Livestock top stories FEED AND NUTRITIONHow one farm is trialling a regen approach to forage maizeFaced with a reliance on maize but driven by a commitment to regenerative farming principles, Lucy and Rob Noad set out to prove that maize can be grown more sustainably.… LIVESTOCKAdvice on growing successful maize crops after a wet winterChallenging wet weather, waterlogged soils and flooded sites mean growers must be flexible and develop a farm-specific strategy to get maize seed in the ground this year. Conditions are not… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Relief as spring calving draws to a closeI look back over February with some relief, as we have calved 225 cows – 50% of them in 12 days – and a total of 325 have calved to… LIVESTOCKAdvice on cost-efficient calf feeding with milk replacerCalf rearers looking to make strategic cost savings in light of lower milk price could make efficiency gains by reviewing calf milk replacer feeding volumes and fat levels. Dr Jessica… DAIRYHow slurry investment will slash dairy unit’s energy billsIt takes courage to spend more than £700,000 on a small-scale anaerobic digestion plant and slurry separator when milk prices are under pressure. However, the new setup at a Cumbrian… PIGSHow a scoring tool can help close gaps in pig biosecurityBiosecurity is the foundation of disease control on pig farms and a powerful driver of performance. But despite its importance, it can feel abstract on farm, leaving producers unsure what… PARASITIC DISEASESNematodirus forecast tool puts focus on targeted treatmentSheep farmers are being urged to avoid blanket worming and instead combine a revamped nematodirus hatching forecast with on-farm risk assessment to protect their lambs. Independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings… HEALTH AND WELFARENewcastle disease risk to UK poultry raised as disease spreadsVeterinary experts at Defra have raised the risk status for Newcastle disease in poultry from “low” to “medium” as the disease continues to spread in continental Europe. Newcastle disease is… BREEDING AND FERTILITYAdvice on long-term dairy crossbreeding strategiesEarly adopters of crossbreeding as a tool to produce the right kind of cow for their block-calving, grazing-based systems, found that longer term breeding strategies could become haphazard. Selecting the… SHEEPSheep sector braces for shake-up over tailing and castrationSheep farmers have less than a week to respond to Defra’s consultation on tail docking and castration – proposals that could reshape flock management across the country. The UK-wide consultation,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Grazing group course clarifies business goalsIt is fair to say that we have all had enough of this awful weather. Thankfully, the days are gradually lengthening and spring is just about poking its head around… PIGSPig industry responds to London Underground ad campaignThe pig industry has expressed frustration over a two-week campaign by Animal Justice Project on the London underground, which has placed 22 large posters across 12 stations, urging commuters to… FEED AND NUTRITIONForage maize yield more than double under film, trial showsThe impact on a farm’s cost of production from more than doubling forage maize yield, from 7t dry matter/ha to 18t, is significant. This yield benefit was seen when the… LAMBINGCold milk fed to surplus lambs as good as warm, trial showsFeeding cold milk to surplus lambs can result in daily liveweight gain and weaning weights comparable with those fed warm milk, according to new research. But care must be taken… Livestock news SHEEPSheep sector braces for shake-up over tailing and castrationSheep farmers have less than a week to respond to Defra’s consultation on tail docking and castration – proposals that could reshape flock management across the country. The UK-wide consultation,… PIGSPig industry responds to London Underground ad campaignThe pig industry has expressed frustration over a two-week campaign by Animal Justice Project on the London underground, which has placed 22 large posters across 12 stations, urging commuters to… LIVESTOCK DISEASESBVD movement restrictions to start in Northern IrelandFarmers in Northern Ireland are being reminded of the impending movement restrictions for breeding‑age females in herds where bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) has been confirmed. The new measures come into… LIVESTOCKNFU issues pre-lambing safety adviceThe NFU has issued pre-lambing advice, warning that longer hours, late nights, early starts and fewer breaks, can increase the risk of exhaustion and accidents. Keeping mentally and physically healthy… 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 FEED AND NUTRITIONHow one farm is trialling a regen approach to forage maizeFaced with a reliance on maize but driven by a commitment to regenerative farming principles, Lucy and Rob Noad set out to prove that maize can be grown more sustainably.