Livestock top stories HEALTH AND WELFAREAdvice on using natural predators to control nuisance fliesEarly birds may get worms, but livestock farmers planning fly control in winter benefit by preventing a population explosion of common and stable flies next summer. Starting a tailored fly… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Beef and lamb prices must be viewed with cautionWe processed our Charolais cross Wagyu heifer this month. My friend Ben has the patent on the name and he has always been very enthusiastic of the quality. It hasn't… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: 200-day calf weights up 6kg despite dry summerWe have just experienced our first dump of snow this winter. It causes more hassle for us than it does for the cattle outside. About a foot of snow fell… PIGSHow organic pig breeder setup benefits business performanceProducer Guy King has doubled sow numbers from 500 to 1,000, and the 2023 Farmers Weekly Pig Farmer of the Year is now selling 350-400 finished pigs a week from… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Tax and disease risk threaten ‘best ever’ yearAnother month, another article, and, in this case, another year. This will be my last article for 2025. Looking back over the year, I must admit it could be one… BREEDING AND FERTILITYNew entrant Coyote tops latest Holstein genomic rankings Exceptional weight and percentage of fat (62.2kg and +0.3%) have earned a UK-born and bred bull top place in AHDB’s genetic evaluations for genomic Holstein sires (published 2 December).… HEALTH AND WELFAREUK border security warning as African swine fever hits SpainAn outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar in Spain has raised concerns about border security in the UK, given previous poor performance, according to the National Pig… HEALTH AND WELFAREWales strengthens animal disease testing capabilityThe Welsh government is strengthening the country's animal disease testing capacity and has provided £265,000 to Aberystwyth University to establish a specialist diagnostic centre. This will enable regional disease testing… BEEFHow switch to organic has improved forage across two farmsFor Liz and Rob Priest, switching to organic has sharpened their focus on forage – improving quality, productivity and utilisation. The result is lower costs, strengthened business resilience and peace… HEALTH AND WELFARETurkey shortage fears played down as bird flu acceleratesCases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are continuing to spread across the country, though consumers have been reassured that Christmas turkey and egg supplies are secure. Defra confirmed further cases… LIVESTOCK DISEASESFirst bluetongue cases confirmed in Northern IrelandA 20km temporary control zone (TCZ) has been introduced in Northern Ireland following the confirmation of bluetongue virus (BTV 3) in cattle on Saturday (29 November). The Department of Agriculture,… LIVESTOCKFrench new entrants find price rewards in bison productionA keen eye for a commercial opportunity and a willingness to take a risk have paid off for a French couple looking for a way into farming. Establishing a herd… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Data-driven dry cow therapy decisions under wayWith only a couple of weeks until dry-off, we are focusing on selective dry cow therapy and culls. Both of these have been determined by our milk recordings and health… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow a heifer rearing unit works successfully at scaleEconomies of scale have allowed a contract farming business to maximise efficiency by sending replacement heifer calves from three of its dairy herds to a single, dedicated rearing unit. Farming… Livestock news BREEDING AND FERTILITYNew entrant Coyote tops latest Holstein genomic rankings Exceptional weight and percentage of fat (62.2kg and +0.3%) have earned a UK-born and bred bull top place in AHDB’s genetic evaluations for genomic Holstein sires (published 2 December).… HEALTH AND WELFAREUK border security warning as African swine fever hits SpainAn outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar in Spain has raised concerns about border security in the UK, given previous poor performance, according to the National Pig… HEALTH AND WELFAREWales strengthens animal disease testing capabilityThe Welsh government is strengthening the country's animal disease testing capacity and has provided £265,000 to Aberystwyth University to establish a specialist diagnostic centre. This will enable regional disease testing… HEALTH AND WELFARETurkey shortage fears played down as bird flu acceleratesCases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are continuing to spread across the country, though consumers have been reassured that Christmas turkey and egg supplies are secure. Defra confirmed further cases… 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 HEALTH AND WELFAREAdvice on using natural predators to control nuisance fliesEarly birds may get worms, but livestock farmers planning fly control in winter benefit by preventing a population explosion of common and stable flies next summer. Starting a tailored fly… PIGSHow organic pig breeder setup benefits business performanceProducer Guy King has doubled sow numbers from 500 to 1,000, and the 2023 Farmers Weekly Pig Farmer of the Year is now selling 350-400 finished pigs a week from… BEEFHow switch to organic has improved forage across two farmsFor Liz and Rob Priest, switching to organic has sharpened their focus on forage – improving quality, productivity and utilisation. The result is lower costs, strengthened business resilience and peace… LIVESTOCKFrench new entrants find price rewards in bison productionA keen eye for a commercial opportunity and a willingness to take a risk have paid off for a French couple looking for a way into farming. Establishing a herd… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow a heifer rearing unit works successfully at scaleEconomies of scale have allowed a contract farming business to maximise efficiency by sending replacement heifer calves from three of its dairy herds to a single, dedicated rearing unit. Farming… LIVESTOCKHow a beef and sheep farmer learned to set realistic goalsGoing on a business course not only helped Matt Jordan to work out what he wanted to do with his family farm – it clarified what he did not aspire… HEALTH AND WELFAREAdvice on applying lime to cubicles to aid mastitis controlLiming cubicles may not be anyone’s favourite job, but it remains an important task in mastitis control. Push/pull-along dispensers, auger-driven models (spreading lime with bedding sawdust), or the traditional bucket-and-mug… LIVESTOCK DISEASESAdvice on winter measures to keep bluetongue virus at bayAlthough falling temperatures will now curtail midge activity and bluetongue virus replication, farmers can still take measures to reduce infection pressure this winter by disrupting the midge life cycle. Poorly… DAIRYHow teamwork got dairy herd’s mastitis spike under controlWhen mastitis rates unexpectedly surged in Steve and Emma Furnival’s spring-calving herd, it put pressure on every part of their business — from cow health and profitability to team morale.… FOOT HEALTHSole ulcers in dairy: Risk factors and how to reduce themSole ulcers persist as one of the major causes of lameness in dairy cattle in the UK. For both animal welfare and economic reasons, minimising the incidence of these cases… HEALTH AND WELFAREHow smiley faces can be used to share cow milking statusSimple, visual alerts still have their place in the milking parlour, even in the era of smart cow technology. A sequence of three dots followed by a line on the… LIVESTOCK DISEASESHow Johne’s management cut disease to less than 2% of herdConsistent efforts to prevent Johne’s disease in a high-yielding Wiltshire dairy herd have resulted in cases falling from a high of 25% (cows identified as Johne’s positive or high risk)… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow one dairy is managing forage stocks for weather extremesThree weather apps and a bespoke spreadsheet are helping to feed cows cost-effectively at Clive Hall Farm – despite more extreme weather patterns affecting forage stocks for this spring block-calving… POULTRYTips for new entrants from a 16-year-old entrepreneurStarting a new farming enterprise can be challenging at any age. Lewis Thomas was just 13 when he launched his own business, producing free-range eggs from a flock of layers… DAIRYHow two dairies are using bovine pheromone to reduce stressHigh-yielding herds milking through robots and running heifers as a separate milking group are now using a bovine pheromone to further reduce stress levels at first calving. Despite already operating… BEEF3 ways suckler beef producer sharpened business skillsBudgeting, stock valuations and targeting effort where the rewards are greatest have helped put a farming business in the Scottish Borders on a firmer footing. Robert Wilson, who runs Cowbog… Get ready for winter How to budget and allocate rotational grazing for ewes Winter grazing crop outperforms brassicas in sheep trial Benefits of winter sheep grazing for silage performance Advice for winter feeding in-calf beef heifers How to manage poultry housing environments in winter Advice for beef winter rations as feed shortages loom large Tips on preparing your pig unit for winter Dairy winter housing upgrade helps cut new infection rates Meat markets and pricesSee all MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESFlying beef trade at Winslow Christmas Primestock ShowChristmas primestock shows have been in full swing at auction markets across the country in the past week, with an already buoyant beef trade receiving a festive uplift. Winslow Christmas… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESGB pig price falls to £2/kg as margins tighten on farmAfter several buoyant years for the pork sector, falling pig prices are once again squeezing margins for producers. Finished pig prices have slipped by almost 8p/kg in the past three… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade strengthens as tight supplies support pricesThe lamb trade appears to have turned a corner, with tighter supplies and improved export demand helping prices recover in recent weeks. Deadweight lamb prices plateaued during October, but have… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESEU grants UK 'negligible risk' status for BSEThe EU Commission has officially recognised the UK as having "negligible risk" status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a decision which should open the door for British exports to the… BUSINESSScottish census reveals worrying fall in livestock numbersCattle numbers in Scotland have contracted again during the past year, dropping by 14,500 head between June 2024 and June 2025 to total 1,65m head. This represents a 1% fall… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESHeavier pigs and falling prices raise alarms for pork sectorA surge in carcass weights and falling prices