Red Rose Dairy Discussion Group

09/01/2024

𝟏 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨!
Join us next Tuesday for our 2nd annual business day. Guaranteed to be an interesting day with plenty of discussion, interaction & take home thoughts.
Give the Oakhill Farm Vets office a shout to book your place 01772861300.

Massey Feeds
Alta Genetics UK
Carrs Billington
Cross Keys Inn

02/01/2024

🐄 𝟐 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨! 🐄
Join us for our annual business day at the Cross Keys Inn where we will be joined by Victoria Hicks from Kite Consulting & Chris Clark an independent farm consultant from Devon who will discuss ways to maximise production from each cow & how to increase dairy farm profitability.

We will also be joined by Field Nurse, a local charity that provide mental & physical health checks for farmers.

Call the office to book your place & join us on the day from 10am 😀

19/12/2023

🐄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 - 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗿, 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿, 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿 - 𝟭𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 🐄
We are delighted to welcome Field Nurse to our business day on the 16th January.

Field Nurse is a charity organisation facilitated by registered nurses who aim to provide health advice to the rural community and signpost people to the appropriate services if required. They provide basic health screening within their mobile unit regularly at local auction marts & agricultural shows.

As this conference day will have a focus on your health too, Field Nurse will be kindly joining us to offer their services.

Oakhill Farm Vets
Massey Feeds
Alta Genetics UK
Carrs Billington

12/12/2023

🐄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 - 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗿, 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿, 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿 - 𝟭𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 🐄
Join us for our annual conference day as we focus on ways to maximise production, make the most of market insights, and manage your health on farm.
We will be joined by some excellent speakers with a 2 course lunch too.

To book your place please call the office 01772861300
Oakhill Farm Vets
Massey Feeds
Alta Genetics UK
Carrs Billington

24/11/2023

Our annual coach trip - 50 Lancashire Dairy farmers headed to Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Oakhill Farm Vets
Massey Feeds
Alta Genetics
Carrs Billington
Archway Travel LTD

14/11/2023

The quiz sheets have been marked by Mary and our winners for this year at Steven & Tracey Holden. Well done!

And as always there's a b***y prize which this year goes to Freddie Hewitt!

09/11/2023

🐄 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 🐄
What a great day we had yesterday on the annual coach trip!
Over 40 Lancashire dairy farmers headed down to Calcourt farms in Welshpool, Wales.
A big thank you to Fraser Jones for taking the time out to welcome us and show us around 2 of his 9 farms.
A fantastic day was had by everyone, with some great discussions & plenty of take-home points.

Oakhill Farm Vets
Massey Feeds
Alta Genetics
Carrs Billington

06/11/2023

Just a reminder to everyone joining us on the coach trip on Wednesday that we are leaving from Broughton Tennis Club.
8am PROMPT

31/10/2023

PLEASE look out for the Field Nurse trailer it was taken from BROCk auction last night it was there at 5:45pm 😡

25/10/2023

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝟐 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐑𝐃𝐃𝐆 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩!
We're looking forward to our annual coach trip on Wednesday 8th November. This year we are off to Wales to visit farmer Fraser Jones of Calcourt Farm.
We are now fully booked. If you have a place but can't make it please call the office as we have a waiting list 🚌

See you then!

18/10/2023

𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
On 4th October we held the first meeting of the 23/24 Red Rose Dairy Discussion Group agenda and were welcomed to Park Farm by the Barton family. The weather was especially kind to us with around 90 attendees joining us to learn how the Barton family manage their 100 cow herd to achieve around 40L a day on twice a day milking!
🐄The meeting consisted of a farm walk and workshops on fertility synchronisation, TB control and herd genetics.
✅Chris Barton led the farm walk and it was clear how attention to every detail and marginal gains have translated into highly impressive levels of performance.
📈Tracey from Oakhill Farm Vets discussed the fertility pre-sync program that has been put in place to help manage fertility at this level of production and the improvements seen as a result.
🦡Sam gave an overview of the TBAS funded visits that help identify key areas of risk on your farm for the introduction and spread of Bovine TB, as well as a snapshot of the current national situation. Please contact Oakhill Farm Vets if you would like to discuss how this service could benefit you.
🐄 Finally, Oakhill Farm Vet Charlie talked us through the wealth of information available in your AHDB Herd Genetic Report and how this can be used to drive improvements in future performance through informed breeding decisions.



