Livestock top stories DAIRY'Little wins' improve milk and protein yield on Cornish farmMilk quality has not been compromised as yields have increased on a 550-cow dairy farm near Bodmin, Cornwall. In fact, while yields at Treveglos Farm are up by 1,200 litres… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Better feed conversion with 10,000 fewer birdsWe are in the middle of mowing and raking, ready to start first cut silage. Grass yields are certainly down on last year, owing to a severe lack of rain… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow passive transfer testing gives calves a good startOn-farm blood testing to check dairy calves for successful passive transfer from colostrum has helped a 780-cow herd validate its protocols. Within six months, correlating the outcomes with calf health,… HEALTH AND WELFAREWhat farmers can gain from a vet discussion groupWith both farming and veterinary industries constantly evolving, discussion groups are a great way to keep in touch with current recommendations. Oakhill Farm Vets have been running the Red Rose… LIVESTOCK DISEASESAll-England bluetongue zone to be introduced from 1 JulyDefra has confirmed the bluetongue virus restricted zone will be extended to cover the whole of England from 1 July 2025. The existing zone covers the eastern half of the… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Second cut may seed when dry weather endsThe dry weather has been lovely, but I’m sure when it breaks – hopefully this May bank holiday weekend – we will kick ourselves for getting complacent and not finding… BEEFIntegrated beef schemes: What’s available and how they workDairy beef made up 37% of GB prime cattle slaughter, up from 28% in 2019, and integrated beef schemes between dairy farmers, beef producers and retailers/processors are on the increase.… BEEFIntegrated beef schemes: What’s available and how they workDairy beef made up 37% of GB prime cattle slaughter, up from 28% in 2019, and integrated beef schemes between dairy farmers, beef producers and retailers/processors are on the increase.… HOUSING AND HANDLINGAdvice on parlour maintenance for expanding herdsBigger herds and increased milking frequency can see some parlours operating 20 hours a day and, inevitably, that puts pressure on machinery and people. Herd expansion necessitates a complete rethink… LIVESTOCKFarmers urged to use grants for medical-grade vaccine fridgesFarmers in England are being urged to use the latest Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grants to part-fund specialist vaccine fridges. The call comes after a study by MSD… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Our arable silage makes a good forageLambing has finished and it has been a good year. The weather has played its part with plenty of sunshine. However, I’m sure many will agree we are now desperate… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow spring block calver uses nurse cows to rear replacementsEase of management is the driver for a family farm in east Devon to leave the job of rearing heifer replacements to the cows themselves. Tim Wall, who runs a… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Being honest is always the best policyI guess we all lie sometimes – from the most harmless “oh my, what a beautiful baby you have” through to the mundane “I’m fine, thank you for asking” to… DAIRYHow LED lights improved milk yield and dairy staff wellbeingA Herefordshire dairy farm is reaping the rewards of a powerful business upgrade, as brighter sheds have led to higher milk yields and happier staff. Over the past year, Ellie… Livestock news BEEFQMS launches hub to support Scottish beef productionRed meat levy body Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has launched an online support hub for Scottish beef farmers to help boost production. The initiative, in partnership with the Scottish Red… LIVESTOCKFarmers urged to use grants for medical-grade vaccine fridgesFarmers in England are being urged to use the latest Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grants to part-fund specialist vaccine fridges. The call comes after a study by MSD… LIVESTOCK DISEASESSingle case of BSE confirmed on Essex farmA case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Essex after the animal showed clinical signs of the disease. The Animal and Plant Health… LIVESTOCKBluetongue zone extended in north of EnglandThe bluetongue restricted zone (RZ) in England has been further expanded to include Lancashire and the remainder of North Yorkshire, to further tighten disease control. Defra announced the extension following… More articles Explore livestock Know How Business advice Essential guides Practical tips Case studies Dairy Beef Sheep Pigs Other livestock Grassland management Slurry and manure management Explore all topics Latest from livestock Know HowSee all DAIRY'Little wins' improve milk and protein yield on Cornish farmMilk quality has not been compromised as yields have increased on a 550-cow dairy farm near Bodmin, Cornwall. In fact, while yields at Treveglos Farm are up by 1,200 litres… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow passive transfer testing gives calves a good startOn-farm blood testing to check dairy calves for successful passive transfer from colostrum has helped a 780-cow herd validate its protocols. Within six months, correlating the outcomes with calf health,… HOUSING AND HANDLINGAdvice on parlour