Take a dive into Dairying

6th & 7th November 2024 at Crowne Plaza, Stratford-Upon-Avon

Have you booked your place at this year’s TotalDairy Conference, which will be held on November 6 and 7 in Stratford upon Avon? Cheshire-based dairy manager David Craven has and says that he’s eagerly anticipating this year’s event. “We’ve been three times before, most recently in 2022, and we go as a team as there’s so much to cover across the two days,” he explains. David, who leads a team that runs a herd comprising 4,500-head of cattle for Grosvenor Farms, typically attends with three other managers from the business – the heads of the milking herd, transition cows, and the calf rearing and youngstock unit. “There are so many sessions and we all have different responsibilities. So it makes sense to go as a team and split the days up between us. “We get as much, if not more, from the evenings and between-session breaks when we have the chance to meet and discuss issues with other producers. That throws up even more views, ideas and food for thought. So it’s two-fold for us. It’s well worth the time and effort. We’re immersed in dairying for 48 hours and leave saturated with ideas and enthusiasm. It’s full on, but it’s enjoyable. And it’s invaluable. “ He says it can be difficult to juggle things and take time away from the herd and business. “But it’s really important to get off the farm and see what’s happening on other units and talk to other producers. And to stay up to speed with the latest dairy research, ideas, challenges and issues,” he says. His team adds a third tier to their conference experience when they get back from the event. “We have a team meeting to discuss and share our ‘take home’ messages,” he explains. “Sometimes we pick up the same ideas and have similar thoughts on how they could be applied to improve our herd and business. More often, we return with elements that we’ve each picked up from
the different sessions we’ve been to.

Networking opportunities

“Whatever the case, between us we’ve gleaned as much as possible from the two packed days of presentations and workshops. And a little more besides, due to the fantastic opportunities we’ve had to network and share our experiences, challenges and potential solutions with other dairy managers. “The event also presents an opportunity to scrutinise what we’re doing and think about what, if anything, we can do to improve herd and business management.”

David says the event’s formal presentations combined with the more intimate and interactive workshops really allow him and his colleagues to ‘dig down’ into topics that interest them. “We rarely go with a ‘shopping list’ or a list of ‘wants’ to the conference. It’s more about going along with open eyes, ears and minds and seeing what leaps out at us. “We often pick up things we least expect to – there are always a few surprises. And it’s always very interesting.” He and the team have taken ideas from previous events and applied them to all areas of their business. “Labour was a focus a few years ago and, as a result, we now have a consultant who advises us on how to recruit and retain good staff. This is vital because we have 70 full-time employees who are all integral to the success of our business. We now carry
out regular staff appraisals, which are key to ensuring that employees feel valued, listened to and want to give 100%.”

‘Tweaking’ tips
Other changes made at the unit include reviewing silage-making technique and protocols, to improve forage quality. “And we’ve also tweaked calf- and heiferrearing management too,” adds David. Tweaked is the key word here. “We’re already running a highly-efficient dairy herd and business – it has to be at the size we’re at. But, like any successful business, we’re always looking to make improvements and do things better.

Another ‘frequent flier’ is Mike King, who’s been to TotalDairy Conference nine times. “It’s an annual must-attend event for our team,” he says. “A group of four of us go – myself, the herd manager and herdsman and, most recently, my daughter who is now a qualified vet,” he adds. Between them, they split the two-day programme to ensure they ‘cover all bases’. “A colour-coded system highlights the sessions that are more producer focused and practical – and not as ‘scientific’ as some of the more specialist vet-led presentations,” says Mike, whose Gloucestershire-based 800-cow pedigree herd won NMR/RABDF Gold Cup in 2010. “Our herdsman is particularly interested in hoof-health and fertility, so that’s where he likes to start. We then divide the other sessions up among ourselves, so we’re ‘fully immersed’ and have everything covered.”

Dairy expertise
He says what sets the conference apart is the speakers’ depth of dairy expertise. “The best dairy specialists, from all areas of herd management, come from all corners of the globe. It really is the place to be to stay up to date with the latest ideas, technology and developments in dairying. The blend of presentations and workshops also sets the event apart. “It’s all there for the taking, and it’s up to delegates to soak it all up and think about what they can apply to their own units back home. “It’s great for improving our understanding of some of the issues we face day-to-day on farm, learning about new approaches, ideas and techniques, and discussing these issues with like-minded progressive producers – as well as between ourselves when we get back home “There are sessions that reinforce or add more clarity to aspects of dairy management that we’re already on top of. And there are also many more that offer up information and practical pointers that are completely new. We always learn a lot and it’s certainly not a two-day break – we work hard,” says Mike. That’s another good reason to go as a team. “In our experience, there’s so much for one person to take in.

But there’s also a post-event presentation pack for delegates, which means we can go back and revisit the sessions if we want to refresh our memories.” For Mike, like so many other producers and dairy staff, it’s an event he looks forward to all year. “There’s no other conference like it – nothing comes close to being this broad and in-depth. It’s called TotalDairy for a reason and if you’re into cows then it’s a must-attend event.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.totaldairy.com/tickets