… LIVESTOCKAdvice on growing successful maize crops after a wet winterChallenging wet weather, waterlogged soils and flooded sites mean growers must be flexible and develop a farm-specific strategy to get maize seed in the ground this year. Conditions are not… DAIRYHow slurry investment will slash dairy unit’s energy billsIt takes courage to spend more than £700,000 on a small-scale anaerobic digestion plant and slurry separator when milk prices are under pressure. However, the new setup at a Cumbrian… PIGSHow a scoring tool can help close gaps in pig biosecurityBiosecurity is the foundation of disease control on pig farms and a powerful driver of performance. But despite its importance, it can feel abstract on farm, leaving producers unsure what… BREEDING AND FERTILITYAdvice on long-term dairy crossbreeding strategiesEarly adopters of crossbreeding as a tool to produce the right kind of cow for their block-calving, grazing-based systems, found that longer term breeding strategies could become haphazard. Selecting the… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow farm’s electronic weather station aids grazing decisionsDitching multiple Met Office weather forecasts in favour of their own, precise, weather predictions has allowed Georgina and Adam Roberts to fine-tune grazing management – and reduce poaching at Trye… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow one dairy grows top-quality grass for grazing and silageCheshire farmer James Witter mowed a fifth cut of grass silage on 28 December 2025, picking it up on New Year’s Eve, just before the weather turned cold. This additional… DAIRY3 ways for dairy units to make on/off grazing workA combination of low (or no) silage stocks and a falling milk price means there are dairy farmers turning cows out, despite wet conditions. On/off grazing is the most effective… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT6 tips on producing grass silage at optimal dry matterGood-quality grass silage is the foundation of the winter ration for livestock, and throughout the year for housed systems. A key metric for achieving the best intakes and performance from… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTBenefits of hay over silage for outwintered suckler cowsConserving multispecies swards as hay instead of silage has cut losses from spoilage and saved wrapping and disposal costs for Sam Pearman’s outwintered suckler cows on a bale-grazing system. See… SHEEPAdvice on feeding a home-mixed ration to pregnant ewesSheep farmers are often cautious about adopting total mixed ration feeding, in the belief that a manufactured compound is best suited to ewe intakes in late pregnancy. See also: Advice on… BEEFHow easy calving underpins low-input suckler herd successBreeding a low-input cow that has good temperament and functionality, thrives on challenging pastures and produces a calf unaided has been the goal at Atlantic Angus for more than 20… CALVINGAssisted calving: Advice on how and when to helpSome calving cows and heifers may just need more time to go through the different stages of labour, rather than have immediate assistance to get the calf out quickly. Yet… CALVINGHow to achieve the best results with outdoor calvingCalving suckler cows outside successfully needs the right body condition, good shelter, and a plan B for extreme weather events and emergencies. Although outdoor calving immediately lowers housing and bedding… BEEFHow a vaccine transformed crypto control for one beef systemA new vaccine for cryptosporidium has markedly improved calf health and eased labour demand on a Perthshire beef farm – but it relies on excellent colostrum management to be effective.… LAYERSHow free-range egg diversification solved labour dilemmaLabour is one of the biggest costs associated with running a business and can be a barrier to farmers becoming employers. For Aberdeenshire farmer Bruce Irvine, it was integrating a… 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 PRICESSmall abattoirs at ‘dangerous tipping point’A Welsh abattoir owner has warned the UK’s network of small slaughterhouses is at a “dangerous tipping point”, as rising regulatory costs threaten to force more local facilities out of… BUSINESSAuction marts left owed thousands by cull ewe buyersA number of auction markets in the north of England have been caught up in an ongoing bidding war between a handful of major cull ewe buyers operating in the… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESTories pledge to close Union Flag labelling loopholeThe Conservative Party has set out plans to close what it calls the “flag loophole” on food labelling, pledging reforms it says would better protect British farmers and improve transparency… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESFirst tariff-free shipment of UK beef arrives in USThe Defra secretary and NFU president are visiting Washington DC this week as the first tariff-free shipment of British beef arrives on US shelves under a new quota deal. Emma… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESStrong beef prices fail to prevent falling cattle numbersExceptionally strong beef prices throughout the past year were not enough to stem a continued decline in cattle numbers, with UK beef production down by 3.5% in 2025. Auctioneers, meat… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESMeat suppliers condemn rise in FSA inspection feesMeat trade body the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers has condemned an imminent hike in official