The Calf Action Conference, held at the Hartpury University and Hartpury College Agri-Tech Centre on Tuesday 21 April welcomed over 100 attendees, reaching full capacity and demonstrating the strong appetite across the sector for collaboration and progress in calf rearing.
The event brought together leading experts from across animal health, nutrition, housing and hygiene, alongside farmers, advisors and industry stakeholders. Among the notable attendees was Paul Westaway, a member of the Digital Innovation Farm Advisory Board, highlighting the importance of innovation and forward-thinking approaches within the sector.
A key focus of the conference was fostering collaboration and creating an industry-led strategy to ensure calves are given the best possible start in life. By bringing together voices from across the supply chain, the event provides a unique opportunity for open discussion, particularly enabling farmers to share first-hand insights into the challenges they face and the support they need.
Throughout the day, discussions centred on improving outcomes for British farming through better knowledge exchange, identifying skills gaps, and ensuring that education and training opportunities are aligned with industry needs.
Neave Anderson, Head of Agri-Tech and Innovation at Hartpury University and Hartpury College said: “It’s fantastic to see the industry come together in this way. Events like the Calf Action Conference are so important for sharing knowledge, encouraging collaboration and making informed decisions that benefit everyone involved. By bringing together farmers, experts and stakeholders, we can have honest conversations about where the challenges lie, where the skills gaps are, and how we can work together to address them.”
Holly Shearman, Head of Livestock at Innovation For Agriculture added: “The aim of the day, which I feel we achieved, was to deliver a practical, engaging event with live demonstrations as well as talks and interactive discussions – all to support attendees with bridging the gap between innovative technology and practical skills. My hope is that everyone who came had at least one ‘lightbulb moment’ in which they identified something that they could change in their calf rearing practices, as well as feeling part of the GB Calf Strategy development.”
Events like these, frequently held at the Agri-Tech Centre, part of the wider Hartpury Digital Innovation Farm, offer significant value for students. They have an opportunity to attend such events throughout the year, engaging with live industry discussions and hearing directly from leading experts and practitioners. Exposure to these conversations supports their understanding of current challenges, innovation, and career pathways within the sector.
