This course is tailored towards veterinary surgeons and dairy farm advisors who wish to develop their understanding of dairy youngstock nutrition from birth through to first calving. The aim of the course is to improve competence in basic and intermediate dairy youngstock nutrition and feeding management techniques that will facilitate delivery of consultancy services to dairy clients.

• Key performance indicators in heifer rearing – the evidence behind them, setting targets and the challenges of monitoring them.
• Pre- and peri-parturient management of the pregnant cow: impacts on foetal viability and mortality.
  Colostrum: the evidence base for the ‘standard’ advice and why this doesn’t always guarantee success. Monitoring, investigation and intervention in the dairy herd.
• Feeding the pre-weaned calf: role of milk and ‘hard’ feeding in the development of the ruminant. Critical assessment of feeding systems and delivery of nutritional advice.
• Weaning and the post-weaned heifer: options and approaches to obtaining reliable growth, fertility and safe delivery to first calving.

Date: TBC 2025
Duration: 2 Days
Time: Course starts 10am on the first day and finishes at 4pm on the second day
Venue: TBC
Cost (Course): £600 + vat
Cost (Inc DBB): £720 + vat

If you are booking 5 or more delegates, please contact us for a group discount.

Julia Moorhouse, Head of Veterinary Services, Map of Ag

Julia qualified at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science in 2000 and worked in mixed, mainly farm animal practice in the North of England for 13 years before joining Map of Ag (previously EBVC / Evidence Group). She holds the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Certificate in Cattle Health and Production and completed a MSc in Sustainable and Efficient Food Production at the University of Aberystwyth in 2019.

Julia’s role involves provision of technical advice relating to dairy herd health, welfare, nutrition and management to the dairy industry including processors, retailers and their producers. She also provides direct consultancy advice to dairy farms in the North of England.

Julia’s key areas of interest include feeding management, forage production and youngstock.

Richard Cooper, RCVS Specialist in Cattle Health and Production, Map of Ag

Richard Cooper qualified as a vet from Bristol in 2002, subsequently working in Devon and New Zealand. He undertook a farm animal residency at the University of Bristol in 2008, subsequently gaining his RCVS Diploma in Cattle Health and Production and RCVS Registered Specialist status.

Richard provides nutritional consultancy on behalf of Map of Ag to dairy and beef farmers, and veterinary consultancy to processors and retailers in the agrifood supply chain. He completed a master’s degree in Public Health and Epidemiology in 2017, which consolidated his love of using data to help inform farm decision making.