Thank you to all those that attended and we look forward to seeing you on the coach trip to Wales next month.

04/10/2023

What a great start to this year's Red Rose Agenda!
Thank you to our host family, The Barton's for welcoming us and showing us around Park Farm. A great day was had by all!

Oakhill Farm Vets
Massey Feeds
Alta Genetics
Carrs Billington

03/10/2023

Looking forward to kicking off the 2023 agenda tomorrow at Park Farm.
Who's joining us?

Guaranteed to be an interesting day! (And of course a cracking lunch!)

🐄 The first event on the 2023/24 agenda is fast approaching!🐄
Join us on a visit to Park Farm where the Barton family will show us around, whilst talking us through the daily management of their 100 cow high yielding herd.

Workshops by our vet team will include top tips for optimising heifer fertility and the latest in TB prevention.

RSVP via our online booking form at www.redrosedairydiscussiongroup.co.uk or by calling 📞01772861300.

28/09/2023

🐮 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 🐮
We are looking forward to welcoming you to Park Farm for next week's meeting! Come and see how attention to detail and consistency produces award-winning results.

Make sure to book your place to avoid missing lunch! Please call 01772861300

15/09/2023

🐄 The first event on the 2023/24 agenda is fast approaching!🐄
Join us on a visit to Park Farm where the Barton family will show us around, whilst talking us through the daily management of their 100 cow high yielding herd.

Workshops by our vet team will include top tips for optimising heifer fertility and the latest in TB prevention.

RSVP via our online booking form at www.redrosedairydiscussiongroup.co.uk or by calling 📞01772861300.

26/08/2023

At Chipping Show today? Come and see us for the usual hospitality, your chance to win a 'Transition Toolkit' and a free gift! Find us at the top of the field. Burgers served from 12pm-2pm 😋

22/08/2023

And the winner is...Thomas Parkinson! Congratulations, you have won two tickets for Chipping Show. Thomas Parkinson

15/08/2023

🎉𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞!🎉

To celebrate the launch of the Red Rose Dairy Discussion Group 2023-2024 Agenda we are giving away two adult tickets to this year's Chipping Agricultural Show on Sat 26th Aug!

For your chance to win:
⭐️Like our page
⭐️Share this post
⭐️Comment and tag who you would bring below

The competition closes on Monday 21st August and the winner will be contacted. Good luck!!

Oakhill Farm Vets
Massey Feeds
Alta Genetics UK
Carr's Billington

10/08/2023

🥁 The 2023-2024 agenda has been finalised, packed full of unmissable events for dairy farmers like you! You can book your FREE places online: https://www.redrosedairydiscussiongroup.co.uk/ or give us a call 📞 01772 861300 (option 1) if you prefer.

It's great to have our four main sponsors back supporting us for another year:
Oakhill Farm Vets
Carrs Billington
Alta Genetics UK
Massey Feeds

24/03/2023

🐄 HOW DID WE DO?
We’d be really grateful if you would give us your honest feedback about what you thought of Red Rose Dairy Discussion Group (RRDDG) this year, by completing this short survey. It should only take 5 mins! Thank-you.
https://us11.list-manage.com/survey?u=2773e16c8235f25e82d5e7bc1&id=9ad7468118&attribution=false

If you are on our email list then you will receive an invitation to take part in the survey via email too - please only complete the survey once! Thanks.

17/03/2023

🌹𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞! ‘𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.’ 🌹
Last Wednesday saw 115 farmers attend the farm walk kindly hosted by David Talbot, his dad Clem and the team at Lower Alston Farm.

