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HomeDairyFree farmer webinar on maximising success at dry off
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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Free farmer webinar on maximising success at dry off

Later this month, XLVets Skillnet, in collaboration with Zoetis Animal Health, is set to host a free webinar focusing on what a successful dry period looks like and how this can be monitored and measured.

On Wednesday, October 26th, at 8 pm, its panel will also discuss selective dry cow therapy and what this means for farmers and their veterinary practitioners.

Host, Kieran O’ Mahony, Glen Veterinary Clinic, will be joined by a panel of experts, including:

  • Vet, Kevin O Sullivan – Glasslyn Veterinary Clinic, Cork;
  • Dairy farmer, Vanessa O’Connor;
  • Teagasc dairy advisor, Don Crowley;
  • Area Veterinary Manage, Charles Chavasse, Zoetis.

In a statement to That’s Farming, a spokesperson for XLVets Skillnet said:

“Over 90 minutes, we will help viewers embrace the challenges, avoid the pitfalls and learn valuable techniques on how best to dry off your herd.”

“We will cover all aspects of preparation for, and carrying out of, drying off cows. Furthermore, we will look at how best to prepare for a successful milking season next year.”

In brief, the webinar will look at:

  • Tips around caring for the newly dried-off cow and monitoring your herd post-drying-off;
  • Using milk recordings to drive performance with a step-by-step demo of the drying-off procedure;
  • Best practice when managing the drying-off period;
  • Key considerations when planning for a successful dry cow period.
Format and registration

The webinar will be live-streamed via YouTube and includes a mix of on-farm demos, live discussions with its panellists and Q&A from its audience.

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Registration is required in advance – you can visit https://bit.ly/3fryBHv to learn more and sign up.

Article on That’s Farming:

In a previous article on That’s Farming, Kevin O’Hara of Teagasc, looked at drying off early-calved cows, first-calved heifers and possibly cows in poor BCS.

This dry cow period is critical to the cow’s survival in the herd and subsequent lactations going forward.

A dry period is recommended for three reasons:

  1. Replenish body reserves (allowing cows to build-up for the next lactation);
  2. Regenerate mammary tissues;
  3. Optimise the benefits of hormonal changes that occur around the time of parturition/ calving.

Cows, which are continuously milked or are not given adequate time between drying off and calving, can produce between 20 and 25% less milk in the subsequent lactation than cows that received an adequate dry period.

Read more in this news article.

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