Great British Calf Week will include a range of interactive events hosted by industry stakeholders, ranging from farm open days to panel sessions, podcasts and webinars. The campaign will focus around two themes; dairy beef genetics and TB calves.
The week will begin at UK Dairy Day in Telford with a breakfast launch on the NFU stand H119 at 9am followed by two seminar sessions later in the day.
Check the calendar of events: AHDB - GB Calf Week
Cross-industry campaign
The GB Dairy Calf Strategy is a cross-industry campaign, spearheaded by NFU and AHDB, and aims to ensure that all dairy-bred calves are reared with care and for a purpose – as part of either the dairy or beef supply chains.
Since the launch of the strategy three years ago, huge strides have been made across the supply chain to implement breeding strategies which rear all healthy calves ‘with care and for a purpose’ including an increase in the use of sexed dairy semen, from 31.9% in 2019 to 76.5% in 2023.
Celebrating progress
NFU Cymru Dairy Board Chair Jonathan Wilkinson said: “GB Calf Week is a great way of raising awareness and celebrating the progress that has been made by industry since the launch of the GB Calf strategy. The week will offer a varied programme of events during which farmers can engage with the work being carried out to ensure all dairy-bred calves are reared for a purpose as part of the dairy or beef supply chains.
“I would encourage all farmers to get involved, either in person or remotely, to learn more about the opportunities available to them in their own calf management systems.”
Care and responsibility
Key areas of the GB Calf Strategy include:
- Rear all calves with care.
- Encourage responsible breeding strategies through farm assurance.
- Better communication of market requirements.
- Increase the number of bio-secure routes for TB-affected herds.
- Supporting Britain’s beef sector and promoting our product.
- Opening up new pathways and supply chain opportunities for dairy bred calves.
- Innovation and supporting R&D.
Find out what's on throughout the week: AHDB - GB Calf Week