown Swiss, Holstein UK and EHRC judging panels. He has won Champion Holstein three times at the Royal Show and four times at the Dairy Events

Dairy Shorthorn Judge Kylie Preisinger grew up with Milking Shorthorns in Vermont, USA. She is the fourth generation involved with the Green Acres prefix and served as a director for 12 years for the American Milking Shorthorn Society.

Livestream

Jersey Judge Hefyn Wilson farms at Tregibby Farm in Cardigan, where he milks 90 Holsteins and Jerseys, along with 140 Youngstock. Hefyn is a member of the Jersey UK and Holstein UK National judging panels and the EHRC judging panel.

The judge for the National Holstein Show is David Hodgson, of Wormanby Holsteins, Cumbria. Classes will run throughout the day and be livestreamed to a worldwide audience to watch the winners tapped out by judges in the main ring.

For full details, including tickets, visit www.ukdairyday.co.uk