Livestock top stories 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Livestock market so much more than sale ringWe tried the store lamb market this past week with my daughter’s Black Welsh Mountains, achieving a very respectable £92. The main flock is managed through to finishing, but these… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Biochar in broiler bedding on testNovember is one of the quietest times of the year on the farm, giving everyone a bit of a breather and me the chance for a valuable few days away… BOVINE TBAJ Vaccines wins Defra contract to supply badger TB vaccineDanish pharmaceutical company AJ Vaccines has been awarded the government’s badger vaccination tender, securing a new three-year contract to supply BadgerBCG for England’s expanding bovine TB programme. The deal, confirmed… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHerbal v ryegrass-clover leys: Cattle performance on testPerformance of cattle grazing herbal leys and finished on herbal ley silage is “just as good” as those on a comparable ryegrass-clover diet, a farm trial has shown. The results… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Better silage storage proves ongoing conundrumGrass has never stopped growing: the unseasonally mild weather means we still have an abundance of it, and a few team members kept joking we should have taken a sixth… HEALTH AND WELFAREFarm use of antibiotics hits record low in the UKSales of veterinary antibiotics have fallen to their lowest levels on record, according to research from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha). An… 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)… HEALTH AND WELFAREManx farmers face loss of major livestock vetLivestock farmers on the Isle of Man have been left in crisis with the island's largest veterinary provider planning to stop its large animal services. Milan Veterinary Practice, part of… 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Family getaway no escape from milk price dropWith the clocks turned back, the weather has turned wet here in west Wales. We're hoping to do some on/off grazing till mid-November and are aiming at closing farm cover… 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… LIVESTOCK DISEASESNI tightens BVD rules from DecemberNorthern Ireland’s agriculture minister has warned that tighter bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) rules will take effect on 1 December 2025, reducing the threshold for herd restrictions and increasing testing requirements… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Sucklers gain condition after arid summerAll things considered, it has been a good autumn here so far. With the crops in the ground and the drill tucked up in the barn until next spring, we… Livestock news BOVINE TBAJ Vaccines wins Defra contract to supply badger TB vaccineDanish pharmaceutical company AJ Vaccines has been awarded the government’s badger vaccination tender, securing a new three-year contract to supply BadgerBCG for England’s expanding bovine TB programme. The deal, confirmed… HEALTH AND WELFAREFarm use of antibiotics hits record low in the UKSales of veterinary antibiotics have fallen to their lowest levels on record, according to research from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha). An… HEALTH AND WELFAREManx farmers face loss of major livestock vetLivestock farmers on the Isle of Man have been left in crisis with the island's largest veterinary provider planning to stop its large animal services. Milan Veterinary Practice, part of… LIVESTOCK DISEASESNI tightens BVD rules from DecemberNorthern Ireland’s agriculture minister has warned that tighter bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) rules will take effect on 1 December 2025, reducing the threshold for herd restrictions and increasing testing requirements… 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 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… 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… 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 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… 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… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Livestock market so much more than sale ringWe tried the store lamb market this past week with my daughter’s Black Welsh Mountains, achieving a very respectable £92. The main flock is managed through to finishing, but these… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Biochar in broiler bedding on testNovember is one of the quietest times of the year on the farm, giving everyone a bit of a breather and me the chance for a valuable few days away… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Better silage storage proves ongoing conundrumGrass has never stopped growing: the unseasonally mild weather means we still have an abundance of it, and a few team members kept joking we should have taken a sixth… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Family getaway no escape from milk price dropWith the clocks turned back, the weather has turned wet here in west Wales. We're hoping to do some on/off grazing till mid-November and are aiming at closing farm cover… Dairy 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,… 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… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all 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… BALERS AND WRAPPERSAgritechnica 2025: Krone BaleTrain rakes and bales in one passWhat do you call a marriage of two-rotor rake and round baler-wrapper? That’d be a BaleTrain – Krone’s novel combination of rower-upper and baler that completes both jobs in a… Most popular this week