maintenance for expanding herdsBigger herds and increased milking frequency can see some parlours operating 20 hours a day and, inevitably, that puts pressure on machinery and people. Herd expansion necessitates a complete rethink… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow spring block calver uses nurse cows to rear replacementsEase of management is the driver for a family farm in east Devon to leave the job of rearing heifer replacements to the cows themselves. Tim Wall, who runs a… DAIRYHow LED lights improved milk yield and dairy staff wellbeingA Herefordshire dairy farm is reaping the rewards of a powerful business upgrade, as brighter sheds have led to higher milk yields and happier staff. Over the past year, Ellie… DAIRYGrant brings 'excellent' improvements to youngstock handlingFor his youngstock, spring block-calver Rupert Major installed an “excellent” curved handling facility instead of an “average” one to meet the requirements for Defra funding two years ago. Farmers Weekly… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTHow topping up manure with biochar has improved soil healthWhen prices of manufactured fertiliser and cattle concentrates increase, Mick and Sandy Jones do not see the financial impact in their suckler beef enterprise. For 15 years, they have grown… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTAdvice on adding herb species to a grazing reseedWalking grazing fields to identify plant species when they are in growing and flowering mode will establish which clovers and herbs are naturally occurring on the farm. Reseeding costs can… LIVESTOCKIHT and NVZs key issues in Wales for livestock adviserJonathan Crimes is busier than ever since winning Farmers Weekly’s 2024 Livestock Adviser of the Year award, with old and new Welsh clients concerned about inheritance tax changes and restricting… POULTRYDark-brooding, trees and data transform poultry businessA focus on hen welfare and technological innovation helped a 200-hen diversification grow into a business producing and packing eggs from 2 million chickens via a network of suppliers. David… POULTRYHow a free-range egg producer is achieving an 86-week layExtending lay to 90 weeks is remarkable in any system, and all the more so when it is achieved in just the fifth flock cycle. Arable farmer Michael Wilson diversified… DAIRYPros and cons of feeding a home-grown dairy rationProducing a home-grown ration for cattle is an aspiration for more and more livestock farmers, and many rearing and finishing beef have made good progress in this endeavour. But dairy… DAIRY6 tips on delivering water for dairy cowsMany dairy farms have outgrown their water supply as they have increased cow numbers. Yet investment in water infrastructure often is not considered until a problem arises. Phil Evans is… SHEEPHow a Breckland sheep farm is planning for successionTwo sisters who returned to the family sheep and beef farm with completely different approaches to work have successfully navigated a way to farm together. Katie and Claire Evans both… BEEFHow genomics are helping farm target beef to premium marketsGenomic testing is helping Wiltshire farmers Nick and Lucy Tyler – Farmers Weekly's 2024 Mixed Farmers of the Year – match each beef animal to its optimal market and target… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTWhy enough space to feed is vital for heifer health and growthPaying attention to feed and water access for replacement heifers is the key to ensuring coccidiosis prevention works – and that youngstock can achieve their growth targets. Adding medicine such… Sheep grazing advice Advice on feeding creep to lambs efficiently How to budget and allocate rotational grazing for ewes Farmer learnings on grazing sheep on multispecies swards 5 tips for managing livestock and grazing in drier weather Meat markets and pricesSee all MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESFairer supply chain regulations for pig farmers become lawPig farmers are set to gain stronger protections and fairer treatment under new legislation aimed at improving transparency and accountability across the supply chain. Recently signed into law by ministers,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESProtein in high demand as meat prices drive food inflationFarmgate beef and lamb prices have started to ease back during May, however tight cattle supplies in the UK and further afield continue to support prices with finished steers still… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK pig herd set to grow despite fewer abattoirs remainingThe UK breeding pig herd is projected to reach 337,000 head by June 2025 as it continues to expand year-on-year. Pigmeat production is also forecast to grow. The AHDB projects… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade bolstered by improved EU market accessBritish lamb exports are set to benefit from fewer trade barriers and improved access to the EU, following a new agreement between the UK and EU struck on 19 May.… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESScottish beef booms with supplies set to tighten furtherPrime cattle in Scotland continue to break records and trade at unprecedented levels, with the very best selling for more than £3,000/head. Deadweight steers in Scotland averaged 715p/kg in mid-May,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLegislation due ‘imminently’ on fairer pig contractsFair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations, setting out fairer terms for pig contracts, are expected to be finalised "very shortly", Defra has indicated, following recent parliamentary approval. It is understood that… Livestock communitySee all LIVESTOCKFarmer Focus: Litter size below average, but mortality lowIt has been a busy month on the farm, including some new additions. We are delighted to welcome Andie to the pigs team. He will be responsible for looking after… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Better feed conversion with 10,000 fewer birdsWe are in the middle of mowing and raking, ready to start first cut silage. Grass yields are certainly down on last year, owing to a severe lack of rain… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Second cut may seed when dry weather endsThe dry weather has been lovely, but I’m sure when it breaks – hopefully this May bank holiday weekend – we will kick ourselves for getting complacent and not finding… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Our arable silage makes a good forageLambing has finished and it has been a good year. The weather has played its part with plenty of sunshine. However, I’m sure many will agree we are now desperate… Dairy DAIRY'Little wins' improve milk and protein yield on Cornish farmMilk quality has not been compromised as yields have increased on a 550-cow dairy farm near Bodmin, Cornwall. In fact, while yields at Treveglos Farm are up by 1,200 litres… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow passive transfer testing gives calves a good startOn-farm blood testing to check dairy calves for successful passive transfer from colostrum has helped a 780-cow herd validate its protocols. Within six months, correlating the outcomes with calf health,… HOUSING AND HANDLINGAdvice on parlour maintenance for expanding herdsBigger herds and increased milking frequency can see some parlours operating 20 hours a day and, inevitably, that puts pressure on machinery and people. Herd expansion necessitates a complete rethink… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow spring block calver uses nurse cows to rear replacementsEase of management is the driver for a family farm in east Devon to leave the job of rearing heifer replacements to the cows themselves. Tim Wall, who runs a… DAIRYHow LED lights improved milk yield and dairy staff wellbeingA Herefordshire dairy farm is reaping the rewards of a powerful business upgrade, as brighter sheds have led to higher milk yields and happier staff. Over the past year, Ellie… DAIRYGrant brings 'excellent' improvements to youngstock handlingFor his youngstock, spring block-calver Rupert Major installed an “excellent” curved handling facility instead of an “average” one to meet the requirements for Defra funding two years ago. Farmers Weekly… LIVESTOCK DISEASESSingle case of BSE confirmed on Essex farmA case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Essex after the animal showed clinical signs of the disease. The Animal and Plant Health… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTAdvice on adding herb species to a grazing reseedWalking grazing fields to identify plant species when they are in growing and flowering mode will establish which clovers and herbs are naturally occurring on the farm. Reseeding costs can… DAIRYPros and cons of feeding a home-grown dairy rationProducing a home-grown ration for cattle is an aspiration for more and more livestock farmers, and many rearing and finishing beef have made good progress in this endeavour. But dairy… DAIRY6 tips on delivering water for dairy cowsMany dairy farms have outgrown their water supply as they have increased cow numbers. Yet investment in water infrastructure often is not considered until a problem arises. Phil Evans is… PARASITIC DISEASESCryptosporidiosis impacts four in five dairies, study findsA recent study has highlighted that four in five dairy farms have experienced cryptosporidiosis in their herds, which has had significant financial and welfare implications. The study investigated the effects… DAIRYLungworm vaccine cuts wormer use by nearly 90%, study showsVaccinating youngstock for lungworm has resulted in an 87% reduction in the use of macrocyclic lactone wormers among dairy farmers who took part in a Welsh study. The trial was… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all FORAGERSContractor keeps costs down with quartet of ageing JaguarsRegularly forking out for new forage harvesters is one way of keeping reliability in check, but Neil Jones has found it far more cost effective to build strength in numbers.… 100HPMassey Ferguson unveils diddy MF 1M Series compact tractorsMassey Ferguson has begun the process of replacing its 1500 Series compact tractor range with two new “professional” models – the 20hp MF 1M.20, successor to the 1520, and the… TELEHANDLERSBobcat and MF telehandlers get all-hydraulic transmissionSeamless acceleration to 40kph, improved fuel economy potential and new powertrain control functions come with a more sophisticated all-hydraulic transmission now available in selected Bobcat and Massey Ferguson telehandlers. In… BALERS AND WRAPPERSMassey Ferguson unveils new twin-chamber conventional balerThere has been a flurry of new developments in the small baler world in recent months, the latest of which was Massey Ferguson's launch of a new twin-chamber conventional baler… Most popular this week
