Know How / Assessing performance Case studiesSee all BEEFHow an intensive beef finisher has cut carbon footprintA Welsh beef finisher is demonstrating that making structured progress towards net zero is achievable in an intensive farming system. Dylan Jones, who farms on Anglesey in partnership with his… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTFarm management app helps Emmerdale star digitise operationsIn our brand new AgVentures by Herdwatch series we visit farms across the UK, Ireland and beyond, showcasing different farming methods, tales and much more. In the latest episode, we… ASSESSING PERFORMANCEHow a new entrant got backing to set up in dairyA simple, once-a-day system, relying on grazed grass and spring-block calving, was the step into dairy farming for new entrant Nick Cavill. The first cups went on in 2018 and… DAIRYVideo: How a new parlour improved herd efficiency and healthInvestment in a rotary parlour has helped a Devon dairy maximise efficiencies during milking of its 350-head Holstein Friesian herd, with milking time slashed by more than 50%, labour burdens… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow satellite biomass mapping tech could optimise grazingWith traditional grass-measuring techniques limited in their flexibility, a new trial has shown that physical measurement and accuracy can be improved by using a combination of satellite technology and algorithms.… SHEEPFlock genetics beat challenges to hit 170% reared budgetProlific flock genetics and skilful management have overcome setbacks to get a lowland sheep flock hitting budgets, three years after being established. Farm manager Ben Smith says the accounts at… Practical adviceSee all LIVESTOCKValuable business skills courses for dairy farmersMany dairy farmers tend not to be driven by profit: satisfaction comes from a herd of fine cows, full clamps or milk in the tank. But being good at milking… DAIRYBest ways to use dairy key performance indicatorsLooking at the milk tank ticket has always been the dairy farmer’s reliable key performance indicator (KPI). But tank-watching is not the best way to make business decisions, given that… DAIRYWhat is the business “sweet spot” for a dairy farm?Hard to define and only discovered once it has been passed, farming in the “sweet spot” is the point at which everything works comfortably and is stress-free. The farm’s resources… LIVESTOCKWhy focus on grazing basics is key to maintaining profitsIncreased reliance on concentrate feeding and a decline in grass production are threatening the future profitability of Irish dairy farms. Some of this reliance is a result of climate stresses… DAIRYHow to use data wisely to inform your dairy business choicesDairy farm technology can save time, automate practical tasks, or record more data, accurately and more often. But to improve farm profit through saving – or making – money requires… DAIRY6 common farmer milking myths put to the testHaving domesticated cows 9,000 years ago, it is tempting to think we know all we need about milking. The dairy industry has a wealth of experience, with generations of knowledge… InsightsSee all BEEFWhy radical change is needed for sustainable beef industryPlanning ahead to face upcoming issues and working to improve efficiency and build beef businesses with resilience were among the key conclusions from a round table discussion held at Rothamsted… BEEFStruggle for survival revealed in wide-ranging beef surveySome 66% of beef producers will have difficulty in surviving without the farm subsidy – and only 33% reckon their beef enterprise makes a profit every year. This is according… DAIRYRevised methane method pegs dairy emissions 20% lowerNet carbon emissions from a sample of livestock farms fell significantly when analysed by a carbon methodology that accounts for biogenic methane. Distinguishing between biogenic (methane from ruminants) and fossil… LIVESTOCK6 livestock tech developments to look out forFrom driverless tractors to cameras for identifying diseases, several high-tech innovations are coming down the track. Farmers Weekly looks at six highlights. See also: NI farm transforms slurry and food… DAIRYWearable device for cattle aims to improve dairy healthA new device, which is claimed to be the first integrated health microchip and activity monitor for livestock, could enable early detection of pre-clinical conditions and disease prediction in real… SHEEPHow reducing methane emissions is win-win for flock performanceResults from thousands of methane measurements from sheep flocks across Ireland have confirmed that genetics play a part in enteric fermentation. This means farmers can select for low emitters, reducing… LIVESTOCKThe benefits of investing in a maternal ramAdvances in sheep production systems including flock identification, record-keeping, ultrasound scanning, handling systems and computing power have transformed our ability to use information to identify and breed from sheep with… HEALTH AND WELFAREWhy health gains cut ruminant methane emissions by 10%Three classic livestock benchmarking targets can help sheep and cattle farms raise technical performance and meet obligatory methane goals to battle climate change. Livestock policy leaders are urging farmers to… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow remote sensing tech can help fine-tune grass managementA farm-level study in Wales has shown remote sensors can provide valuable information on how grass responds to inputs. Furthermore, they can do this in greater detail and more rapidly… DAIRYDairy fertility research reveals potential for further gainsThe use of novel traits could be a way to accelerate genetic gain, according to the findings of a research project from New Zealand. In New Zealand, the Breeding Worth… SHEEPDoes the UK have too many sheep breeds?Over the centuries a spectrum of breeds has evolved in Britain, from fast-growing, prolific lowland types to hardier, single-bearing ewes for the uplands. According to the National Sheep Association (NSA),… SHEEPExperiment shows potential for cell-grazing herbal leysCell-grazing promotes greater sward growth and weight of lambs weaned a hectare than continuous grazing. And cell-grazing herbal leys, or multispecies swards, has the potential to outperform less diverse ones.… Advertiser contentSee all DAIRYLet’s take a closer look at dry cow managementIs drying off a well-defined and flawlessly executed management task on your dairy farm? There’s no point in cutting corners if you wish to improve your dairy farm’s sustainability. The… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTFarm management app helps Emmerdale star digitise operationsIn our brand new AgVentures by Herdwatch series we visit farms across the UK, Ireland and beyond, showcasing different farming methods, tales and much more. In the latest episode, we… LIVESTOCKFarm data: confidence to make the best decisionsFocusing on performance and profitability are key to livestock farming success. It makes sense. After all, the more information we have, the better the chances of making the best decision.… LIVESTOCKThe farm app helping to increase livestock performanceHerdwatch, the number one farm management software, is now used on over 18,000 farms across the UK. The app which allows farmers to manage their farms at their fingertips caters… LIVESTOCKGathering data on your cows: How Tru-Test makes life easyDatamars is a livestock management company that owns a number of trusted, respected brands, including Tru-Test which many farmers will be familiar with from things like weighing scales, stick readers… LIVESTOCKSustainability key to driving success for BFA winnersKate and Kevin Hoare are full time dairy farmers in Tideford in South-East Cornwall and have been running their own farm business since January 2018. Kate told us “We are…
