The aim is to attract around 16 consultants, advisers or vets for the programme who will go on to support AHDB Beef Lamb in its knowledge exchange work and delivering Better Returns Programme events across the country.
A taster session for the training was held last week as part of the organisation’s consultants’ day and the positive reception has promoted the start of the recruitment process, with the aim of getting all the spaces filled by mid-October.
The programme will consist of five meetings that will be held from December 2015 to December 2016. They will cover the technical aspects of breeding, health and fertility, feed and forage, selection for slaughter and business improvements, and will be spread throughout England. If successful, it is expected that a similar sheep scheme will be run next year.
“We want to help develop beef expertise to ensure well-trained and experienced consultants and advisers continue to be available to the beef industry,” said Liz Genever, senior beef and sheep scientist at AHDB Beef Lamb, and the scheme co-ordinator.
“The success of the taster session has shown us there is a real appetite for this type of work.
“The Developing Beef Expertise programme will produce a group of trained consultants and advisers that can be used to deliver at AHDB Beef Lamb events and help develop written material. In addition, the consultants and advisers involved would be more aware of the tools and technical information available from AHDB Beef Lamb.”
AHDB Beef Lamb is working with the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants (BIAC) to deliver the continuous professional development (CPD) programme.
The application process is open to all with the first meeting on December 2 and 3. The course will include a live-to-dead day at Dunbia Sawley, a farm visit and consultancy exercise, and key performance indicator workshop with Nottingham University
Each meeting will be held over two days and count as ten hours of CPD. The meetings will be interactive and aimed at delivering knowledge that can be readily communicated to clients to benefit their businesses. Each meeting would cost £100 and attendance of three meetings is the minimum commitment. Accommodation and travel would be at the consultants and advisers’ expense.
Selection of the 16 consultants, advisers and vets will be based on the individual’s requirements and ideas, plus their willingness to deliver at BRP events.
You can find the application form for the programme at http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/returns/developing-beef-expertise/ Completed forms should be emailed to sarah.pick@ahdb.org.uk by October 12.