The Virginia Show dairy conference takes pride of place again this year on the programme of events.
Once again, the organisers have put together a great line up of speakers. The Virginia Show conference takes place at the show grounds at 10.30 am till 12.00 noon tomorrow (Wednesday).
The Virginia Show conference is a great chance to get information from experts while attending one of the best agricultural shows in Ireland.
Speakers
Efficiency before expansion – Martina Moran
Martina is a dairy advisor based in Teagasc Ballyhaise Co. Cavan, working with the Lakeland/Teagasc joint programme. She has previously worked with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation to improve uptake and knowledge of the Economic Breeding Index.
Martina has a strong interest in knowledge transfer and technology adoption. Working on the ground with Lakeland dairy farmers over the last two years Martina will deliver a presentation on why efficiency before expansion is the only route to take.
Milking profit from the EBI – Donagh Berry
Donagh is a principal investigator in statistical genetics in Teagasc as well as holding professorships in UCC and SRUC, UK. He is responsible for the developments in EBI as well as the underlying components of the EBI including trait definitions, genetic evaluations, breeding schemes and genomic selection.
Farm Fragmentation in Irish Dairying – Sean O’Donnell
Sean O’Donnell, Dairy Farmer from Ballina Co Mayo and FBD Young Farmer of the Year 2014. Sean was awarded a Nufffield Scholar in 2013, researching fragmented dairy farming and options of milking on a number of blocks.
Since 2008, O’Donnell has grown the dairy farm from 40 milking cows.
Chairman of the Dairy Conference – Tim O Leary
Deputy President of IFA, Tim is a dairy farmer from Carrigrohane, Co Cork. Farming with his wife Catherine and son Colm, he has practical experience adopting to changes in farming structures.