Livestock top stories GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTSteps to mitigate a winter forage shortfall after droughtBeef and sheep farmers are advised to measure grass and count silage stocks now to establish their feed position and determine whether they can meet their farm’s feed demand this… MAIZEAdvice on cropping decisions for 2027 forage maize cropsMaize growers whose crops suffered this year in the heatwaves and prolonged drought are advised to prepare for these extreme conditions again in 2027, as predicted by the Met Office.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Farm shale cuts costs of new cow trackWhen it comes to what value we put on an acre of land, we often consider the age of the sward, the soil type, or even the money spent to… LIVESTOCKHow focus on profit a litre drives dairy’s performanceDairy farmer Jack Munday has scrutinised every cost to push for greater profit a litre using a system that fits the available resources. This has meant taking every opportunity to… LIVESTOCK DISEASESRare breed farmers struggle to access bluetongue vaccinesFarmers keeping rare breeds are struggling to access bluetongue vaccines, raising concerns about the threat the disease poses to vulnerable native livestock populations. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Ewes on grass nuts ahead of tuppingYet again, Lincolnshire seems to be missing all the rain. The turnips went in well and had a nice drink afterwards, but it has been extremely dry ever since. See… LIVESTOCKHow funding boost improved performance in two flocksThe farmers I work with are inquisitive, knowledgeable and strive to improve their productivity. Each year brings about its own challenges, commonly in the form of weather or disease, but… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Solar pump boosts drought resilienceAs I write my last article for Farmers Weekly, here are a few reflections. First, we continue with succession planning, which has been ongoing for the past six years, involving… BEEFWhy farm data matters in breeding robust cowsGreater use of genetic data to support breeding decisions is key to improving suckler herd productivity and efficiency. Recording figures does two jobs, says AHDB’s lead animal genetics expert for… LIVESTOCKHow advanced lighting controls cut broiler feed billA 2% improvement in feed conversion ratio has saved an average £3,580 a crop across four broiler houses on a Shropshire farm since installing a lighting system that mimics natural… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Tough decision as tractor purchase loomsWe are in the middle of drilling winter wheat. All being well, we should have the majority finished by early October. The soil is dry, but has been working nicely… DAIRYHow herd exceeds 12,000 litres on twice-a-day milkingA simple, consistent system is helping a Cornish dairy to achieve the UK’s highest yield on twice-a-day milking. According to the National Milk Records’ annual production report, cows at Sixty… DAIRYHow spate of returns to service led to Q fever diagnosisStriving for high health status together with efficient production from a block-calving, grazing system hit a snag in 2023 for Dorset dairy farmer Nick Tuke. A portion of cows in… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Nant Ffrancon project spells end for farmersI've been thinking about the resilience of the farming community while attending the breeding sheep sales dotted about North Wales. We have endured a really tough time over the past… Livestock news LIVESTOCK DISEASESFarmers urged to watch for Shamonda virusFarmers in Northern Ireland are being urged to monitor livestock closely after Shamonda virus (Shav) was detected on two farms in the Republic of Ireland. Department of Agriculture, Environment and… DAIRYNFU rejects claims that large dairy farms are bad for natureClaims that so-called “mega-dairies” pose a disproportionate risk to nature have been rebuffed by farmer representatives, who say farm size alone is not a reliable indicator of environmental performance. The… BLUETONGUENI farmers warned over rising bluetongue threatNorthern Ireland farmers are being warned to remain vigilant after bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) was detected in the Republic of Ireland, bringing the livestock disease closer to the border than… ENVIRONMENTDairy farms trial 200 measures to cut emissionsDairy farmers are trialling more than 200 practical measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions through the UK Dairy Carbon Network (UK-DCN), including nutrition, breeding, animal health and nutrient management. The… 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 MAIZEAdvice on cropping decisions for 2027 forage maize cropsMaize growers whose crops suffered this year in the heatwaves and prolonged drought are advised to prepare for these extreme conditions again in 2027, as predicted by the Met Office.… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTSteps to mitigate a winter forage shortfall after droughtBeef and sheep farmers are advised to measure grass and count silage stocks now to establish their feed position and determine whether they can meet their farm’s feed demand this… LIVESTOCKHow focus on profit a litre drives dairy’s performanceDairy farmer Jack Munday has scrutinised every cost to push for greater profit a litre using a system that fits the available resources. This has meant taking every opportunity to… LIVESTOCKHow funding boost improved performance in two flocksThe farmers I work with are inquisitive, knowledgeable and strive to improve their productivity. Each year brings about its own challenges, commonly in the form of weather or disease, but… BEEFWhy farm data matters in breeding robust cowsGreater use of genetic data to support breeding decisions is key to improving suckler herd productivity and efficiency. Recording figures does two jobs, says AHDB’s lead animal genetics expert for… LIVESTOCKHow advanced lighting controls cut broiler feed billA 2% improvement in feed conversion ratio has saved an average £3,580 a crop across four broiler houses on a Shropshire farm since installing a lighting system that mimics natural… DAIRYHow herd exceeds 12,000 litres on twice-a-day milkingA simple, consistent system is helping a Cornish dairy to achieve the UK’s highest yield on twice-a-day milking. According to the National Milk Records’ annual production report, cows at Sixty… DAIRYHow spate of returns to service led to Q fever diagnosisStriving for high health status together with efficient production from a block-calving, grazing system hit a snag in 2023 for Dorset dairy farmer Nick Tuke. A portion of cows in… DAIRYWays housed herds can plan for the next heatwaveMitigating heat stress needs to be a key element of a farm’s management strategy for cows housed in summer. But taking inspiration from hot climates and simply investing in an… DAIRYTips to minimise fetch cows in a free-access robot systemDairy farmers who have settled their cows into free-access automated milking need to regularly monitor their list of fetch cows. It’s important to take care that being escorted to milking… LIVESTOCKAdvice on reducing the risk of dry-period mastitisThe first few weeks of lactation are one of the most valuable times to collect mastitis data, yet it’s easy for data recording to slip down the priority list. Mastitis… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTAdvice on building drought resilience into grazing plansGrazing managers are advised to review the lessons learned from this year’s prolonged drought and successive heatwaves, then use them to plan for the same conditions forecast for next year.… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTFive ways to get more from grass on suboptimal soilsWeather patterns have a big influence on farm profitability, not least on holdings with less-than-perfect soils. New challenges have been added to the management of fields with heavy or poorly… DAIRY7 things dairy farms need to grow their businessesGrowth in the dairy sector will be needed to meet future food demand and environmental targets, but planning remains a major “choke” to investment. This was the message from NFU… HOUSING AND HANDLINGHow farm's cattle-handling revamp ups efficiency and safetyRegularly weighing cattle is central to Robert Neill’s beef operation in the Scottish Borders. Progeny from his 380-cow suckler herd are taken to finishing weight – bulls this year are… HOUSING AND HANDLINGHow updating slats helped sheep farm cut lameness and labourA purpose-built slatted lambing shed that was put up in the 1960s on a Monmouthshire farm has reduced labour and straw while keeping flock lameness below 1%. Over this time,… Grazing advice Benefits of digestible cocksfoot and tall fescue in drought 3 ways for dairy units to make on/off grazing work Advice on grazing management to reduce tick risk to cattle Spring grazing strategies to maximise lamb performance Meat markets and pricesSee all MARKETS AND TRENDSSimmental and Charolais bulls reach 30,000gns at StirlingA vibrant trading atmosphere saw buyers flocking from across the UK to Stirling Bull Sales on 18-19 October. Simmental and Charolais bulls commanded the top prices of the day, achieving… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESBeef prices to remain supported in 2027 as herd contractsTight supplies are expected to continue to support cattle prices for the rest of 2026 and into next year, though subdued consumer demand and a changing import mix may limit… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESExport demand drives £1.1bn boost for UK red meatBritish red meat exporters are seeking to capitalise on rising overseas demand, with UK export sales reaching £1.1bn in the first half of 2026. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESFood consortium seeks targeted support for local abattoirsLighter regulation and more targeted funding for local abattoirs are needed to fend off the threat of further closures. The demands are contained in a letter to prime minister Andy… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESTighter lamb supplies expected to support prices through 2027Falling sheepmeat production across the UK and Europe is expected to support lamb prices throughout 2027, despite weaker consumer demand and short-term pressure from seasonal supplies. The latest Outlook report… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESPig prices mask scale of producer losses as costs risePig producers faced mounting losses despite a slight recovery in prices, with wide variations in contract values and reduced slaughter capacity expected to add to pressure in the run up… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Farm shale cuts costs of new cow trackWhen it comes to what value we put on an acre of land, we often consider the age of the sward, the soil type, or even the money spent to… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Ewes on grass nuts ahead of tuppingYet again, Lincolnshire seems to be missing all the rain. The turnips went in well and had a nice drink afterwards, but it has been extremely dry ever since. See… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Solar pump boosts drought resilienceAs I write my last article for Farmers Weekly, here are a few reflections. First, we continue with succession planning, which has been ongoing for the past six years, involving… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Tough decision as tractor purchase loomsWe are in the middle of drilling winter wheat. All being well, we should have the majority finished by early October. The soil is dry, but has been working nicely… Dairy LIVESTOCKHow focus on profit a litre drives dairy’s performanceDairy farmer Jack Munday has scrutinised every cost to push for greater profit a litre using a system that fits the available resources. This has meant taking every opportunity to… DAIRYHow herd exceeds 12,000 litres on twice-a-day milkingA simple, consistent system is helping a Cornish dairy to achieve the UK’s highest yield on twice-a-day milking. According to the National Milk Records’ annual production report, cows at Sixty… DAIRYHow spate of returns to service led to Q fever diagnosisStriving for high health status together with efficient production from a block-calving, grazing system hit a snag in 2023 for Dorset dairy farmer Nick Tuke. A portion of cows in… DAIRYWays housed herds can plan for the next heatwaveMitigating heat stress needs to be a key element of a farm’s management strategy for cows housed in summer. But taking inspiration from hot climates and simply investing in an… DAIRYTips to minimise fetch cows in a free-access robot systemDairy farmers who have settled their cows into free-access automated milking need to regularly monitor their list of fetch cows. It’s important to take care that being escorted to milking… LIVESTOCKAdvice on reducing the risk of dry-period mastitisThe first few weeks of lactation are one of the most valuable times to collect mastitis data, yet it’s easy for data recording to slip down the priority list. Mastitis… DAIRYCurious cows produce more milk, NZ study revealsPersonality influences performance: the “curious” cow has been shown in a New Zealand study to produce a higher milk yield and more milk solids. She also spends more time grazing… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTAdvice on building drought resilience into grazing plansGrazing managers are advised to review the lessons learned from this year’s prolonged drought and successive heatwaves, then use them to plan for the same conditions forecast for next year.… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTFive ways to get more from grass on suboptimal soilsWeather patterns have a big influence on farm profitability, not least on holdings with less-than-perfect soils. New challenges have been added to the management of fields with heavy or poorly… DAIRY7 things dairy farms need to grow their businessesGrowth in the dairy sector will be needed to meet future food demand and environmental targets, but planning remains a major “choke” to investment. This was the message from NFU… DAIRYNFU rejects claims that large dairy farms are bad for natureClaims that so-called “mega-dairies” pose a disproportionate risk to nature have been rebuffed by farmer representatives, who say farm size alone is not a reliable indicator of environmental performance. The… BREEDING AND FERTILITYAberdeen-Angus Cattle Society launches Dairy Beef IndexThe Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society has launched a breeding tool to help dairy farmers select genetics that will suit the dairy herd while also producing a good beef calf. See also: Why… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all MOWERSKuhn offers retrofit isobus control kit for triple mowersFarmers and contractors using Kuhn triple mowers that lack the convenience of isobus control electronics can put that right with a new retrofit kit. It comprises a job computer installed… TRACTORSMore driverless tech for Amos Power's 85hp electric tractorA US digital tech business hopes to emulate European manufacturers such as AgXeed by selling a twin-track driverless tractor for field work. Weighing in at about 3t, the Amos Power… FORAGE WAGONSScania forage truck proves good value for Hants contractorHundreds of German contractors consider field-going haulage trucks the perfect foil for maize-munching foragers. These rough terrain HGVs are yet to gain the same following here, but with an ever-growing… BALERS AND WRAPPERSKrone refreshes Big Pack baler line-up with new modelsThe beefed-up flagship in Krone’s Big Pack square baler line-up is being joined by more “Gen6” models with uprated features and two levels of specification to suit different user needs… Most popular this week