Key take-home points from the day:
🐄 Necessary expansion (and constant phone calls from the robots) led to the installation of a 40:40 DeLaval rapid exit parlour.
🐄Milking environment very important to attract milkers- light, clean, safe and no cameras
🐄Cow management eased by shedding gate and segregation area.
🐄 Each cow walks through a hoofcount automated footbath each milking along a race - notably less muck in the footbath than when sited at the exit to robot.
🐄Environmental mastitis and cell counts became a problem as the robots aged and the farm expanded- Startvacc mastitis vaccine helped plaster the cracks but is not needed now and rates are at an all-time low!
🐄 Genomic testing of the heifers is allowing for faster genetic progression of the herd using sexed semen and breeding the bottom 25% to beef.

✅Workstation 1: Andy Bramall presented the variations seen in growth performance across the 32 farms enrolled in the Oakhill calf club and the underlying reasons for this were discussed inclusive of subclinical coccidiosis.
✅Workstation 2: Mike Murphy discussed some top tips on twin management using our two cheery gingers James and Charlie as an example- everyone loves the red cows!

Thank you to everyone who has attended this year's Red Rose visits. We hope to see you again in the Autumn!

09/03/2023

09/03/2023

A massive thank you to David Talbot and the whole team at Lower Alston Farm for hosting a record number of dairy farmers at yesterday's final event on this year's agenda!

If you missed it then keep your eyes out for the key learnings and highlights from the day, coming soon.

01/03/2023

🌹𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘀 & 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 🌹

This time next week is the final Red Rose Dairy Discussion Group visit of this year.
Dave Talbot will show us around Lower Alston Farm and share the successes and challenges behind the change in farming systems.

🐄 Booking is essential - please phone 01772861300 🐄

22/02/2023

📅 Two weeks today - on Weds 8th March – David Talbot will kindly be showing us around Lower Alston Farm, talking about the recent infrastructure investments.

Confirm your free place today and guarantee your lunch!
https://www.redrosedairydiscussiongroup.co.uk

17/02/2023

🐄 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮/𝟮𝟯 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴! 🐄
Join us on a visit to Lower Alston Farm where Dave Talbot shows us round the recent infrastructure investments on farm whilst discussing the successes and challenges faced over the last few years.
Workshops by our vet team will include top tips for twin pregnancies & optimising calf growth rates.

RSVP to 01772861300 to confirm your place 😊

15/02/2023

🐄🌹 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 🌹🐄
Huge thank you to the Stables family at Bolton Manor Farm BoltonManor Holsteins and the Morris-Ayrton family at Beckside Farm Beckside Farm & Construction for hosting our RRDDG trip last week.

Tom Stables and Patrick Morris-Ayrton both delivered brilliant farm walks where we looked at calf rearing set-ups, dairy cow accommodation, herd genetics and the importance of good forages.

These visits highlight how farms running different systems can be profitable and successful. We were all left with lots to discuss following our day out!

Thank you to our sponsors:
Oakhill Farm Vets
Massey Feeds
Alta Genetics UK
Carr's Billington

23/01/2023

🚌🐄 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱! 🐄🚌
If you are coming on the coach trip and we haven't contacted you recently please phone the office ASAP!
Looking forward to seeing everyone on the day.
𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 - we are leaving at 8.30am - Don't be late you'll miss your bacon butty!

Oakhill Farm Vets
Massey Feeds
Alta Genetics UK
Carrs Billington

14/12/2022

🐄𝟭 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆! 🐄
Thank you again to everyone who attended the first Red Rose Business Day. A great turnout with over 50 attendees!
For those who missed the event, we had a range of speakers, starting with Gregg Ricketts who delivered a presentation on farm finances using case studies of farms which he had been involved with.
Secondly, Andrew Bramall from Oakhill Farm Vets gave an overview of the upcoming animal health and welfare pathway and the opportunity for farms to get involved.
We then heard from Joe Towers from AHDB Dairy who gave an update on the dairy sector levy and predictions for the coming few years.
Mark Gorst from Massey Feeds then gave a quick outline of findings from this summer's silage analysis across the county.
The afternoon was finished with a brilliant talk on sustainability by Jude Capper. Jude highlighted ways in which farms can become more sustainable and how to engage with the public to try and improve consumer perception of UK livestock production.

An interesting day was had by all! Thank you to the sponsors who attended the day and to the Cross Keys Inn for their hospitality and delicious lunch 😊

🌹𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 🌹