Open days on feeding calves
A series of open days will run in the North Island this month on controlling feed intake of calves and heifers.
Advantage Feeders has teamed with industry experts to host events in Geraldine, Greta Valley and Coalgate on November 14, 15 and 16.
“As a global leader in controlled ration feeders, Advantage Feeders has a passion for educating farmers about the latest innovations in farming,” says managing director Gerard Roney.
The seminars will provide farmers with a lot of information to help them make informed decisions and will offer new systems.
“For instance, we’ll look at ways to reduce pasture consumption during the feed gap, reduce supplement feed and better match pasture consumption with stock rates,” Roney says. “These strategies, combined with creep feeding young stock, can help increase stock growth and increase production per hectare, also helping to turn them off earlier at higher prices.”
Hamish Dickson, the principal livestock consultant for AgriPartner Consulting, South Australia, will speak about feedlot and containment lot design and operation. Dickson co-authored the Australian Guidelines for Intensive Sheep and Lamb Feeding Systems (Meat & Livestock Australia). He will speak about calculating income, costs, profit and return on investment from feedlotting.
“Feedlotting presents an opportunity to grow store stock until they reach marketable weight and higher prices. In addition, maternal stock can be confined to increase maternal numbers and increase pasture production,” he says.
Also attending is Alun Faulkner, Nutritech’s national technical manager, who will cover how to balance nutrients in pasture fed animals and how productivity gains are achieved through balanced nutrition.
“This is an opportunity for farmers to listen to speakers they haven’t heard from before,” Roney says.
The sessions at Geraldine on November 14 and Greta Valley on November 15 will run from 1.45pm to 5pm; the Coalgate session on November 16 will run from 11am to 2.15pm. All sessions will include lunch or afternoon tea and refreshments.
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