The event takes place on Thursday 28 June at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire, where conference sessions will be augmented for the first time by on-farm workshops demonstrating youngstock management in practice at the college dairy unit.

The NYA’s objective is to tackle avoidable losses incurred by beef and dairy producers due to deaths and ill health among youngstock, according to veterinary co-ordinator Dr Tim Potter. “By helping farmers reduce calf mortality and maintain better animal health, the aim is to create lasting gains to bottom line profits,” he says.

The conference content is arranged in four parallel themes – nutrition, health, breeding, and practical matters – among which delegates can go where they please from session to session. Specific topics being covered include colostrum feeding and optimal pre-weaning nutrition, understanding and defeating the threat of commonly encountered infectious diseases, and sire selection and fertility management in heifers.

The NYA is supported by RABDF and the 2012 conference sponsors are Boehringer Ingelheim, CIS, Genus ABS, Holstein UK, MSD Animal Health, Pfizer Animal Health, Vetoquinol and Volac.

Conference places are £25/head to include refreshments, lunch, delegate bag and information pack. An eve-of-conference dinner is also being held, with B&B available in college accommodation. Bookings can be made via info@nationalyoungstock.co.uk, or 07597 267290, or by post to The National Youngstock Association, PO Box 44, Horsham RH12 9NR.