Dairy Conference to explore genetic opportunities for dairy farmers
Date published:
Northern Ireland dairy farmers and industry professionals will have an opportunity to explore how genotyping, genetic information and practical data tools can support better breeding decisions at Dairy Conference 2026: Driving Profitability, Delivering Sustainability.
The event will take place on Tuesday 20 October, from 10.00am to 3.00pm, at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Greenmount Campus, Antrim.
The dedicated genetics session will combine nationally recognised expertise, practical guidance on the Northern Ireland Bovine Genetics Project and first-hand experience from one of the UK’s leading dairy herds.
Delegates will learn how genotyping can strengthen the information available for breeding decisions, see how herd data can be accessed through the Bovine Genetic Portal and hear how genetic indexes have been applied successfully within a commercial Northern Ireland dairy business.
Marco Winters, Head of Animal Genetics at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, will open the session with ‘The Bovine Genetics Project: Opportunities for the Northern Ireland Dairy Industry.’
A specialist in the international dairy cattle breeding industry, Marco leads the genetic and genomic evaluation of UK dairy cattle and directs national breeding goals. He will explain the opportunities presented by genotyping and how better genetic information can support long-term progress across the dairy sector.
Hannah Martin, Senior Business Support Specialist at Sustainable Ruminant Genetics, will present ‘Data at Your Fingertips: The Bovine Genetic Portal.’
Working directly with farmers and the wider industry to support the delivery of the Bovine Genetics Project, Hannah will demonstrate the information, and herd reports available through the portal. She will also explain how these resources can support herd management, breeding decisions and genetic improvement.
Completing the speaker line-up will be dairy farmer Andrew McCollum, who will share the genetic progress achieved within the 300-cow Ballycairn herd at Cairn Farm, near Coleraine.
Operated by Andrew and his father, William McCollum, Ballycairn has been recognised as the UK’s highest-ranking herd for the Profitable Lifetime Index. Its balanced breeding strategy focuses on milk solids, fertility, udder health, locomotion and feed efficiency. Andrew will discuss the progress achieved and the practical lessons learned from applying genetic information within a commercial dairy business.
Joe Mulholland, Head of Dairy, Pigs Poultry and Crops at CAFRE, said: “Genetic improvement is a long-term investment in the performance, resilience and sustainability of our dairy herds. This session will demonstrate how farmers can turn genetic and genomic information into practical breeding decisions that support more efficient and profitable dairy businesses.
“By bringing together national expertise, accessible data tools and the practical farming experience of Andrew McCollum, the conference will provide delegates with practical insights that they can apply within their own herds or use when supporting farm businesses.”
The session will be chaired by Francis Breen, Head of Livestock Genetics at CAFRE. A panel discussion will give delegates an opportunity to question the speakers and consider how the opportunities presented by the Bovine Genetics Project could be applied within their own businesses or organisations.
Book now to attend Dairy Conference 2026 on Tuesday 20 October 2026, from 10.00am to 3.00pm, at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus. The conference is free to attend, but booking is essential. Delegates can register at: www.ufuni.org/event/dairy-conference-2026
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