Livestock top stories 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Abattoir deal rewards higher pig productivityWhat a refreshing change it was to have had all winter cereals in the ground, everything rolled and pre-emergence treatments done by the end of October. Well done to Ed… POULTRYWales issues bird flu housing order as cases mount upThe Welsh government has issued a housing order for poultry and captive birds in Wales, taking effect on Thursday (13 November). The measures are being introduced to address the increased… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTWhy sward density is critical for overseeding successOverseeding swards with a multispecies mix after grazing is significantly more effective than doing so on higher covers. This is according to a Welsh study that shows this method almost… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Careful handling reduces weaning stressOne of the greatest challenges we face on an outdoor breeding unit is the efficient execution of weaning day. Not least because the task often starts in darkness with head… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTMild November offers grazing relief to livestock farmersCows are still grazing across much of England this November, as unseasonably mild weather keeps temperatures in the mid-teens and pastures green well into autumn. The continued warmth has offered… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Rising Bactoscan prompts parlour checksFirst, I have to admit to being “influenced” by something I saw on social media, and impulse buying it. Amazingly, it actually worked! We were due to change liners in… 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,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Buy feed or cull only choices in drought yearNow, at the end of October, the grass looks the best it has all year. Unfortunately, it is unlikely we are going to see a suitable weather window to harvest… POULTRYPrepare now for 'most dangerous bird flu strain ever'Poultry producers are being warned to prepare for one of the worst avian influenza seasons on record, with eight more cases confirmed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTBiological stimulants: Are they good for grassland?Trials in Wales comparing a range of biological stimulants applied to grassland have shown their potential to reduce inputs and improve grass quality. Results so far show an increase in… HOUSING AND HANDLINGHow a forest grazing project doubled a suckler herdThe ability to graze thousands of hectares on the Abernethy Forest Nature Reserve, in the Cairngorms, has provided beef farmer Bobby Mackenzie with low-cost outwintering and allowed him to double… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Flock reduction opens door to new challengeIt’s never boring at Beanhill. The big news this month is I have a new job. With sheep numbers down and me stepping back from my voluntary position at British… Livestock news 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,… POULTRYPrepare now for 'most dangerous bird flu strain ever'Poultry producers are being warned to prepare for one of the worst avian influenza seasons on record, with eight more cases confirmed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the… LIVESTOCKRSPCA Assured offers bonfire night advice to farmersWith an estimated 6.1 million households (22%) in England and Wales expected to set off fireworks this season, according to an RSPCA survey, farmers are being offered advice on how… DAIRYDairy farmers sought to help set future environmental targetsThe Dairy Roadmap, an industry-wide initiative aimed at reducing the environmental impact of milk production, is calling on UK dairy farmers to share their views on how future sustainability targets… 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 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… 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… HOUSING AND HANDLINGHow a forest grazing project doubled a suckler herdThe ability to graze thousands of hectares on the Abernethy Forest Nature Reserve, in the Cairngorms, has provided beef farmer Bobby Mackenzie with low-cost outwintering and allowed him to double… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTAdvice on investing in a cover for a slurry lagoon or tankHuge reductions in emissions can be achieved by fitting impermeable covers over slurry storage – as much as 80% on an above-ground tank and 50-60% by permeable floating materials, according… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTOn-farm slurry-fed anaerobic digestion: What to considerInterest is growing in farm-scale anaerobic digesters, using slurry as a feedstock, driven by the need to reduce manufactured inputs – for economic and environmental reasons – and the cost… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTSupport for muck and slurry management: What’s on offer?Tackling pollution from agriculture is a priority for governments in all four UK countries. As a result, there is growing pressure on farmers to get better at managing their slurry… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTTop tips on establishing tricky herbal leysWhile herbal leys are a lifesaver in drought, rocket fuel for finishing stock, and a good earner on a land management scheme, they are not without their challenges. They can… DAIRYHow cow-controlled climate ventilation can reduce lamenessA combination of positive pressure tubes, side curtains and cooling has helped cows to cope better with heat stress, maintain yields and improve foot health at Graig Olway, in Monmouthshire.… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTOn-farm ammonia reduction trials see breakthroughTreating slurry with a biological solution has been found to increase ammonia retention by 43%, lowering odour and ammonia emissions. Pruex, the supplier of the product, carried out trials on… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTSmart tech helps shorten finishing period on Powys farmIncreased daily liveweight gain, respiratory health issues driven down by 75% and antibiotic use down 60% are the result of using modern technology with good stockmanship, at Brongain farm, Powys.