UK Dairy Day, an annual one-day event for the dairy sector, kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday, September 14) at the International Centre in Telford, Shropshire.

The event, which runs from 8:00a.m to 5:30p.m, is for anybody connected to the dairy industry as it provides an opportunity to network, share knowledge, learn and conduct business.

Numerous trade stands across the extensive internal and external exhibition areas at the event will be featured.

Exhibitors include feed manufacturers; animal health suppliers; vets; milk buyers; dairy and farm equipment suppliers; and professional service providers and charities.

UK Dairy Day is organised by Holstein UK with support from the Cattle Information Service, National Bovine Data Centre, the International Centre, Stagecraft UK and other key businesses within the industry.

Entry to the event is free, along with free car-parking and Wi-Fi.

Event timetable details

The event will commence at 8:00a.m, with the first competition being that of the trade stands. The full timetable is as follows:

Seminars and industry panels timetable

The seminar and industry panels on the first floor will begin at 10:00a.m, with Dr. Jessica Cooke from Volac International speaking on feed efficiencies and calf feeding.

The full timetable is as follows:

UK Dairy Day event maps

UK Dairy Day will have a ground floor, for mainly competitions and presentations, and a first floor, which is where refreshments and industry panels will be located.

Event maps for both the ground floor and first floor can be viewed below.

Cattle show judges

In May of this year, the judging panel was finalised for selecting the best of the coloured breeds for the Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Holstein and Jersey classes.

The judges and their classes are as follows:

'Cycle for Sue'

Holstein UK CEO and event director, Sue Cope, passed away in May of this year. Cope was instrumental to the UK Dairy Day event since 2014.

In her memory, a 'Cycle for Sue' event will take place during Dairy Day, fundraising for Brain Tumour research.

Participants will be cycling two spin bikes a total of 867 miles, which represents Land's End to Dairy Day (307 miles) and from John O'Groats to Dairy Day (560 miles).

To participate, visit hall one and two foyers outside the organiser's office at UK Dairy Day.

Grass Clinic

Unique to this year's event, grass breeding specialist Barenbrug UK will be hosting the first ever 'Grass Clinic' at UK Dairy Day, encouraging farmers to be more ambitious about getting more from their grass by visiting the drop in clinic.

Barenburg's agricultural manager, David Linton, said: "Cost-effective, sustainable, with benefits for soil health and biodiversity, good quality grass - whether grazed or conserved - is the cheapest feed for the dairy cow.

“When managed for maximum productivity, grass delivers astonishing levels of dry matter and energy. At grass, cows can convert around 85% of that energy into milk.

The Grass Clinic at the event on September 14, is available for anyone with a query about their grass to drop in and speak to Barenbrug’s grassland experts for insight and advice.

“The secret to good grassland is to ‘think crop’,” said Linton. “But grassland agronomy doesn’t have to be complicated. In just a few steps, underperforming grassland can quickly become good grassland.”

The clinic does not have to be booked and Barenburg's team will be available all day at the stand near the main entrance.