Menu

Livestock top stories

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How solar water pumps can extend areas suitable for grazing

Lack of water supply can restrict how livestock farms make use of off-lying fields and rented land – but solar energy can offer a solution. Solar watering systems give cattle…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Gravity-fed water boosts grazing block supply

As we see yet another prime minister quit their post, and with change at the helm of Defra, can it get any worse? I suspect it will, as we appear…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How fore-milking can increase mastitis detection by 146%

Research conducted on Irish dairy farms showed fore-stripping increased clinical mastitis detection by up to 146%. The finding led PhD student Rachael Millar to conclude that clinical mastitis may be…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Strong grass growth prompts early ewe purchase

I am writing this sat by the pool in Sardinia, and what a lovely place it is. June has always been the time for a family holiday for us, and…

SHEEP

7 tips for weaning and post-weaning management of lambs

When to wean is one of the most important decisions in a flock’s calendar, influencing lamb performance and ewe scanning rates. Charlotte Mouland from Synergy Farm Health says the weaning…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Cereals wowed this Welsh hill farmer

The closest I usually get to arable is our annual wholecrop harvest or complaining about the price of straw. But I was drawn to attend the Cereals event at Diddly…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

New breeding tools target flock efficiency and methane output

Selecting for low methane alongside desirable production traits could cut emissions by 10-20% over 10 years without compromising efficiency, a three-year research project has found. Data from more than 13,000…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

How cow collars saved 150 hours of labour in breeding season

Investment in heat detection technology will be recouped within 2.3 years by cost savings on labour and sweeper bulls, a study on a Welsh dairy farm has found. Father and…

LIVESTOCK

Prizewinning livestock to the fore at Highland Show

The Royal Highland Show attracted a record 210,000 visitors to Ingliston, Edinburgh, celebrating Scottish agriculture with livestock, machinery and innovation at its core. Held from 18-21 June, the event welcomed…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Tough times for herds on less than 30p/litre

We consider ourselves fortunate to have our Arla milk contract. It has delivered a good milk price and provides opportunities – not quite the protection of a full supermarket contract,…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

How organic autumn-block herd hit 77% six-week in-calf rate

Improving fertility in an organic autumn block-calving herd has cut the calving spread from 16 weeks to 9.5 – without resorting to hormones, buying in replacements or culling cows. Milk…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Spares fill pickup for daily cattle checks

Grazing on the Salisbury Plain, our cattle can be quite far from the farmyard, so being prepared for all eventualities is key when we go out and check round. The…

LIVESTOCK

How biomarkers can help uncover hidden flock health issues

As poultry production systems become increasingly data driven, producers are generating more information than ever before – but turning those figures into practical management decisions remains a challenge. While modern…

DAIRY

Heat-stress strategies for grazing cows tested in NZ herds

Finding ways to mitigate heat stress for cows at grass each summer is posing an increasing challenge as spells of high temperatures become commonplace. But next year, there will be…

Livestock news

LIVESTOCK

Defra delays cattle traceability overhaul to 2027

Defra has pushed back England’s long-awaited cattle traceability overhaul to mid-2027, citing the need to align with emerging UK-EU livestock traceability requirements. The delay means the new digital traceability system…

BOVINE TB

Joint Ireland-NI bovine TB project secures £9.6m funding

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have released further details on a cross-border bovine TB research project targeting wildlife, cattle and farm biosecurity in border regions. The Department of…

LIVESTOCK

Free water bowsers on offer from Severn Trent

Livestock farmers in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire are being offered free mobile water bowsers by Severn Trent as pressure grows on farm water supplies during increasingly dry conditions. The water company…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Doubts persist after Bovaer study finds no clear impact

A major new Danish study has found no evidence that methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer increases cow mortality or reduces overall milk yield, though researchers say significant uncertainty remains over its…

More articles
Join your UK-wide community dedicated to connecting women in agriculture

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 How

See all

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How solar water pumps can extend areas suitable for grazing

Lack of water supply can restrict how livestock farms make use of off-lying fields and rented land – but solar energy can offer a solution. Solar watering systems give cattle…

SHEEP

7 tips for weaning and post-weaning management of lambs

When to wean is one of the most important decisions in a flock’s calendar, influencing lamb performance and ewe scanning rates. Charlotte Mouland from Synergy Farm Health says the weaning…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

