Does big mean bad? The science behind large scale production

Large–scale intensive livestock production is currently a hot topic in the UK. There seems however to be a lot of confusion regarding the potential advantages or disadvantages of such units, as well as the current status of knowledge related to many of the most important aspects that need to be considered when developing effective production systems, such as animal health and welfare, facility and system design as well as environmental management and compliance.

This conference will aim to provide a broad ranging evidence based review of these areas, drawing on relevant industrial experience and views both from the UK and other countries where possible. We will also aim to highlight where knowledge gaps still exist and where novel solutions to old problems and concerns that have already been found particularly through the use of new technology.  The primary focus will be on systems for pig, poultry and dairy production.

 

DAY ONE - 23 MAY 2013

Setting the scene
David Alvis - Winstone Ag: Can Big be Beautiful – The challenge of Sustainability in large-scale livestock
production
Prof Roger Campbell - CEO, CRC Pork Australia: Title TBC

Animal Welfare
Anne-Marie Neetson - Vice President Welfare and Compliance, Aviagen: Managing welfare and
compliance in large-scale broiler poultry production
Prof. Alastair Lawrence - Head of Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC: Can future systems for pig
production meet the requirements of the Five Freedoms?
Dr Jenny Gibbons - Research & Development Manager, DairyCo: Behaviour of Dairy cows in housed
systems – Delivering the fourth freedom

Animal Health
Peter Harlech Jones - President, British Veterinary Association: Antimicrobial resistance, managing the
risks
John Tulloch - Zoetis: Herd health planning and management at scale
Robert Davies - Ludchurch Farms Ltd: Case study on Ludchurch Dairy farm

Poster and short presentations
Conference dinner

DAY TWO - 24 MAY 2013

Environmental Management and Compliance
Will Llewelyn - Director, Evergreen Gas: Anaerobic Digestion – Opportunities & Challenges for the large
scale livestock producer
Dr Kenn Buelow - Holsum Dairies LLC, Wisconsin: A Sustainable Dairy Story on a Large Dairy focused
on the Environment, Community, Animal Welfare, and Profit
Elwyn Griffiths - Oakland Farm Eggs: Title TBC

Facilities and System design
Lior Yaron, Director, Global Customer Project Support, DeLaval International AB, Sweden - Title TBC
David Speller - Applied Poultry: Embracing technology

Panel discussion - Panel members confirmed so far:

• Prof. Michael Appleby – World Society for the Protection of Animals
• Dr Chris Brown – ASDA
• Adam Quinney – NFU Vice President