Livestock top stories DAIRYWhy cutting dairy carbon footprint starts in the calf shedFor one south-west dairy, cutting carbon is about producing milk more efficiently, starting with the next generation of cows. Two Pools Farm, near Bristol, is one of 50 dairy farms… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Lameness lessons to learn before next lambingThe March lambing group lambed well, with ewes in good condition, good strong lambs and plenty of milk. The downside: having to pull more lambs than usual with heads and… POULTRYPoultry housing order to be lifted in Northern IrelandFree-range poultry producers in Northern Ireland will be able to let their birds out on the range from next Tuesday (5 May), when the mandatory housing order is officially lifted.… LIVESTOCKAdvice on breaking the scour cycle in youngstock housingScour remains one of the most important early-life challenges in calves and lambs, and two of the key threats are Cryptosporidium and coccidia. Cryptosporidium is a major concern in calves’… BOVINE TBStormont backs urgent action on NI bovine TB crisisStormont has backed calls for immediate action to eradicate bovine TB, including wildlife intervention, as farmer concern grows over the long-running failure to control the disease. Members of the Legislative… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: 10 years on, we’re a proper family farmIt has been busy here, but definitely a good busy, rather than a bad busy. We are eight days post due date for our spring-calving suckler cows. So far 40%… BOVINE TBCompulsory TB blood testing to expand in EnglandCompulsory interferon-gamma blood testing will be extended to more cattle herds in England from July, under changes by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha). From 1 July 2026, all… LIVESTOCK DISEASESVaccine ready to counter emerging bluetongue BTV-8 threatFarmers looking to protect their livestock against the BTV-8 bluetongue variant have another tool at their disposal, with the Syvazul BTV-8 vaccine now available for use in England, Scotland and… BOVINE TBNFU Cymru pushes for bovine TB policy overhaulThe next Welsh government must deliver a “comprehensive TB eradication strategy” if the next generation of farmers is to have any hope of a future free from bovine TB, NFU… LIVESTOCKHow farm-designed solar energiser powers fencing year-roundA solar-powered energiser that does away with routine charging of batteries to power electric fencing on outdoor pig units year round has been developed by a Norfolk pig manager. See… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Calving reveals outcome of breeding decisionsCalving and lambing have, on the whole, been going well. We have had a relatively mild winter and we have good grass growth for this time of year. The ewes… LIVESTOCKStarter crumb v mini pellet: Which is best for chicks?Early feed intake is vital to get birds off to a good start – in those crucial first seven days, good nutrition underpins musculoskeletal development and the growth of internal… SHEEPNew matchmaking service helps sheep farmers secure grazingSheep farmers looking for extra grazing land are being encouraged to make use of a matchmaking service designed to link livestock keepers with landowners. The National Sheep Association (NSA) says… LIVESTOCKBadger culling set to end in Cumbria’s Area 73Badger culling in Cumbria’s Area 73 is set to end after two years of operations, with no licence confirmed for 2026 and vaccination now under consideration as a replacement control… Livestock news POULTRYPoultry housing order to be lifted in Northern IrelandFree-range poultry producers in Northern Ireland will be able to let their birds out on the range from next Tuesday (5 May), when the mandatory housing order is officially lifted.… BOVINE TBStormont backs urgent action on NI bovine TB crisisStormont has backed calls for immediate action to eradicate bovine TB, including wildlife intervention, as farmer concern grows over the long-running failure to control the disease. Members of the Legislative… BOVINE TBNFU Cymru pushes for bovine TB policy overhaulThe next Welsh government must deliver a “comprehensive TB eradication strategy” if the next generation of farmers is to have any hope of a future free from bovine TB, NFU… SHEEPNew matchmaking service helps sheep farmers secure grazingSheep farmers looking for extra grazing land are being encouraged to make use of a matchmaking service designed to link livestock keepers with landowners. The National Sheep Association (NSA) says… 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 DAIRYWhy cutting dairy carbon footprint starts in the calf shedFor one south-west dairy, cutting carbon is about producing milk more efficiently, starting with the next generation of cows. Two Pools Farm, near Bristol, is one of 50 dairy farms… POULTRYAdvice on protecting flocks from Newcastle disease virusIt was in 2006 when Great Britain last had an outbreak of Newcastle disease. With cases now confirmed in western Europe, it is possible that this highly contagious avian virus… LIVESTOCKStarter crumb v mini pellet: Which is best for chicks?Early feed intake is vital to get birds off to a good start – in those crucial first seven days, good nutrition underpins musculoskeletal development and the growth of internal… LIVESTOCK DISEASESHow timely bluetongue vaccine prevents dummy calvesA bluetongue vaccination uptake of only 50% among the suckler herd clients of a South East vet practice has been followed by several cases of dummy calves in unprotected herds.