How cow collars saved 150 hours of labour in breeding season

Investment in heat detection technology will be recouped within 2.3 years by cost savings on labour and sweeper bulls, a study on a Welsh dairy farm has found. Father and…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

How organic autumn-block herd hit 77% six-week in-calf rate

Improving fertility in an organic autumn block-calving herd has cut the calving spread from 16 weeks to 9.5 – without resorting to hormones, buying in replacements or culling cows. Milk…

DAIRY

8 tips for planning an expansion with a second herd

Ambition drives growth in dairy farming, whether on a smaller scale by increasing cow numbers or yield, or the bolder aspiration of setting up an entirely new herd. Establishing a…

LIVESTOCK

How dairy course grew young farmer’s business skills

Unafraid of numbers yet with little experience in using them to run a dairy farm, it was George Watts’ decision to buy a 24/48 parlour that made him improve his…

LIVESTOCK

How bulk milk sampling tech helped slash mastitis cases

A block-calving dairy unit has cut its herd mastitis rate by 75%, helped by a technique that analyses cow DNA using a single milk sample taken from the bulk tank.…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Advice on testing big bale silage to optimise feed decisions

Farms relying on big bale silage to feed cattle should have an idea of its nutritional value – and ideally get some feedback on their field management. The simplest way…

FOOT HEALTH

5 steps to tackling digital dermatitis in dairy cows

Lameness prevalence in UK herds remains stubbornly high, at about 30% – a figure that has changed little for decades. “Thirty years ago, our industry average [incidence] for lameness was…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

7 ways to protect grass growth from dry weather extremes

The UK had the warmest and sunniest spring on record in 2025. Twelve months on, after a winter of extreme rainfall in some regions, this year’s growing season is following…

DAIRY

Cow’s milk or calf milk replacer: 5 things to consider

Cost should not be the principal factor guiding choice of calf nutrition, but it is certainly influential. At a breakeven point of 32-34p/litre, there is currently no clear winner on…

SHEEP

How regular body condition scoring aims to improve scanning

Treating only underperforming lambs for worm burdens has seen a Welsh sheep farm cut its wormer use by more than 45% while maintaining weights and performance. Montgomeryshire farmers Glyn and…

BEEF

7 tips beef farmers can learn from dairy farmers

Beef producers who step up their game by adopting the skill sets dairy farmers learned to ensure profitability in fluctuating milk markets can grow sustainable businesses. The aim, says Adas…

SHEEP

How regularly condition scoring ewes reduces losses

Regular body condition scoring proved critical for Devon sheep farmer Richard Stanbury during last year’s dry summer. It highlighted how timely data and targeted management – particularly for young ewes…

BEEF

How a suckler farmer works with nature to improve resilience

Cornish farmer Jonathan Chapman has shaped his suckler herd to work in harmony with the natural environment, building a system that balances productivity with sustainability. Farming 350ha (865 acres) alongside…

DAIRY

Advice on getting successful inseminations with sexed semen

Sexed semen has reduced the heifer or bull lottery from inseminating with a conventional straw. But its higher cost means it makes economic sense to be extra diligent with cow…

Grazing advice

Meat markets and prices

See all

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Beef stabilises near £6/kg deadweight after price fall

Beef finishers have endured a sharp fall in prime cattle prices during recent months, although signs are emerging that the market is beginning to stabilise. After falling by more than…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Scottish beef and lamb sector eyes £350m growth boost

Scottish livestock producers could help generate an additional £350m in output and £100m in economic value by 2032, according to new research highlighting strong consumer support for home-produced red meat.…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Strong export demand underpins UK beef and sheep prices

A strong appetite for red meat on the Continent is helping to support domestic prices, with export volumes and values up on the year. Europe remains the largest market for…

BUSINESS

Pig sector unnerved as processors end contracts and cut jobs

Pig producers across Europe continue to face significant challenges, driven by low farmgate prices, contract uncertainty, and structural reforms by processors. While the scale of backlogs of pigs on farm…

BUSINESS

Call to ban imports over use of antibiotics as growth promoters

Industry and veterinary leaders have backed calls for a UK import ban on products from animals given growth-promoting antibiotics, citing public health concerns and fairer competition for farmers. The Alliance…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

NPA calls on supply chain to support independent pig producers

The National Pig Association is urging processors and retailers to offer stronger longer-term commitments to pig producers, as the sector finds itself in turmoil. Processing backlogs have led to more finished…

Livestock community

See all

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Gravity-fed water boosts grazing block supply