controls charges by the Food Standards Agency, calling for its immediate suspension and a… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Relief as spring calving draws to a closeI look back over February with some relief, as we have calved 225 cows – 50% of them in 12 days – and a total of 325 have calved to… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Frustration as on-farm butchery plans refusedI hope everyone is well. I was hoping I could share some positive news, but it hasn’t worked out that way. The biggest frustration for me is that the factors… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Grazing group course clarifies business goalsIt is fair to say that we have all had enough of this awful weather. Thankfully, the days are gradually lengthening and spring is just about poking its head around… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Milk fever spike remains mystery despite testsWe might as well start with this month’s disasters. Make yourself a cuppa, as it’s a long list. I once spoke to someone not long after I started writing this… Dairy FEED AND NUTRITIONHow one farm is trialling a regen approach to forage maizeFaced with a reliance on maize but driven by a commitment to regenerative farming principles, Lucy and Rob Noad set out to prove that maize can be grown more sustainably.… DAIRYHow slurry investment will slash dairy unit’s energy billsIt takes courage to spend more than £700,000 on a small-scale anaerobic digestion plant and slurry separator when milk prices are under pressure. However, the new setup at a Cumbrian… BREEDING AND FERTILITYAdvice on long-term dairy crossbreeding strategiesEarly adopters of crossbreeding as a tool to produce the right kind of cow for their block-calving, grazing-based systems, found that longer term breeding strategies could become haphazard. Selecting the… FEED AND NUTRITIONForage maize yield more than double under film, trial showsThe impact on a farm’s cost of production from more than doubling forage maize yield, from 7t dry matter/ha to 18t, is significant. This yield benefit was seen when the… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow one dairy grows top-quality grass for grazing and silageCheshire farmer James Witter mowed a fifth cut of grass silage on 28 December 2025, picking it up on New Year’s Eve, just before the weather turned cold. This additional… DAIRY3 ways for dairy units to make on/off grazing workA combination of low (or no) silage stocks and a falling milk price means there are dairy farmers turning cows out, despite wet conditions. On/off grazing is the most effective… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESAnalysis: Milk price crash tests dairy resilienceWith farmgate milk prices down by more than a quarter since the autumn, dairy producers are dealing with a margin squeeze few producers have experienced at this pace. Since October,… BEEFNorthern Ireland consults on mandatory EID tags for calvesFarmers in Northern Ireland are being urged to share their views on mandatory electronic identification (EID) for newborn cattle as the government consultation nears its end. The Department of Agriculture,… CALVINGAssisted calving: Advice on how and when to helpSome calving cows and heifers may just need more time to go through the different stages of labour, rather than have immediate assistance to get the calf out quickly. Yet… DAIRYWearable tech for cows: How do farmers rate the options?Heat detection brings the biggest gains from wearable monitors – but reliability, good backup and ease of use matter just as much as price, an independent survey of dairy farmers… DAIRYProbiotics could hold key to lifetime dairy performanceTargeted use of probiotics in early life can support health, growth and, potentially, future milk yields, according to new research. Dr Colin Byrne, ruminant technical and deployment manager at Lallemand… STAFF MANAGEMENTEmploy more dairy staff for fewer hours, farmers advisedThe dairy industry does not have a labour shortage. Instead, farmers need to fundamentally address the way they manage people to make the sector more attractive, believes recruitment specialist Paul… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all GRASSLAND AND MAIZE EQUIPMENTTwo-in-one Visqueen silage cover speeds up clamp sheetingVisqueen has developed a twin-layer sheet that halves the time it takes to properly seal a silage pit. The first part of the Synergy combination is the firm’s Clingseal vacuum… LOADING SHOVELSDriver’s view: The good and bad of JCB’s 435S loading shovelJCB’s self-proclaimed “king of the clamp” underwent some subtle surgery last winter, giving it more power, more torque and a nifty new lever-steer system. An early example of this latest… MOWERSRT Sales’ stabilising frame reduces mower strain on tractorsMowing tractors could be in for an easier life, thanks to a nifty stabilising frame developed by RT Sales that promises to reduce the strain on cross-shafts and linkages. The… DIET FEEDERSDutch contractor establishes self-propelled mixer operationIt’s rare to find a contracting operation in the UK devoted exclusively to one line of work. A spread of jobs generally helps ensure year-round cashflow, employment for staff, and… Most popular this week
