Dairy-Tech, Stoneleigh Park: New technology and seminars

With more than 80 new products, services, and concepts being showcased and 320 trade stands, the one-day event will be jam-packed with the latest technology and innovation on the market, with something for everyone when it comes to dairy businesses.

Dairy-Tech always attracts a large number of farmers and industry leaders

Visitors will also be able to hear from a host of dynamic speakers, delivering sessions on both the Dairy and Innovation Hubs. Topics range from dairy market updates, achieving carbon neutrality and looking at how your levy is spent. Speakers will also discuss how the future consumer looks, alongside a whole host of other current issues and key topics currently effecting the sector.

Technology giant Google will open the Dairy Hub with a keynote address, looking at future consumer dynamics, what changes the industry is likely to see, and answering the questions around why it’s so important for businesses to stay aligned with the ever-changing needs and requirements of the consumer.

The Stoneleigh Park-based event pulls in large numbers of farmers from all over the UK

Other top experts will feature on the Dairy Hub throughout the day to discuss the environment and ways of achieving carbon neutrality, the role of diversity in agriculture and a dairy market update debate, hosted by Chris Walkland.

The Dairy Hub will also host Hillary Curnow, agriculture counsellor, New Zealand High Commission, who will detail New Zealand’s journey to net zero and look at how it compares to the progress being made in the UK.

As part of this year’s session on animal health and welfare, Defra’s policy lead, Martin Jenkins is set to give a government update on driving down disease, talking alongside dairy farmer Charles Goadby and vet Graeme Fowlie, who will be able to offer practical on-farm advice on the topic. For the first time this session will conclude with the presentation of RABDF's Farm Health Management Award – a competition open to vet and agric students based on proactive farm health management practices

Dairy hub speakers

The Innovation Hub will again be dedicated to showcasing the latest technologies available to help modern dairy farmers. This year features a host of topics, including on-farm diagnostic testing for mastitis and how exceptionally specific data, that has been matched against genomic samples, is able to provide highly accurate selection and culling decisions. As part of Defra’s Farming Investment Fund, the session will explain some of the current grants available for those investing in technology, infrastructure and equipment.

With lameness continuing to be a priority of Defra’s animal health and welfare pathway, the event will see the return of the Healthy Feet Zone in Hall 2a.

Brand new for this year’s event, training provider Lantra has teamed up for the day. Located just inside the indoor area of the main event it will comprise of demonstrations focusing on topics such as farm safety and livestock handling.

Full timetable of what can be seen and heard

All visitor tickets booked in advance are sold at a discounted rate of £20, with free tickets, and further concessions, for RABDF members.

Tickets purchased at the gate are £25. Discounted tickets are also available for students and young farmers. Further information available at www.dairy-tech.uk or office@rabdf.co.uk

Dairy Tech QR code

Healthy Feet Zone

Dairy farmers and other visitors can look to the Healthy Feet Zone to find out about prevention and treatment of lameness on farm. With practical advice and demonstrations it will provide a perfect opportunity for farmers to ask questions.

Lameness is one of the most significant welfare and productivity issues that dairy farmers face across the UK.

This year the demonstrations at Dairy-Tech will have the benefit of experienced cattle lameness vets, vet technicians and foot trimmers, who will be able to identify and explain the causes of lameness, possible treatments and most importantly how to prevent these problems from occurring on your farm.

By creating the zone, RABDF has created a variety of businesses to equip farmers with technical advice, aimed at helping individuals to pick up some key pointers when it comes to maintaining healthy feet on farm.

With expert advice, tools and support the aim is to highlight the best method of treatment for lame cows and preventative measures that can be taken.

Two demonstrations will take place, using real feet, to show both common, and more unusual causes of lameness, where visitors will have the opportunity to discuss practical ways to prevent problems and disease occurring.

With regular foot trimming an essential part in preventing and treating lameness, routine preventative trimming is a safe, quick and stress-free procedure when a trained professional uses a well-maintained and purpose designed crush.

A team of experts will be on hand all day to take any questions. They will outline how correctly identifying lesions and their causes, alongside best practice foot trimming, is the most effective way of being able to appropriately treat different types of lameness.