As we see yet another prime minister quit their post, and with change at the helm of Defra, can it get any worse? I suspect it will, as we appear…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Strong grass growth prompts early ewe purchase

I am writing this sat by the pool in Sardinia, and what a lovely place it is. June has always been the time for a family holiday for us, and…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Cereals wowed this Welsh hill farmer

The closest I usually get to arable is our annual wholecrop harvest or complaining about the price of straw. But I was drawn to attend the Cereals event at Diddly…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Tough times for herds on less than 30p/litre

We consider ourselves fortunate to have our Arla milk contract. It has delivered a good milk price and provides opportunities – not quite the protection of a full supermarket contract,…

Dairy

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How fore-milking can increase mastitis detection by 146%

Research conducted on Irish dairy farms showed fore-stripping increased clinical mastitis detection by up to 146%. The finding led PhD student Rachael Millar to conclude that clinical mastitis may be…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

How cow collars saved 150 hours of labour in breeding season

Investment in heat detection technology will be recouped within 2.3 years by cost savings on labour and sweeper bulls, a study on a Welsh dairy farm has found. Father and…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

How organic autumn-block herd hit 77% six-week in-calf rate

Improving fertility in an organic autumn block-calving herd has cut the calving spread from 16 weeks to 9.5 – without resorting to hormones, buying in replacements or culling cows. Milk…

DAIRY

Heat-stress strategies for grazing cows tested in NZ herds

Finding ways to mitigate heat stress for cows at grass each summer is posing an increasing challenge as spells of high temperatures become commonplace. But next year, there will be…

DAIRY

8 tips for planning an expansion with a second herd

Ambition drives growth in dairy farming, whether on a smaller scale by increasing cow numbers or yield, or the bolder aspiration of setting up an entirely new herd. Establishing a…

NEWS

Dairy farm numbers slip below 7,000 for first time

Dairy producers continue to exit the industry at an alarming rate, with nearly 200 fewer dairy farms operating in April 2026 compared with the same time last year. Just 6,850…

LIVESTOCK

How dairy course grew young farmer’s business skills

Unafraid of numbers yet with little experience in using them to run a dairy farm, it was George Watts’ decision to buy a 24/48 parlour that made him improve his…

LIVESTOCK

How bulk milk sampling tech helped slash mastitis cases

A block-calving dairy unit has cut its herd mastitis rate by 75%, helped by a technique that analyses cow DNA using a single milk sample taken from the bulk tank.…

FOOT HEALTH

5 steps to tackling digital dermatitis in dairy cows

Lameness prevalence in UK herds remains stubbornly high, at about 30% – a figure that has changed little for decades. “Thirty years ago, our industry average [incidence] for lameness was…

DAIRY

Farmers urged to share hoof health data to cut lameness

Dairy producers and foot-trimmers are being encouraged to share data with the UK Hoof Health Registry to improve genetic evaluations for lameness. Since its launch by the University of Liverpool,…

DAIRY

Cow’s milk or calf milk replacer: 5 things to consider

Cost should not be the principal factor guiding choice of calf nutrition, but it is certainly influential. At a breakeven point of 32-34p/litre, there is currently no clear winner on…

DAIRY

Advice on getting successful inseminations with sexed semen

Sexed semen has reduced the heifer or bull lottery from inseminating with a conventional straw. But its higher cost means it makes economic sense to be extra diligent with cow…

Livestock machinery

See all

TELEHANDLERS

First impressions: Tougher boom for Manitou MLT 630 115V

It might not look that different, but a host of nifty design tweaks can be found lurking under the familiar skin of Manitou’s MLT 630 115. These so-called “evolution” upgrades…

TRAILERS

Cereals 2026: Grizzly Terra-Haul Maxx packs all the extras

There’s a new flagship low loader in Grizzly Trailers’ line-up that comes packed with high-end gear. The Terra-Haul Maxx, seen here with 35ft deck and triple axles, is fitted with…

LOADING SHOVELS

Taylor Attachments takes on production of MDE grass forks

The giant-size grass forks and other agricultural products produced by MDE Machinery will in future be manufactured by Taylor Attachments at its farm-based factory near Bristol. Taylor is best known…

RAKES AND MERGERS

Kuhn goes mounted with latest GA twin-rotor rake

A new grass rake built to have the capacity of a twin-rotor trailed machine and the handy manoeuvrability of a mounted unit has joined the Kuhn range for gathering spread…

Most popular this week