Livestock top stories GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTBenefits of early bite after maize for autumn-calving herdEarly bite is not only transitioning cows and rumens onto grazed grass, it is also saving bedding straw and labour for a Norfolk 180-cow autumn-calving herd. “We drop down to… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Winter farm maintenance checks include meDuring the winter months, the emphasis has been on maintenance, so that all areas of our farming system are up to speed and ready for the season ahead. With lambing… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Attention to detail pays off in lambing shedWe have had a tremendous month: a tremendous challenge lambing with a cold wind blowing through the lambing shed, and a tremendous result with only two preventable losses in the… BUSINESSTesco’s Greenprint report reveals need for farming visionPolitical uncertainty and financial pressures are weighing heavily on the UK farming industry at a time when clarity about its future direction is required urgently, warns the UK’s leading supermarket.… BOVINE TBTB vaccine and test move to next phase in England and WalesCommercial cattle farms in low-incidence bovine tuberculosis (TB) areas of England and Wales are being invited to participate in the next round of field trials for a cattle vaccine and… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow to plan grazing to avoid soil compaction in wet weatherPreventing soil compaction is cheaper than rectifying damage caused by grazing in wet conditions or overstocking at turnout. Short term, it is more important to prioritise soil condition over cow… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Robot milking couldn't have gone betterFour weeks since we milked the first cow through the robot and, at risk of sounding overly smug, it couldn’t have gone better. The team from Longtown were great to… ASSESSING PERFORMANCETerminal sires sought for 10th year of ram genetics projectRamCompare is seeking rams or semen from performance-recorded, terminal sire breeds for the 2025 breeding season. Since its launch in 2015, the national progeny test has assessed more than 500… LIVESTOCKRoutine wormer no longer reliable for treating lungwormFarmers are being warned that routine wormer treatments are no longer considered reliable for treating lungworm in cattle, with vaccination now deemed the more effective solution. The warning comes as… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTTop tips on tailoring herbal leys to upland farmsFarmers in upland areas considering herbal leys are encouraged to adopt a step-by-step approach, starting with small-scale trials to determine what works best for their land, before expanding. This cautious… LIVESTOCK DISEASESBluetongue vaccines approved in WalesThe Welsh government has approved the emergency use of three bluetongue vaccines from 1 March this year to help slow the spread of the virus. Vaccines must be prescribed by… LIVESTOCKHow an Irish dairy unit is using clover to target zero NA good grass-growing farm – albeit one at altitude – has been gradually incorporating clover into its leys as part of its low-nitrogen grazing system. As a result, Bryan and… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Water divination helps field drain maintenanceJanuary and February are usually months where we get some much-needed maintenance done. We have spent the past few weeks fixing field drains, and I’ve been practising my water-divining skills.… LIVESTOCK DISEASESBluetongue virus: What to look out for and how to manage itBluetongue virus risk is at a seasonal low, but producers should be ready for that to change in spring. Bluetongue virus is an insect-borne disease that can affect all ruminants.… Livestock news LIVESTOCKRoutine wormer no longer reliable for treating lungwormFarmers are being warned that routine wormer treatments are no longer considered reliable for treating lungworm in cattle, with vaccination now deemed the more effective solution. The warning comes as… LIVESTOCK DISEASESBluetongue vaccines approved in WalesThe Welsh government has approved the emergency use of three bluetongue vaccines from 1 March this year to help slow the spread of the virus. Vaccines must be prescribed by… LIVESTOCK DISEASESBluetongue cases hit 200 as zone extends in South WestThe bluetongue restricted zone (RZ) in England has been further expanded in the South West, now covering Dorset, Wiltshire, and parts of Somerset and Devon. This follows more than 200… LIVESTOCKPGI Welsh lamb heads to Middle EastProtected geographical indication (PGI) Welsh lamb is once again headed to the Middle East in a bid to attract new buyers in an expanding market. Welsh red meat levy body… 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 GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTBenefits of early bite after maize for autumn-calving herdEarly bite is not only transitioning cows and rumens onto grazed grass, it is also saving bedding straw and labour for a Norfolk 180-cow autumn-calving herd. “We drop down to… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow to plan grazing to avoid soil compaction in wet weatherPreventing soil compaction is cheaper than rectifying damage caused by grazing in wet conditions or overstocking at turnout. Short term, it is more important to prioritise soil condition over cow… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTTop tips on tailoring herbal leys to upland farmsFarmers in upland areas considering herbal leys are encouraged to adopt a step-by-step approach, starting with small-scale trials to determine what works best for their land, before expanding. This cautious… LIVESTOCKHow an Irish dairy unit is using clover to target zero NA good grass-growing farm – albeit one at altitude – has been gradually incorporating clover into its leys as part of its low-nitrogen grazing system. As a result, Bryan and… LIVESTOCK DISEASESBluetongue virus: What to look out for and how to manage itBluetongue virus risk is at a seasonal low, but producers should be ready for that to change in spring. Bluetongue virus is an insect-borne disease that can affect all ruminants.