… DAIRYAdvice on managing transition for better cow fertilityDairy farmers are losing too many cows to poor fertility, but good management from drying off to submission can prevent those involuntary culls. Getting the basics right, from cow condition… POULTRYHow free-range layers complement electricity generationSix thousand hens range under the solar array on 16ha (40 acres) of former arable land let to egg producers Charlie and Laura Tomkins. The birds share the site with… LIVESTOCKHow to manage your farm boss to influence decision-makingIf you can learn to manage your boss at work, you acquire influencing skills, stakeholder strategy and how to set in motion low-risk change that benefits the business – and… DAIRYHow new dairy entrants raised funds with no fixed assetsFrom 27 sheep and a handful of beef just over a decade ago, Cumbrian tenant farmers Matt and Lissy Stephenson have established a 900-cow herd yielding 13,400 litres a cow… DAIRYAdvice on dry cow shed management for high yieldersThe high-yielding cow faces immense metabolic challenges. Transition diseases such as milk fever, ketosis, and displaced abomasum cases remain costly threats, and poor fertility results in inefficiency. The transition period… LIVESTOCKHow hock and neck sores can limit milk yield potentialHock lesions and neck rubs could be depriving high-yielding cows of their ability to achieve their full genetic potential. An additional two lactations will also be forfeited, according to Cow… 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 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… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESBeef producers benefit as tight supplies push prices higherFarmgate beef prices have continued to strengthen, supported by a reduced supply of cattle across the UK. As seasonal demand builds ahead of Christmas, abattoirs appear increasingly eager to secure… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESMorrisons expands Australian beef lineFears that ongoing beef imports from Australia are undermining UK producers have deepened as retailer Morrisons has extended its Australian beef line across online and in-store outlets. The Limited Edish… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESSplit market for store cattle as short-keep beasts in demandStore cattle continue to meet a buoyant trade with buyers looking to fill their sheds for winter, but with a clear preference for shorter keep animals. Composite data from the… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Abattoir deal rewards higher pig productivityWhat a refreshing change it was to have had all winter cereals in the ground, everything rolled and pre-emergence treatments done by the end of October. Well done to Ed… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Careful handling reduces weaning stressOne of the greatest challenges we face on an outdoor breeding unit is the efficient execution of weaning day. Not least because the task often starts in darkness with head… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Rising Bactoscan prompts parlour checksFirst, I have to admit to being “influenced” by something I saw on social media, and impulse buying it. Amazingly, it actually worked! We were due to change liners in… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Buy feed or cull only choices in drought yearNow, at the end of October, the grass looks the best it has all year. Unfortunately, it is unlikely we are going to see a suitable weather window to harvest… Dairy 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,… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTAdvice on investing in a cover for a slurry lagoon or tankHuge reductions in emissions can be achieved by fitting impermeable covers over slurry storage – as much as 80% on an above-ground tank and 50-60% by permeable floating materials, according… DAIRYDairy farmers sought to help set future environmental targetsThe Dairy Roadmap, an industry-wide initiative aimed at reducing the environmental impact of milk production, is calling on UK dairy farmers to share their views on how future sustainability targets… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTOn-farm slurry-fed anaerobic digestion: What to considerInterest is growing in farm-scale anaerobic digesters, using slurry as a feedstock, driven by the need to reduce manufactured inputs – for economic and environmental reasons – and the cost… DAIRYHow cow-controlled climate ventilation can reduce lamenessA combination of positive pressure tubes, side curtains and cooling has helped cows to cope better with heat stress, maintain yields and improve foot health at Graig Olway, in Monmouthshire.… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTOn-farm ammonia reduction trials see breakthroughTreating slurry with a biological solution has been found to increase ammonia retention by 43%, lowering odour and ammonia emissions. Pruex, the supplier of the product, carried out trials on… DAIRYAdvice on managing transition for better cow fertilityDairy farmers are losing too many cows to poor fertility, but good management from drying off to submission can prevent those involuntary culls. Getting the basics right, from cow condition… DAIRYHow new dairy entrants raised funds with no fixed assetsFrom 27 sheep and a handful of beef just over a decade ago, Cumbrian tenant farmers Matt and Lissy Stephenson have established a 900-cow herd yielding 13,400 litres a cow… DAIRYAdvice on dry cow shed management for high yieldersThe high-yielding cow faces immense metabolic challenges. Transition diseases such as milk fever, ketosis, and displaced abomasum cases remain costly threats, and poor fertility results in inefficiency. The transition period… LIVESTOCKHow hock and neck sores can limit milk yield potentialHock lesions and neck rubs could be depriving high-yielding cows of their ability to achieve their full genetic potential. An additional two lactations will also be forfeited, according to Cow… HEALTH AND WELFAREAdvice on drying off high-yielding cowsWith cows now reaching lactation yields of 13,000 litres-plus as standard, it is common for them to still be giving 40 litres (or more) at drying off. This risks discomfort… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all TELEHANDLERSAgritechnica 2025: Merlo HyperCompact punches above weightThanks to some cunning packaging, Merlo’s concept TF15.5 telehandler promises to be both small and mighty. Measuring just 1.56m wide, 1.8m tall and 3m long this “hypercompact” model can slot… DIET FEEDERSAgritechnica 2025: 510hp SiloKing wagon caters for 2,000 cowsArmed with a 510hp Volvo engine and cavernous 45sq m tub, SiloKing’s SelfLine 4.0 System 2000+ claims to be the biggest self-propelled feed mixer ever built. As the name suggests,… TELEHANDLERSOn test: Merlo TF30.7 - small frame, pokey hydraulicsA surge of farmers pining for more lifting and loading capacity without compromising on size has spawned a slew of pint-sized telehandlers. Merlo’s TF30.7 is one of the latest to… BALERS AND WRAPPERSUltimate guide to buying a big square baler 2026Big square baler updates in this year’s Farmers Weekly Ultimate Guide centre around the addition of more technology, making it easier to keep accurate task and crop records, and isobus-linked automation… Most popular this week
