Hoof-trimming training at CAFRE college. Image source: CAFRE
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is seeking a new chairperson and member for CAFRE’s College Advisory Group (CAG).
The group has provided advice to the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) since 2007, and draws on expertise across all sectors of the agri-food industry.
CAG has 12 members and is currently chaired by Dr. Mike Johnston MBE, chief executive of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland. However, Dr. Johnston is set to reach the end of his term in June.
The two vacancies include a new chairperson and member representing the dairying sector.
Reducing protein levels in dairy cow diets has tremendous potential
The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland, in conjunction with the European Milk Forum, recently hosted a webinar highlighting the impact of reduced protein levels in diets offered to freshly calved cows.
The event took the form of a virtual farm visit, hosted by Drew and Valerie McConnell. The couple farm on the outskirts of Omagh in Co. Tyrone. They had previously taken part in an Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) trial, investigating the role of protein in dairy cow diets.
Drew and Valerie McConnell Image source: Dairy Council NI
Drew and Valerie milk 160 Holstein cows. Current 305-day yields are in the region of 10,000L. The top 60 yielders are milked courtesy of a robot with the remainder of the herd put through a conventional parlour twice daily.