Preventing future lameness contributes to herd productivity, by working with a foot trimmer and vet, and using mobility scoring effectively, lameness can be reduced and levels of efficiency improved increase efficiency. Experts will be telling farmers the dos and don’ts of footbath and looking at the roles environmental factors play when it comes to preventing lameness.

Demo times:

12noon and 2pm

Healthy Feet Zone

Attended by: Will Gratwick – farm vet, LLM Farm Vets; Natalie Parker – lead VetTech, LLM Farm Vets; Phil Jones – foot trimmer, Westpoint Farm Vets and Charlotte Luther – farm vet and foot trimmer, Damory Veterinary Clinic.

Dairy-Tech 2024

Address: Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, CV8 2LG

Opening Times: Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 08.00 to 17.30

Road access: Stoneleigh Park is located 1 mile/1.5 kilometres east of the A46 dual carriageway road between Junction 15 of the M40 and the A45 dual carriageway (Birmingham to Coventry, Rugby and the M1 Junction 17). The A46 to the north, links with Junction 2 of the M6, beyond Coventry. Stoneleigh Park is on the B4113 road between Leamington Spa and Coventry. However, visitors in cars will be routed on to the site by Event Signs, using the B4115 road, which runs parallel to the A46, between the A452 and the B4113, near Stoneleigh village.

Rail access: The nearest train stations are Coventry, Warwick Parkway and Leamington Spa. There are rail connections to these stations from London Marylebone Station, Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International (at the airport). There is bus access from Coventry Station to Stoneleigh Park and from Leamington Town Centre. The Taxi distance is about 3 miles.

International flights: Birmingham International Airport is the most convenient for visitors. The Station at the airport allows a link to Coventry Station in 15 minutes. Coventry Airport itself is mainly used for charter flights and East Midlands Airport is approximately 45 miles to the north, with indirect rail links via Derby, Leicester and Birmingham.

Buses: For details on Bus Timetables go to www.networkwestmidlands.com

Innovation hub

Time Title Speakers

09:15 Royal Dairy Innovation Award 2024 Hear from the three finalists

Options for diversification, Chaired by Tim Downes, RABDF vice chairman

09:45 Is diversifying right for me? Key considerations Neil Rowe, Consultant

10:00 Producing Wagyu in a dairy system Jamie Brownrigg, Warrendale Wagyu

10:15 Getting the most bang for your buck when producing beef from the dairy herd Rob Drysdale, Independent Vet

10:30 Milk vending machines - how to make them work Sally Spence, Dairy Farmer

10:40 Artificial intelligence can help you predict which cows can get sick before disease strikes. Manage diseases such as Mastitis, Ketosis, Lameness and others Dairy Data Warehouse

10:50 Maximising solar output on your dairy farm Nightingale Electrics technology to help manage mastitis, chaired by sarah tomlinson, rabdf Trustee

11:00 On-farm rapid mastitis diagnostic testing Colin Penny, Zoetis Vet

11:15 Troubleshooting your milking routine Tom Greenham, Vet, Advanced Milking

11:35 Revolutionary milking technology maximises teat health and cow productivity James Duke, Founder, ADF Milking

Latest grazing strategies, Chaired by Wil Armitage, RABDF trustee

11:45 Maximise your potential with microbes; the biological farming model explained Colin Orr, director and head nutritionist, forage technology

12:00 Grazing profit drivers and the effect of a warming climate Piers Badnell, LIC pasture to profit farm consultant

12:15 Cluster grazing and how it works Louise Whelan, cluster atlantic grazing FMS advisor, Lely Atlantic

12:30 UK farmer shares top tips on maximising milk from grass Louise Whelan, cluster atlantic grazing FMS advisor, Lely Atlantic

12:45 Reporting cattle movements is moo-ving into a new digital era Daryle Searle Project Manager for LIS

Breeding innovation, Chaired by Mike King, RABDF trustee

13:00 Update on the latest breeding trends in the UK Marco Winters, AHDB

13:10 How crossbreeding can help in dairy businesses Matthew Stott, Viking Genetics

13:35 Future developments in sexed semen technology Craig Watson, UK sales manager, cogent breeding Ltd

13:45 Genomics to fast track the health of crossbred dairy cows - FastBreeder project professor Mike Coffey

Grants and investments, Chaired by Adam White, head of agricultural, Barclays

14:05 We’re here to help you Adam White, head of agricultural Barclays

14:10 Small and large grants update Tess Wright, animal health and welfare infrastructure grants policy lead, DEFRA