have raised fresh concerns for pig producers, as processors grapple with backlogs and tight margins. Carcass weights have crept up for finished… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Beef and lamb prices must be viewed with cautionWe processed our Charolais cross Wagyu heifer this month. My friend Ben has the patent on the name and he has always been very enthusiastic of the quality. It hasn't… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: 200-day calf weights up 6kg despite dry summerWe have just experienced our first dump of snow this winter. It causes more hassle for us than it does for the cattle outside. About a foot of snow fell… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Tax and disease risk threaten ‘best ever’ yearAnother month, another article, and, in this case, another year. This will be my last article for 2025. Looking back over the year, I must admit it could be one… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Data-driven dry cow therapy decisions under wayWith only a couple of weeks until dry-off, we are focusing on selective dry cow therapy and culls. Both of these have been determined by our milk recordings and health… Dairy BREEDING AND FERTILITYNew entrant Coyote tops latest Holstein genomic rankings Exceptional weight and percentage of fat (62.2kg and +0.3%) have earned a UK-born and bred bull top place in AHDB’s genetic evaluations for genomic Holstein sires (published 2 December).… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow a heifer rearing unit works successfully at scaleEconomies of scale have allowed a contract farming business to maximise efficiency by sending replacement heifer calves from three of its dairy herds to a single, dedicated rearing unit. Farming… HEALTH AND WELFAREAdvice on applying lime to cubicles to aid mastitis controlLiming cubicles may not be anyone’s favourite job, but it remains an important task in mastitis control. Push/pull-along dispensers, auger-driven models (spreading lime with bedding sawdust), or the traditional bucket-and-mug… NEWSUK dairy farming benefits environment says reportThe virtues of UK dairy farming, including its contribution to nutrition, health and environmental sustainability, are highlighted in a new report by the AHDB. The report, 'Balancing health and sustainability:… DAIRYHow teamwork got dairy herd’s mastitis spike under controlWhen mastitis rates unexpectedly surged in Steve and Emma Furnival’s spring-calving herd, it put pressure on every part of their business — from cow health and profitability to team morale.… FOOT HEALTHSole ulcers in dairy: Risk factors and how to reduce themSole ulcers persist as one of the major causes of lameness in dairy cattle in the UK. For both animal welfare and economic reasons, minimising the incidence of these cases… HEALTH AND WELFAREHow smiley faces can be used to share cow milking statusSimple, visual alerts still have their place in the milking parlour, even in the era of smart cow technology. A sequence of three dots followed by a line on the… LIVESTOCK DISEASESHow Johne’s management cut disease to less than 2% of herdConsistent efforts to prevent Johne’s disease in a high-yielding Wiltshire dairy herd have resulted in cases falling from a high of 25% (cows identified as Johne’s positive or high risk)… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow one dairy is managing forage stocks for weather extremesThree weather apps and a bespoke spreadsheet are helping to feed cows cost-effectively at Clive Hall Farm – despite more extreme weather patterns affecting forage stocks for this spring block-calving… DAIRYHow two dairies are using bovine pheromone to reduce stressHigh-yielding herds milking through robots and running heifers as a separate milking group are now using a bovine pheromone to further reduce stress levels at first calving. Despite already operating… HEALTH AND WELFAREHow targeted mastitis treatment drove down vet and med costsA concerted effort to tackle high incidences of clinical mastitis and repeat cases in high-yielding cows is helping a 200-cow Lancashire dairy farm save on vet fees and reduce milk… FEED AND NUTRITIONBovaer maker defends product after Danish farmer fearsThe manufacturer of the methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer has moved to calm fears over its safety after Danish farmers raised concerns linking the product to cattle illness and deaths. DSM-Firmenich,… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all BALERS AND WRAPPERSTerraDrive driven axle boosts grip for McHale Fusion 4 balerFor those who find their McHale Fusion 4 a hard beast to handle on challenging terrain, there’s now the option of buying one with a hydraulic driven axle. The TerraDrive… BALERS AND WRAPPERSAgritechnica 2025: Claas unveils high-density Cubix balerCompetition is heating up at the apex of the 120x90 baler market, with Claas signalling its intention to challenge New Holland et al with a new high-density design. See also: Driver's… MOWERSAgritechnica 2025: Kuhn pushes mounted GMD mower to 14.5mFarmers and contractors could get their grass scythed a smidge quicker by upgrading to the latest version of Kuhn’s non-conditioning GMD. The 3.8t 15030 has an albatross-like wingspan of 14.5m… TELEHANDLERSAgritechnica 2025: Hybrid drive for prototype NH telehandlerWacky styling isn’t the only novelty to be found on New Holland’s latest prototype 7m/4.2t telehandler. Rather than a traditional diesel engine, the TH Hybrid Power harnesses both electricity and… Most popular this week
