Events

The South West has been chosen to host this year's Large Herd Seminar, the
annual event which provides forward-thinking dairy farmers, herd managers and
veterinary surgeons with the latest information to make their businesses more
profitable, making it more accessible to those living in one of the UK's largest
livestock producing areas. Entitled 'Looking after the cow - Getting it right',
the Seminar will take place at the Woodbury Park Hotel, Golf and Country Club,
Woodbury, Exeter on Tuesday 30th June and Wednesday 1st July.

The 4th Large Herd Seminar features an intriguing mix of presentations from some
of the world's leading academics in dairy herd management, research, nutrition
and health. Organised by Lillico Attlee, one of the UK's largest privately-owned
agricultural merchants, together with the Evidence Based Veterinary Consultancy,
the event is sponsored by Intervet Schering Plough, Arm & Hammer, Alta Genetics,
Micron Bio-Systems, VistaVet and Zinpro.

The Veterinary pre-Seminar on Tuesday evening will start with a reception and
dinner, followed by four presentations on the theme of 'Immunity, fertility and
performance - getting it right', which will focus on immune response and
metabolic problems of fertility.

Following a PhD thesis examining links between mastitis and fertility, Dr Dana
Tomlinson of Zinpro will discuss the 'Links between nutrition, reproduction and
immunity'. This will examine the role of trace mineral nutrition on performance
and immune competence, together with the effects of management, housing and
environment on production, health, reproduction and profitability.

Claire Wathes, who is Professor of Veterinary Reproduction at the Royal
Veterinary College in London and focuses her research on farm animal
reproduction, will discuss 'The effects of negative energy balance on immune
function and fertility'. Professor Ric Grummer from the Department of Dairy
Science at the University of Wisconsin will speak on the subject of 'Can dry cow
management affect fertility?' while Professor Robert Van Saun, Professor and
Extension Veterinarian at the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
at Pennsylvania State University, will consider the 'Use of metabolic profiles
in assessing transition cow health status'.

The Large Herd Seminar on Wednesday will include eight presentations covering
four main areas, all of which impact on cow fertility.

Professor Ric Grummer's presentation will be entitled 'Feeding strategies to get
the cow off to the best possible start', while Professor Robert Van Saun will
speak about 'Predictors and monitoring of metabolic disease'.

The second session 'Looking after the cow - Team approach' will start with a
joint presentation by veterinary surgeon Ben Brearley of The Livestock
Partnership and dairy farmer James Goodwin, who jointly manages a 650-cow dairy
herd in Sussex. Entitled 'Exploiting your information and using a team
approach', it will consider what herd managers need to record, monitor and use
effectively. A dairy farmer from the United States will also discuss their
approach to the same subject.

The afternoon session will focus on Calf and heifer performance - getting it
right', the most important aspect of any dairy enterprise but one often
neglected. Kat Bazeley from the Kingfisher Veterinary Practice, which provides
top-quality veterinary care in Somerset, Dorset and Devon, will demonstrate the
importance of getting heifers growing to deliver performance in her paper
'Heifer monitoring to improve performance', while Professor Stephen Acres,
President and CEO of The Saskatoon Colostrum Company Ltd, will talk about
'Colostrum Management to Improve Health and Long Term Performance'.

The final session, 'Nutrition - problems that affect performance' will consider
how to get on top of lameness and sub-clinical acidosis, together with the
importance of nutrition. Dr Dana Tomlinson will speak on 'Progress in reducing
lameness', while the final paper 'Is SARS holding your cows back?' will be
presented by VistaVet.

Warwick Bastard of Lillico Attlee said: "The 2009 Large Herd Seminar will
provide a stimulating environment for practical dairy professionals. Delegate
places are limited and the event is likely to sell-out quickly, so early booking
is advisable."

Tickets for the Veterinary pre-seminar cost £50, while those for the Large Herd
Seminar are priced at £75. A subsidised rate of £25 is available for dairy
farmers and managers who attend the day seminar only. Delegates can attend both
sessions for £225, inclusive of overnight accommodation. Contact Lillico Attlee
on 01622 718062.