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RABDF NMR open day attracts over 550 dairy farmers

29 June 2009

The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers and National Milk Records staged one of NI’s biggest ever farm open days on Tuesday 23 June, when more than 550 dairy farmers from throughout the province and beyond travelled to Bushmills to find out how Iain and Joyce McLean’s detailed management to their 110 cow pedigree Priestland Holstein herd rewarded them with the NMR Silver Salver, as runner up for the RABDF NMR Gold Cup award, dairying’s highest accolade.

“This is an exemplary, very well run dairy farming business which depends on team work for its success, and every detail is covered,” said RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington. “The McLean family is taking an holistic approach and working closely as a team with their nutritionist, vet and other specialist advisors. They understand the benefits of introducing carefully selected skills and resources to help them optimise their herd and their farm’s efficiency.”

The herd’s nutritionist, Morgan Sheehy, of Devenish Nutrition went on to explain to visitors why it’s vital to adopt a finely tuned feeding strategy, while Alta UK’s Craig Watson discussed the importance of partnerships on farm.

NMR’s Chris Keys explained how the company’s milk recording services played a pivotal role on the farm. “We supply the information required for the teamwork approach - for the vet, nutritionist and breeding consultants to help make short and long term decisions,” he said. “This information is relayed back to the farm within three to four days of milk recording in easy to read reports and also online through NMR’s Herd Companion program which provides detailed analysis of cell count and protein analysis of the herd as an indicator of cow energy.”

Chris went on to outline how using the milk sample is a valuable resource for herd health management. “NMR can provide disease testing using the milk recorded sample which creates a convenient and hassle free service,” he said. “Diseases such as BVD, Lepto, IBR, Johne’s and liver fluke can all be tested through a bulk sample or individual cow samples. This service is vitally important as the prevalence of Johne’s is increasing nationwide. NMR also provides a Johne’s surveillance scheme which allows for the management of infectious cows rather than whole herd management.”

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