New beef industry developments to help farmers get the most out of their herd will come under the spotlight in a series of seminars at the National Beef Association’s (NBA) Beef Expo later this month.

The sector’s flagship event, returning to Hexham Mart in Northumberland on 22, this year has the theme of ‘British beef feeding our nation’. The four different seminars are designed to help farmers boost production and achieve better returns.

Taking place in Ring 2, they are:-

• · Guarantee your income whatever the weather
• · Know the health status of your herd;
• · Calving made easy with advance text alert technology: Medria
• · Making the most of your cattle

NBA chief executive Chris Mallon will be chairing the discussion on Know the health status of your herd, which brings in a panel of experts to discuss tackling TB, liver fluke and BVD. Making the most of your cattle will look at processing and exporting with Chris Dodds of the Livestock Auctioneers Association, Jonathan Birnie of processors Dunbia and Eblex’s export manager Jean-Pierre Garnier.

Using renewable energy generated on the farm will be the subject of the Guarantee your income whatever the weather discussion, led by Digby Summerhill from Lightsource Renewable Energy and Phil Alcock and Alan King of Synergy Farm Health will explore new technical developments in Calving made easy with advance text alert technology: Medria.

Chris Mallon said: “The seminar programme is a very important part of NBA Beef Expo and this year’s topics were carefully chosen to reflect key issues in the sector at the moment.

“We have brought together a number of top industry specialists to share the latest research, thinking and technology and each of the seminars is designed to give farmers information and expand their knowledge in practical ways. We aim to provide hands-on ideas that farmers can take home and use on their own farms to improve their own efficiency and returns.”

In addition to the seminars, the event will feature a demonstration, supported by Eblex and XL Vets, on the importance of beef production from the dairy herd.

NBA Beef Expo is the UK’s biggest festival of British Beef and this year brings together the very best in pedigree and commercial cattle from 22 breed associations, 150 commercial and educational trade stands, the prestigious National Spring Spectacular Show, farm tours, demonstrations and commercial trade stands.

The Spring Spectacular, which has a record entry of 150 animals from 53 exhibitors travelling to Northumberland from across the UK, has a total prize fund of £6,000 with £700 for the Supreme Champion. There will also be classes for young handlers and the Young Show Stars Challenge with eight teams competing.

Delegations from Poland, Canada and Northern Ireland will be visiting the event to find out more about the top quality genetics in the British Beef industry. Plus auctioneers from around the region’s marts will be showing off their beef cooking skills in a special Ready, Steady, Cook-style competition.

The mainline sponsors for NBA Beef Expo 2014 include EBLEX, Lightsource Renewable Energy, Caltech-Crystalyx, Dunbia, MSD Animal Health &, Hexham & Northern Marts.