14:20 What to consider when investing in calf housing Scott Gearon, Design Project Engineer, Galebreaker Ltd

14:30 Tax relief from innovation investments Josh Perry, Director and Head of R and D, Sedulo

Science and research panel session, Chaired by Helen Brookes, head of business development at CIEL, agri-tech centres

14:40 Latest agri-tech innovations and science, research and new products showcase Agri-Tech Centres

14:45 Innovation, innovation, innovation Innovate UK

14:50 Accelerating innovation for the dairy sector Phil Bicknell CEO of CIEL, Agri-Tech Centres

14:55 Flower Power at the heart of methane reduction Dr Annie Williams, CIEL, Agri-Tech Centres

15:05 Learn about the power of big data Andrew Lessey, chief operating officer at Antler Bio

15:15 AI in Agriculture: Is the Grass Greener? Dr Chris Knight, CEO at Agribot

15:25 The beauty, simplicity, and benefits of pulse oxidation Paul Morris, CEO, Oxi-Tech Solutions

15:35 Presentation of the Royal Dairy Innovation Award 2024 Tim Downes, RABDF vice chairman

Dairy hub

Keynote session, Chaired by Robert Craig, RABDF chairman

10:00 Insight into the consumer of the future Louise Meehan, Google and Andrea Coffey, Google

10:20 State of the nation debate - the here, the now and the future Louise Meehan, Google; Adam White, head of agricultural, Barclays; Abi Reader, dairy farmer and NFU cymru deputy president; Navaratnam Partheeban, regional veterinary head of farm – IVC Evidensia; Lyndon Edwards, Board member and dairy sector council chair, AHDB; Rob Hitch, partner, Dodd and Co

Understanding how your increased levy is being spent, Chaired by Di Wastenage, RABDF trustee

11:00 Overview, panel discussion and Q and A Liz Haines, dairy sector council member, AHDB; Liam Byrne, AHDB marketing director

What you can expect from the dairy markets, Chaired by Chris Walkland

11:30 Overview, panel discussion and Q and A Paul Savage, UK agricultural director, Arla Foods; Bali Nijjar, chief executive, Freshways

Efficiently achieving 1000kg of fat and protein per cow, Chaired by Mike King, RABDF trustee

12:00 Efficiently achieving 1000kg – Maximising milk solids for sustainable dairy production Rose Jackson, head of genetics, Kite Consulting and Maimie French, technical consultant, Kite Consulting

Dairy farming and the environment, Chaired by Peter Alvis, RABDF trustee

12:30 Down to Earth 2024 host – Our environmental ethos David Craven, dairy and infrastructure manager, Grosvenor Farms

12:40 What to expect from the Sustainable farm incentive in 2024 DEFRA

13:00 Achieving carbon neutrality John Gilliland, consultant, AHDB

13:20 Let’s talk about emissions Kimberly Campbell, technical sales specialist, Mootral

13:30 Soil carbon measurement; now and in the future Dr. Harry Kamilaris, senior business development consultant, Agricarbon

Journey to net zero – it’s possible, Chaired by Peter Alvis, RABDF trustee

13:40 Build your environmental resilience: how to measure and mitigate against climate change risks Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, head of sustainability, Kite

13:55 Tackling on-farm emissions: New Zealand’s approach Hillary Curnow, agriculture counsellor, New Zealand High Commission

Animal health and welfare, Chaired by Sarah Tomlinson, RABDF trustee

14:20 A look at future TB control Sarah Tomlinson, TB advisory service technical director, RABDF trustee

14:40 Panel discussion: Driving down disease, perspectives of dairy farmers, vets and policy makers Karen Halton, dairy farmer, RABDF trustee; James Russell, non-executive director, animal health and welfare board for England; Martin Jenkins, head of transforming farming: for healthier animals, better enforcement and the AHWBE, DEFRA

15:10 Compulsory EID: What I need to know Gwyn Jones

15:20 Mycoplasma Bovis- Is it the silent money zapper? Dairy farmer Charles Goadby, Warwickshire and Graeme Fowlie – Meadows Vets

15:35 From fighting fire to igniting progress: Your herd health roadmap to better dairying Jan van Dijk, veterinary technical manager – UK and IE AHV International