PLANNING THE TRANSITION
TO QUOTA ABOLITION

The Irish Grassland Association are inviting all dairy farmers and dairy industry stakeholders who have an interest in the growth and prosperity of the dairy industry over the imminent phase of quota abolition to one of their two dairy Conferences sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health which will focus on the technologies s that will help get you through this transition and reach 2015 in the strongest possible position. These Conferences will take place in the Hudson Bay Hotel Athlone on 10th January and the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork on 11th January.

Grass utilization is one of the best performance indicators available, so setting the farm up to maximise pasture production and utilisation has never been more relevant. The “Grass Session” will focus on this topic and will feature the views of research and farmers alike. The dairy heifer calves bred from the 2012 breeding season will begin production in a post quota environment. While great progress has been made in Irish dairy cow breeding in recent years it is critical that farmers maximise the potential gain from the breeding technologies to put the most profitable cows on the ground post 2015. The “Breeding Session” will provide an insight into the new breeding technologies and their contribution to profitable dairy production. Once a day milking (OAD) is an option for expanding dairy cow numbers during the final years of the quota while minimising any superlevy implication. The “OAD Session” will examine the financial impact of OAD up to quota abolition and whether this practice leaves your dairy business in a stronger position post quotas. You will also hear the views and experiences of farmers who have taken the OAD route. There is no substitute for experience, so this year in our Cork venue, we hope to harness the experiences and wisdom of a number of Past Presidents of the Irish Grassland Association as they give their views on planning the transition in our very own “Presidential Debate.”
Commenting on the event William Minchin Product Manager with Pfizer Animal Health said, We are delighted to enter our 4th year as the main sponsor of the annual Irish Grassland Association Dairy conference. Pfizer wish the organisers and all attending farmers every success in the coming year.

We would like to thank our sponsors

ATHLONE TICKETS

10th January
Hudson Bay Hotel
CLICK HERE

CORK TICKETS

11th January
Silver Springs Hotel
CLICK HERE