Livestock top stories BREEDING AND FERTILITYHow organic autumn-block herd hit 77% six-week in-calf rateImproving 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 FOCUSFarmer Focus: Spares fill pickup for daily cattle checksGrazing 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… LIVESTOCKHow biomarkers can help uncover hidden flock health issuesAs 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… DAIRYHeat-stress strategies for grazing cows tested in NZ herdsFinding 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Fine silage weather kept tedding to minimumAs usual, there has been plenty going on. May saw us inseminate 384 cows in the first three weeks to give us a submission rate of 95%. Heifers were all… HOUSING AND HANDLINGWhy pig housing upgrades could unlock major efficiency gainsA fresh look at pig housing will be essential if producers are to meet the environmental, welfare and labour pressures increasingly facing the sector, according to a new report. Rethinking… DAIRY8 tips for planning an expansion with a second herdAmbition 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Spot-on forecast sees silage safely clampedThere’s nothing like the sound and sight of your neighbours mowing grass to get you phoning the contractor. We still share a set of double mowers, even though we gave… LIVESTOCKHow dairy course grew young farmer’s business skillsUnafraid 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Westerwolds crop of choice on pig groundThe recent hot weather will have been a challenge for farmers across the board. I was very grateful that we had only just taken piglets into the indoor units. And… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow grazing app cuts time taken to measure grass by 75%A smartphone app is cutting the time it takes to walk the grazing platform by using a camera to scan paddocks. Instead of typically spending three to four hours plonking… BOVINE TBTB cattle vaccine set for rollout by 2030 in EnglandA refreshed strategy to tackle bovine TB in England sets an ambition to roll out cattle vaccination by 2030, as part of a plan to achieve disease-free status by 2038.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Talk to a neighbour – it could save a lifeWhat a year it’s been for grass growth. We've had a bumper first cut with more than 1,000t in the clamp already – that's 50% of what we need for… LIVESTOCK DISEASESWest Wales bluetongue case sparks vaccine reminderFarmers are being urged to vaccinate livestock against bluetongue following a series of new cases across England and Wales, including the first confirmed case in west Wales. Bluetongue is a… Livestock news LIVESTOCKDefra delays cattle traceability overhaul to 2027Defra 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 TBJoint Ireland-NI bovine TB project secures £9.6m fundingNorthern 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… LIVESTOCKFree water bowsers on offer from Severn TrentLivestock 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 WELFAREDoubts persist after Bovaer study finds no clear impactA 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 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 BREEDING AND FERTILITYHow organic autumn-block herd hit 77% six-week in-calf rateImproving 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… DAIRY8 tips for planning an expansion with a second herdAmbition 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… LIVESTOCKHow dairy course grew young farmer’s business skillsUnafraid 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… LIVESTOCKHow bulk milk sampling tech helped slash mastitis casesA 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 NUTRITIONAdvice on testing big bale silage to optimise feed decisionsFarms 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 HEALTH5 steps to tackling digital dermatitis in dairy cowsLameness 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 MANAGEMENT7 ways to protect grass growth from dry weather extremesThe 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… DAIRYCow’s milk or calf milk replacer: 5 things to considerCost 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… SHEEPHow regular body condition scoring aims to improve scanningTreating 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… BEEF7 tips beef farmers can learn from dairy farmersBeef 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… SHEEPHow regularly condition scoring ewes reduces lossesRegular 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… BEEFHow a suckler farmer works with nature to improve resilienceCornish 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… DAIRYAdvice on getting successful inseminations with sexed semenSexed 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… FEED AND NUTRITIONTop quality forage minimises feed costs in autumn-block herdStocking the milking platform at 5.5 livestock units a hectare is challenging. But with good grass management and making quality silage at 12MJ of metabolisable energy/kg dry matter and 16%… DAIRYAdvice on supplementing dry cow minerals without a wagonProviding cows with magnesium, selenium, iodine and other minerals is vital in the dry period. Yet it can be a stage in the production cycle that many farmers get wrong… DAIRYHow AI-linked cameras on backing gates can improve cow flowA backing gate to improve cow flow in the collecting yard can only be as good as the person controlling it. But replacing a human with cameras linked to artificial… Grazing advice Benefits of digestible cocksfoot and tall fescue in drought 3 ways for dairy units to make on/off grazing work Advice on grazing management to reduce tick risk to cattle Spring grazing strategies to maximise lamb performance Meat markets and pricesSee all MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESScottish beef and lamb sector eyes £350m growth boostScottish 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 PRICESStrong export demand underpins UK beef and sheep pricesA 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… BUSINESSPig sector unnerved as processors end contracts and cut jobsPig 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… BUSINESSCall to ban imports over use of antibiotics as growth promotersIndustry 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 PRICESNPA calls on supply chain to support independent pig producersThe 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… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESSuperb lamb trade surpasses £9/kg deadweightThe lamb trade has been as hot as the weather in the past week, with prices at their highest levels for two years. Tight supplies, strong exports and exceptional seasonal… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Spares fill pickup for daily cattle checksGrazing 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Fine silage weather kept tedding to minimumAs usual, there has been plenty going on. May saw us inseminate 384 cows in the first three weeks to give us a submission rate of 95%. Heifers were all… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Spot-on forecast sees silage safely clampedThere’s nothing like the sound and sight of your neighbours mowing grass to get you phoning the contractor. We still share a set of double mowers, even though we gave… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Westerwolds crop of choice on pig groundThe recent hot weather will have been a challenge for farmers across the board. I was very grateful that we had only just taken piglets into the indoor units. And… Dairy BREEDING AND FERTILITYHow organic autumn-block herd hit 77% six-week in-calf rateImproving 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… DAIRYHeat-stress strategies for grazing cows tested in NZ herdsFinding 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… DAIRY8 tips for planning an expansion with a second herdAmbition 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… NEWSDairy farm numbers slip below 7,000 for first timeDairy 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… LIVESTOCKHow dairy course grew young farmer’s business skillsUnafraid 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… LIVESTOCKHow bulk milk sampling tech helped slash mastitis casesA 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 HEALTH5 steps to tackling digital dermatitis in dairy cowsLameness 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… DAIRYFarmers urged to share hoof health data to cut lamenessDairy 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,… DAIRYCow’s milk or calf milk replacer: 5 things to considerCost 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… DAIRYAdvice on getting successful inseminations with sexed semenSexed 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… FEED AND NUTRITIONTop quality forage minimises feed costs in autumn-block herdStocking the milking platform at 5.5 livestock units a hectare is challenging. But with good grass management and making quality silage at 12MJ of metabolisable energy/kg dry matter and 16%… DAIRYAdvice on supplementing dry cow minerals without a wagonProviding cows with magnesium, selenium, iodine and other minerals is vital in the dry period. Yet it can be a stage in the production cycle that many farmers get wrong… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all TRAILERSCereals 2026: Grizzly Terra-Haul Maxx packs all the extrasThere’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 SHOVELSTaylor Attachments takes on production of MDE grass forksThe 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 MERGERSKuhn goes mounted with latest GA twin-rotor rakeA 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… GRASSLAND AND MAIZE EQUIPMENTBallyheather's Tyreshift flicks sidewalls onto clampsFarm Inventions Competition regular Albert O’Neil has been doing a roaring trade with his Tyreshift 350, which takes the legwork out of loading tyres and sidewalls onto clamps. The nifty… Most popular this week