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Scotland feeds people, England feeds birdsWhat a week it has been, packed with key events that highlight the strength and future of our industry. It all started in Stirling with the Aberdeen Angus and Beef… BEEFPost-weaning cattle growth rates double with natural spot-onA family butcher is expecting to see days to slaughter fall in cattle treated with a topical pheromone that has improved growth rates after weaning and castration. When Steve Conisbee’s… DAIRY4 ways to overcome labour shortages on UK dairy farmsAutomation, better staff packages, and using contractors could hold the key to addressing labour shortages on UK dairy farms. Olivia Ward, farm business adviser at GFW, explains that Brexit, which… LAYERSWhy a poultry and arable unit uses 'circular feeding'Poultry and arable enterprises complement each other well at Nun Monkton Farm, near York, where the Throup family have farmed for nearly 40 years. “Everything we grow on the arable… BREEDING AND FERTILITYWhy breeding goals are key to optimise days in milkIn a block-calving herd, the earlier a cow calves, the more milk she can produce before the herd is dried off as one. This means it makes business sense to… SHEEPHill flock beats high-profit ewes amid suckler expansionA hill flock has survived a major enterprise restructure on an Exmoor farm, which saw cow numbers increased at the expense of a profitable in-bye sheep system. Only 150 shearlings… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTWhy a simple, repeatable system is key for calf rearingAttention to detail and consistency are the keys to success with calves, according to consultant vet Tommy Heffernan. It sounds simple, he says, but in practice, remains hard to achieve… LAMBING20 tips for lambing from award-winning sheep farmersEach year, the UK sheep industry lambs 15m breeding ewes in a huge variety of systems and locations. From sea level to hill top, they lamb in every month of… ASSESSING PERFORMANCESheep and cattle new entrant shares 4 key lessonsA small grassland farm is turning profits from sheep, sucklers and dairy heifer rearing for a dairy breeding consultant cum part-time farmer. Tom Sellers runs a 25ha (62-acre) Powys County… SHEEPFlock health and farm cost benefits from mineral auditingApplying fertiliser enriched with sulphur can improve grass yields, but a project in Wales has demonstrated why farmers should monitor impacts on their livestock or risk poor performance. Roger and… LAMBINGWhy iodine alternative brings four benefits to lambing shedA fast-drying navel protection solution has impressed in lambing sheds under trial conditions, providing an effective alternative to iodine. Interest in substitute desiccants for navels has grown since the cost… Ewe management advice How mineral blood test helps cut barren rates in Highlands flock Tips for feeding and managing ewes for lambing success Advice on planning for triplet lambs and options for rearing How to budget and allocate rotational grazing for ewes Meat markets and pricesSee all DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESStrong EU export markets add premium to farmgate pricesThe livestock and dairy sectors have both benefited from strong demand for exports, which has helped to strengthen farmgate values in the past year. The UK exports more than 500,000t… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESSuckler cows in short supply as finished beef markets thriveFinished beef markets have continued to go from strength to strength in recent months and are up by almost 30% on the year, with top deadweight prices on the cusp… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK meat exports hit record highBritish red meat exports have hit a record high, boosting its worth to £1.77bn in 2024, underpinned by an increased appetite for beef in Europe and wider markets. Beef shipments… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESSmaller breeding flock to keep lamb prices elevated in 2025Domestic lamb prices are due to remain supported during much of 2025 as a result of fewer breeding ewes and a smaller lamb crop. The UK breeding sheep flock has… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESGlobal pig herd set to grow as producer margins improveGlobal pork production is set for a modest increase in 2025 of roughly 1%, with sow herds expanding in China, Mexico, and Brazil, but contracting in the US and EU.… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESDepleted NI sheep flock leads to urgent calls for supportThe sheep sector in Northern Ireland remains in decline and contracted for the third consecutive year in 2024, prompting calls from the industry for immediate support. There were 930,000 ewes… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Winter farm maintenance checks include meDuring the winter months, the emphasis has been on maintenance, so that all areas of our farming system are up to speed and ready for the season ahead. With lambing… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Attention to detail pays off in lambing shedWe have had a tremendous month: a tremendous challenge lambing with a cold wind blowing through the lambing shed, and a tremendous result with only two preventable losses in the… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Robot milking couldn't have gone betterFour weeks since we milked the first cow through the robot and, at risk of sounding overly smug, it couldn’t have gone better. The team from Longtown were great to… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Water divination helps field drain maintenanceJanuary and February are usually months where we get some much-needed maintenance done. We have spent the past few weeks fixing field drains, and I’ve been practising my water-divining skills.… Dairy GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTBenefits of early bite after maize for autumn-calving herdEarly bite is not only transitioning cows and rumens onto grazed grass, it is also saving bedding straw and labour for a Norfolk 180-cow autumn-calving herd. “We drop down to… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow to plan grazing to avoid soil compaction in wet weatherPreventing soil compaction is cheaper than rectifying damage caused by grazing in wet conditions or overstocking at turnout. Short term, it is more important to prioritise soil condition over cow… LIVESTOCKRoutine wormer no longer reliable for treating lungwormFarmers are being warned that routine wormer treatments are no longer considered reliable for treating lungworm in cattle, with vaccination now deemed the more effective solution. The warning comes as… LIVESTOCKHow an Irish dairy unit is using clover to target zero NA good grass-growing farm – albeit one at altitude – has been gradually incorporating clover into its leys as part of its low-nitrogen grazing system. As a result, Bryan and… LIVESTOCK DISEASESBluetongue virus: What to look out for and how to manage itBluetongue virus risk is at a seasonal low, but producers should be ready for that to change in spring. Bluetongue virus is an insect-borne disease that can affect all ruminants.… DAIRYLifting kit launched to help with downer cowsAnimal and human welfare will both benefit from a cow lifting device launched in a partnership between a farmer, vet and engineer. North Dorset dairy farmer James Yeatman devised the… SHEEPHow to get the most out of bluetongue campaignEfforts to arm farmers with tools and knowledge to battle bluetongue are ramping up across the country in an industry-wide vaccination campaign. Led by vets, “Battle Bluetongue” urges farmers to… DAIRYIn-parlour sniffer sensors could provide low-cost methane testSensors that sample cows’ breath while they are feeding in the milking parlour could provide a simpler and more accurate solution to monitoring methane emissions. The sniffer sensor technology has… BOVINE TBTB breakdowns take toll on Welsh dairy farmerA Pembrokeshire dairy farmer has spoken of her anguish after a further 26 dairy cows have been taken following a positive TB test, reducing the milking herd to 190. Mary… DAIRY4 ways to overcome labour shortages on UK dairy farmsAutomation, better staff packages, and using contractors could hold the key to addressing labour shortages on UK dairy farms. Olivia Ward, farm business adviser at GFW, explains that Brexit, which… DAIRYProtein milk test could aid earlier pregnancy diagnosisScreening milk for pregnancy-associated glycoprotein could help dairy farmers detect pregnancy earlier than traditional scanning methods – particularly those wanting to maintain a tight calving block. Developed by Idexx, the… LIVESTOCK DISEASESJohne’s risk detection improved with new data analysis toolUse of artificial intelligence and machine learning to better interpret a chronic and contagious bacterial infection could improve prevention and control strategies for dairy farmers. Until now, the approach has… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all TELEHANDLERSFirst impressions: Powershift cut for JCB's TM280S telehandlerShort of a pivot-steer telehandler to sit between its compact TM220 and heavier-duty TM320 Telemaster, JCB decided to build one. Well, two, actually. The fruits of this endeavour are the… WORKSHOP SKILLSInventions Comp 2025: Woodchip blower trailer bags top prizeBagging the top spot in this year’s complex category is Gavin Winters of County Tyrone-based Winters Renewables, who fashioned his own high-spec blower trailer. The driver for this ambitious project… TRAILERSRevamped ramp system for Bailey Trailers BeavertailRefinements to the design of Bailey Trailers’ beavertail low-loader include a more flexible means of securing the ramps for easier greasing and to accommodate different loads. Using a turnbuckle for… TRAILERSMarshall unveils low-loader trailer with hydraulic beavertailThe first low-loader trailer from Marshall features a novel hydraulically raised and lowered end section that can be used as a loading ramp or load deck. It gives the trailer… Most popular this week
