The first in a two-part Future Beef webinar series designed specifically for suckler farmers kicks off tonight, January 6 at 8pm.

Combining the latest research with practical on-farm experience to help reduce calf losses and improve performance in the coming calving season, the first webinar focuses on Profit Starts Before Calving – Reducing Calf Losses Before They Happen.

This webinar will focus on the key management decisions during pregnancy that influence calving difficulty, calf vitality and early-life disease risk.

Topics discussed will include:

• Nutrition of the pregnant suckler cow – matching energy and protein supply to stage of pregnancy
• Minerals – how important are they? Identifying deficiencies, choosing the right supplementation and timing
• Vaccination programmes for suckler herds – controlling scour and pneumonia:
• Which animals to vaccinate
• Which vaccines are appropriate
• When vaccines should be administered to protect the newborn calf

Speakers at the webinar will include:

• Professor David Kenny, Teagasc
• Dennis Howard, Munster Bovine
• James Skehan, Future Beef Farmer

For more and to register for the Future Beef Webinar series, visit here.