This event is brought to you in collaboration with B+LNZ, MPI On Farm Support, Whanganui Region Catchment Collective (WRCC) and Taumarunui Sustainable Land Management (TSLM).
Virtual Fencing has taken our traditional farming systems by storm. The opportunities that come with its adoption are endless with the technology is evolving continuously. How would this work in my farm system? What does this mean for my sheep flock? How will I eat the extra feed I will grow? These are common questions which all warrant a discussion.
Join us for an interactive discussion with a range of professionals in their field, ask the hard questions and walk away with some practical steps and things to think about.
Speakers
- DR Krispin Kannan (Integrated Solutions Veterinarian, Veterinary first Ltd (Farmfirst), Waikato): In his role at Farmfirst, Dr Kannan focuses on understanding and applying technology solutions within veterinary practice to enhance the performance and wellbeing of clients’ animals and businesses. His interests include cow wearables, on-farm agritech and data utilisation, with an emphasis on how veterinary teams can integrate these tools to deliver value and insights to farmers.
- Ginny Dodunski (B+LNZ Wormwise Programme Manager): A change in system comes with a change in your animal management and in particular your parasite challenge. What are the things to be mindful of, and how do we best use systemisation to combat resistance? Sheep are often forgotten in the discussions around virtual fencing but with an increase in pasture growth and utilisation comes an opportunity for your flock as well. Discuss with Ginny what these opportunities are and how your flock performance can also increase under the use of Virtual fencing.
- Tom Chisholm and Laura Simpson (AgDesign): With decades of experience designing and installing TechnoGrazing and cell systems, and educating farmers on how to optimise productivity in these systems, Tom can share not only the secrets to success but the pitfalls to avoid in intensive systems using virtual fencing. This goes beyond the collars themselves to system design, landscape and critical infrastructure considerations such as water, and grazing management to optimise pasture growth, quality and utilisation.
- Estelle Dominati (Senior Scientist, BSI AgResearch): Estelle will share insights about both the opportunities and risks when changing to intensive beef systems on hill country. This includes changes to pasture quality, quantity, utilisation and composition, as well as soil health and environmental impacts. BSI has been collecting data through a current system change, providing an opportunity to explore some of the early changes being observed, what may happen longer term, and some of the things farmers may not have considered before introducing virtual fencing or making wider changes to their farm system.
Lunch sponsored by Rabobank.
Registration
Registration is essential.