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Dairy Event to Focus on Efficiency and Profitability – Local Award Winner Joins SAC Panel of Experts

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N109
Published: 20 Sep 2011

dairy cows at feed face (opens in new window)

Award winning NE stockperson Heather Duffus will share the limelight with other dairying experts at an SAC producers event, planned for the Mackies dairy unit at Rothienorman on October 4th.

Heather, who is the Young-stock Manager at Mackies, recently won Scotland’s Calf Rearer of the Year Award, sponsored by Volac. She will join several SAC specialists at the Dairy Focus Event which will concentrate on areas of the dairy enterprise where efficiency and profitability could be improved.

Heather has been working with the dairy team at Mackies for 18 years. She is responsible for over 400 animals from birth to 2 years old. The unit at Rothienorman has Jersey, Holstein and Swedish Red cows, each with their own characteristics. For Heather successful rearing starts with good quality Colostrum, to help establish a sound immune system, then attention to hygiene.

Heather was presented with her award at the recent national Dairy Event, held at the NEC Birmingham. She just failed to take the overall UK award but learned a lot from the all expenses paid trip to the Show, her calves will also welcome the half tonne of milk powder due to be delivered soon.

A chance to see the calf rearing programme at Mackies will be part of the day for visiting farmers. Heather will be joined by dairy manager Jim Petrie, who amongst other things will explain how they use the robotic milking machines at Mackies to ensure performance is maximised.

Added to this, on a high value day, many of SAC’s well respected dairying experts will be on hand, including leading consultant Jimmy Goldie. He will discuss the benefits of balancing feed rations to aid performance while controlling costs. The Head of SAC’s Dairy Research, Dr Dave Roberts will highlight the latest research being undertaken by SAC to help dairy farmers in Scotland and beyond.

Herd health is of key importance. The farm’s local vet, Chris Solomon (From Dunnydeer Vets) will outline how they manage the three breeds on the farm to keep them in good health. Joining him will be two SAC vets. Colin Mason, SAC’s Leading Dairy Vet will cover mastitis control, while Catriona Ritchie, from SAC’s Vet Lab at Aberdeen will explain how giving calves a good start in life can go a long way to reducing the  high number of calf deaths on many UK dairy farms.

To book your place at this free event (lunch provided), please contact SAC Thainstone on 01467 625385. SAC acknowledges support for advisory activity from Scottish Government.

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Farm & Rural Business Services - Thainstone
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Thainstone Agricultural Centre, Inverurie,
Aberdeenshire
AB51 5WU
TelWork 01467 625385
Fax 01467 620607

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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