GROWING healthy and efficient enterprises.

That's the topic of an event taking place at the end of the month.

Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) will host a technical ON-Farm event at IBERS, Aberystwyth University in Gogerddan on Wednesday, January 31 (6.30pm).

The event, entitled ‘Growing Health and Efficient Enterprises’, will mainly focus on grassland management and lambing.

Four expert speakers will share insightful knowledge in a lively and engaging way, bringing research directly to the farmers and students in attendance, leading to increased yields to boost profitabilty and sustainability.

The speakers will include Alan Lovatt and Dr Jon Moorby, from Aberystwyth University, Roger Daniel, from the Welsh Veterinary Science Centre, and Iwan Lewis, from Ystwyth Vets.

The event will kick off with Alan Lovatt - a senior grass breeder who has been highly involved in the multi-award winning high sugar grass breeding programme at IBERS - discussing the future of grass breeding.

Following on from this and continuing with the grass theme will be Dr Jon Moorby, reader in livestock nutrition and director of international research at IBERS, whose talk will be on ‘Grass Fatty Acids – their importance for sustainable animal production’.

The evening will continue with Roger Daniel, from the Welsh Veterinary Science Centre (WVSC), who will be presenting on how farmers in particular can benefit from the services provided by WVSC.

Iwan Lewis, from Ystwyth Vets, will draw the evening to a close with his talk called ‘Are you ready for lambing?’, which promises to be a valuable session for all those involved in the oncoming lambing season.

Industry Development Officer at HCC Gwawr Parry said: “The ON-Farm event will give an informative and insightful account of grass breeding and those in attendance will be able to obtain vital information from the speakers who are industry experts in their field.

"Iwan Lewis’ talk in particular will focus on the essential steps that need to be taken prior to and during the lambing period.

"This will be a timely debate given that farmers are currently preparing for the lambing season.”

The ON-Farm 2018 workshops aim to share the latest developments, ideas and best practice in key fields relating to the red meat sector.

Anybody who would like to attend ON-Farm 2018 at IBERS next Wednesday, January 31 can e-mail info@hccmpw.org.uk, or call 01970 625050.

Registration will open at 6.30pm and the event will start at 7pm.

Light refreshments will be served on the night.