Spring Forum success

The annual Western Dairy Spring Forum drew more than 60 farmers and service providers to Busselton recently with fresh insights into WA dairy’s business performance, pasture trials, animal health and environmental initiatives.

Dairy Australia director and Victorian dairy farmer Tania Luckin officially opened the event and took time to explore pressing national dairy industry issues and opportunities.

Following Western Dairy’s WA Seed Performance trial update by pastures research officer Ya-Chun Yu, guest speaker Dr Pieter Badenhorst of Agriculture Victoria’s Hamilton Research Station took pasture science to the next level by revealing the latest robot and drone technology measuring his pasture trials of 270,000 individual plants.

Animal health discussion also occupied a significant part of the event agenda, with Western Dairy regional extension officer Jess Andony conveying the importance of WA dairy farm participation in a major calf health project coordinated by Murdoch University. Jess was followed by Dairy Australia’s animal health and fertility lead Dr Stephanie Bullen, who discussed Australian dairy’s antibiotic usage and resistance, and recommended mastitis management approaches.

Western Dairy’s effluent management project, education and training partnerships, and farmer communication updates rounded out the event, which was followed by the Annual General Meeting.

The following presentations are available to download:

• WA Seed Performance trial update: Ya-Chun Yu
• Big trials and big data – taking pastures to a whole new level: Dr Pieter Badenhorst
• Calf health project update: Jess Andony
• Antibiotic resistance for dairy farmers: Dr Stephanie Bullen
• DairyCare project update: Dan Parnell