… DAIRYHow dairy farmer made savings to counter milk price dropDairy producer Paul Waterfall has had to contend with an 8p/litre drop in milk income since last autumn. The business produces 6m litres of milk annually, so this equates to… SHEEPHow farmer manages ewe condition through weather extremesFeeding ewes through last summer’s drought cost Tom Bird, Farmers Weekly‘s 2025 Sheep Farmer of the Year, a lot of money. But there are no regrets: scanning rate averaged 210%,… BEEFWhy dairy-beef enterprise fits well alongside suckler herdHarry Gilder reckons he has the best of both worlds. The 120-strong suckler herd at Moat Farm, Lower Strensham, Worcestershire, produces premium-grade carcasses off a forage-based system, while dairy-beef cattle,… LIVESTOCKWhy rearing organic poultry is good fit for dairy farmGrowth in retail sales of organic poultrymeat could present new revenue opportunities for UK farmers. In both volume and value, the market for organic food is increasing year on year,… LIVESTOCKHow lung scanning is leading to healthier dairy calvesA growing commitment by his dairy farming clients to improve calf health is keeping vet Peter O’Malley busier than ever. See also: Benefits of lung scanning for respiratory disease in calves… FEED AND NUTRITIONSpring grazing strategies to maximise lamb performanceAs spring grass starts to flourish, it’s important to plan this year’s grazing to get lambs finished quickly. Adapting grazing strategies to try to minimise the effects of severe weather… DAIRY10 ways to help shield dairy herds from sharp price shocksRising fuel, fertiliser and feed prices caused by the Middle East conflict could add an extra 2.1p/litre to costs, bringing the breakeven cost of milk production to 40-41p/litre. This has… HOUSING AND HANDLINGHow cattle handling upgrade improved safety and work rateInvesting in a new cattle handling system has not just made life safer for beef farmer David Drinkwater – work is easier too. For “the price of a front axle… PIGSWhy outdoor pig breeder plans expansion into rearingPutting plans into action for a new pig rearing enterprise is top of Norfolk pig farmer Mike Durrant’s to-do list this year. Instead of selling all weaners from his 1,700… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTFeeding calves colostrum: Focus on quality over quantityThe industry must develop a new blueprint for colostrum and transition milk feeding that aligns vets and nutritionists to give calf rearers clarity on early-life nutrition. The industry standard has… BREEDING AND FERTILITYBenefits of annual testing for bull and ram fertilityIn 2025, 28% of bulls tested at Friars Moor Livestock Health failed their bull breeding soundness examination. By identifying and removing this cohort of subfertile bulls, ahead of them being… SHEEPMore lambs hit carcass spec for information exchange groupSharing ideas, problems and solutions for 15 years has helped a group of Welsh lamb producers improve performance across their sheep systems. The farmers are all members of a Farming… Lambing advice How to identify and treat five sheep 'iceberg diseases' Step-by-step guide to dealing with vaginal prolapse in sheep 5 tips for successfully feeding newborn lambs How to recognise and manage ringwomb in livestock in labour 5 top tips to prevent watery mouth in lambs Expert advice on assessing and managing lambing difficulties Guide to preventing enzootic abortion in ewes Video: How to successfully wet-adopt a lamb Meat markets and pricesSee all MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESTight margins for UK beef sector as cattle prices declineFinished cattle prices have struggled to hold ground this spring, with deadweight values slipping by almost 80p/kg in the past year. Several meat processors have confirmed price cuts of 10p/kg… BUSINESSRising input costs and falling prices hit pig sectorPig producers are under growing financial pressure as farmgate pig prices continue to slide further below the cost of production. Finished pig prices have fallen by more than 20p/kg in… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK beef and sheep numbers contract at worrying rateThe UK’s beef suckler herd has declined by 20% in the past decade, with 313,000 fewer breeding beef cows on farm than in 2015. This worrying trend has continued in… BUSINESSM&S offers farmers decade-long contracts for beef and sheepRetail giant M&S has announced a £2.1bn investment in its British lamb and beef supply chain, aiming to provide long-term certainty for thousands of farmers amid ongoing industry pressures. The… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESDairy accounts for growing share of cull cow marketPoorer returns for dairy farmers throughout the winter have prompted an increase in the number of dairy cows being culled, while culls from the suckler beef herd appear more stable.… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESThame farmers' market given go-ahead to relocate and expandPlanning permission has been granted for Thame Farmers Auction Mart to relocate to a new site on the edge of Thame in Oxfordshire. The livestock market is currently based in… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Lameness lessons to learn before next lambingThe March lambing group lambed well, with ewes in good condition, good strong lambs and plenty of milk. The downside: having to pull more lambs than usual with heads and… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: 10 years on, we’re a proper family farmIt has been busy here, but definitely a good busy, rather than a bad busy. We are eight days post due date for our spring-calving suckler cows. So far 40%… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Calving reveals outcome of breeding decisionsCalving and lambing have, on the whole, been going well. We have had a relatively mild winter and we have good grass growth for this time of year. The ewes… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Time-saving milk cart eases bulging calf shedsSix weeks since the start of calving, and it’s definitely been a whirlwind as we hit 70% calved within four weeks. Like everything in life, though, the good times don’t… Dairy DAIRYWhy cutting dairy carbon footprint starts in the calf shedFor one south-west dairy, cutting carbon is about producing milk more efficiently, starting with the next generation of cows. Two Pools Farm, near Bristol, is one of 50 dairy farms… DAIRYHow dairy farmer made savings to counter milk price dropDairy producer Paul Waterfall has had to contend with an 8p/litre drop in milk income since last autumn. The business produces 6m litres of milk annually, so this equates to… ENVIRONMENTDairy permitting could drive up farm costs, NFU warnsDairy farms in England could face new environmental permitting requirements under forthcoming government plans, prompting warnings from the NFU over cost and regulatory burden. Defra is expected to consult this… BREEDING AND FERTILITYPros and cons of sweeper bulls v all artificial inseminationRunning bulls in dairy herds carries safety and biosecurity risks, but they are an effective and often low-cost means of sweeping up cows and heifers not in-calf after the artificial… DAIRY10 ways to help shield dairy herds from sharp price shocksRising fuel, fertiliser and feed prices caused by the Middle East conflict could add an extra 2.1p/litre to costs, bringing the breakeven cost of milk production to 40-41p/litre. This has… LIVESTOCKTop-ranking bull Lorenzo offers strong health and longevityPeak Powerhouse, the top proven Holstein sire © Lea Jordan/Cybil Fischer Photography A lifespan index 174 days longer than the average and a strong lameness advantage have earned new entrant… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTFeeding calves colostrum: Focus on quality over quantityThe industry must develop a new blueprint for colostrum and transition milk feeding that aligns vets and nutritionists to give calf rearers clarity on early-life nutrition. The industry standard has… DAIRYSpring calving index pivots towards grazing-based systemsPlanned revisions to the spring calving index are expected to change the type of animal dominating the male and female rankings. From April, producers running grazing-based, spring-calving dairy herds will… ASSESSING PERFORMANCEMilk production and herd health gains rise, finds NMR reportDairy farmers are making significant gains in milk yield and fertility, while mastitis levels continue to fall, indicating higher production efficiency and a healthier national herd. The latest National Milk… FEED AND NUTRITIONWholecrop barley silage solves key challenges on dairy farmCases of milk fever in the 400 high-yielding pedigree Holsteins at Poyerston Farm numbered just two in the last calving period. Roger Lewis, who runs the autumn-calving herd in partnership… HOUSING AND HANDLINGAdvice on harvesting rainwater to build farm resilienceWet days are not just a reminder of broken gutters and downpipes in need of repair. They are an ideal time to look at the potential for recycling rainwater. Calculating… DAIRYAre transition cows getting enough metabolisable protein?Dairy producers could be limiting early lactation performance by underfeeding metabolisable protein, as well as the amino acids methionine and lysine, to transition cows. Prof Jim Drackley of the University… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all FORAGERSThe perks and pitfalls of owning ageing foragersThe prospect of entering a silage campaign armed with an ageing, out-of-warranty forager would leave the nerves of many agricultural contractors in tatters. But for Will Bright of Devon-based WM… MOWERSPottinger automates Novacat Collect swath placementTractor drivers who get confused with their left and right have salvation at hand with the automated swath placement system available for Pottinger’s Novacat V butterfly mowers equipped with Collect… TELEHANDLERSUltimate guide to buying a telehandler 2026Rising machinery costs remains the dominant theme in the latest Ultimate Guide for telehandlers. Overall, compact machines have increased in price by between £1,000 and £4,000, with larger rises on… TRACTORSMassey Ferguson extends 20-65hp compact tractor rangeMassey Ferguson’s revamped compact tractor range now extends to nine models in all, covering power outputs from 20-65hp with hydrostatic and all-mechanical transmissions, and open platforms or air-conditioned cabs. The… Most popular this week
