The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society’s industry leading Youth Development Programme (YDP) has announced plans to host a two-day conference for 17-24 year old beef enthusiasts to further their academic and practical skill set.
The conference, which is being sponsored by Dawn Meats, will take place on the 28th and 29th March 2015 in Tiverton, Devon (venue TBC) and will cover a range of speakers covering topics from understanding market specifications, grassland management and safe animal handling practices.
YDP co-ordinator Gayle Bersey says: “The YDP goes from strength to strength every year with more workshops, excellent weekend final facilities and an amazing array of talent from the participants, but we feel now is the time to up the ante and offer the older participants an extra format for education with a mixture of classroom and practical activities.”
Representing sponsors Dawn Meats, Sarah Haire says: “Dawn Meats are delighted to be sponsoring the inaugural YDP conference. Supporting the next generation of beef producers is important to the future of our industry and it’s exciting to be involved with such a positive group of young people within the YDP.”
Alongside the conference, the Society is also pleased to announce a new qualification for the Programme. Working in conjunction with Duchy College, a City In Guilds qualification will be awarded to 16-18 year olds and 19-24 year olds. “This is an exciting new initiative for the YDP and it is hoped that working alongside Duchy College will add some weight to what the programme does for young livestock enthusiasts,” explains Miss Bersey.
Other plans for the YDP will centre on a detailed summer of workshops held throughout the UK and Ireland with a team of experienced trainers, but with the subject matter developing over time in line with the new qualification. As ever the yearly programme will conclude with a weekend National final at the end of September.
The full speaker line up for the Conference in March includes:
- Understanding market specifications and relevance to breeding decisions – Sarah Haire, Dawn Meats
- Cattle fertility – Duncan Findlay, Vale Veterinary Group
- Suckler cow production – Mary Vickers, EBLEX
- Clipping masterclass – Andrew Hughes
- Safe driving – Ali Baker
- Grassland management – Charlie Morgan, Grassmaster Ltd
- Safe animal handling practices – Miriam Parker, Livestock Wise Ltd
- EBV’s versus the stockman’s eye – discussion panel with Rob Bishop, William Haire and Genus and Boomer Birch, Cogent
- After dinner speaker – Paul Westaway – Melview Angus, Sterling Sires and Paul and Kirsty’s Nights In
The conference will be limited to 20 delegates and those wishing to book their place should email Gayle Bersey on gayle@bersey.fslife.co.uk. For more information on the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society’s Youth Development Programme go to http://aberdeen-angus.co.uk/page/youth-development.
