AgriScot 2009 preview: Show that will appeal to all

Organisers claim AgriScot is widely regarded as one of the premier events in UK agriculture and this year’s event will to live up to its reputation.

As well as the usual new products, services, advice and information, the Lowland Machinery Hall will have the latest developments in farm hardware and technology.

Other features will include a demonstration of one of the most important tasks in any dairy farmer’s annual routine – foot trimming, which will take centre stage at the event.

Alun Garton, a fully trained cattle foot trimmer, will be trimming the feet of six cattle in live demonstrations throughout the day and will also answer questions from the floor.

A new addition to the event this year will be a Precision Farming Zone, where specialists will be outlining modern farming techniques and offering advice to farmers.

Precision Farming has been defined as ‘the right amount, in the right place, at the right time in the right way.’

The slightly more traditional techniques enable farmers to measure spatial variability in soils, thus offering precise nutrient management, while newer applications offer such things as remote sensing for nitrogen management.

Dairy

In the dairy competition, top Australian dairy judge, David Mayo, from New South Wales, will be the sole judge.

Last year, there were three breed judges and another one for the overall championship, but this year, the decisions will rest with Mr Mayo, who has judged all three breeds at all of the Royal shows in Australia and has also placed the dairy cattle in top competitions in New Zealand, Finland and Canada.

Mr Mayo was brought up on the family dairy farm, where he was herd manager of the noted Parkvale herd.

Seminars

As part of the seminars at the event, beef specialist Dr Basil Lowman, of the Scottish Agricultural College, will discuss Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD).

He will carry out a practical demonstration showing producers where the problem areas are and how they can be minimised through a better understanding of how the disease’s transmission.

Dr Lowman has said in the past that if the Swedes and Norwegians could eradicate the disease and larger countries such as Germany could push for eradicating BVD from its herd, then the UK should be doing the same.

Apart from the animal welfare issues linked to BVD, Dr Lowman has pointed out the massive financial loss occurring, estimating the average annual cost per cow to be around £36. By getting rid of the disease, that could be turned into a profit of £5 per cow - a £41 swing.

A number of factors reduced the profitability of BVD-infected cattle, with typical symptoms being reduced growth rates, more infertility problems and abortion.

In addition to all of the above there will be competitions for super team, silage and new products, and more than 200 trade stands exhibiting a wide variety of products and services, also offering plenty of advice.