A monitor farm event organised by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Germinal will focus on lucerne as forage for beef cattle.
The event will take place from 10:45am until 3:00p.m on Tuesday, July 9, in Underley, Stoke Bliss, Herefordshire.
AHDB monitor farmer Ian Farrant is growing lucerne for the first time this year as he looks for more resilient forage options for growing and finishing beef.
Attendees at the event will hear about his experience to date and will learn more about lucerne from agricultural grass and forage seed company Germinal, as well as independent nutritionist Rob Watkins.
The event will include discussions centred on:
- What has been happening at Underley;
- The pros, cons and considerations of growing and feeding lucerne;
- Establishment, management, cutting and feeding during a field walk to look at the lucerne;
- A panel discussion will question what resilient beef for the future looks like.
Beef production
Farrant runs 650 Aberdeen Angus x dairy beef from calves through to finishing for Dovecote Park on a forage-based system.
His farming ethos focuses on sustainability, with healthy soils, reducing fertiliser use and imported feed, and profitable beef production, being the most important to him.
Speakers at the event will include:
- AHDB monitor farmer Ian Farrant;
- Germinal’s Paul Morgan;
- Independent nutritionist Rob Watkins;
- Emma Steele of AHDB Beef & Lamb.
Registration and refreshments will be available from 10:45a.m and the meeting will start promptly at 11:00a.m. Lunch will be provided.
The event will include a farm walk on uneven ground that may be wet. Attendees are urged to wear appropriate footwear that can be disinfected for their safety, comfort and biosecurity.
The event is free to attend, but registration is encouraged to allow AHDB to cater accordingly.
