Livestock top stories BEEFCattle numbers up on 50% of farms, beef survey revealsDiseases such as TB rank alongside costs, rent, and finance as the biggest barriers to growing a sustainable and profitable beef business, closely followed by investment needed to meet legislation… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTAHDB add 11 new grass varieties to recommended listNew varieties of hybrid and perennial ryegrasses, clover, and lucerne have been added to the AHDB’s Recommended Grass and Clover Lists for England and Wales. The updated list for 2026-27… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Grazing system switch presents bull quandaryThere is a saying locally: “Dinnae cast yer cloot until May is oot”. There is some debate as to whether this refers to the month of May or the May… 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… 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Flexible grazing decisions key in dry springWith the weather this spring being remarkably similar to last year, we are extremely pleased we made the decision to shut one field up at lambing time. If it hadn’t… 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… POULTRYBetter planning needed to bolster domestic poultry productionPlanning delays, inconsistent local decisions and systemic barriers are putting a brake on poultry production, increasing the threat that growing consumer demand for chicken will be met by lower-standard imports.… 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Refocus on detail delivers best broiler cropMay tends to be a quieter time on the farm here. With lambing out of the way and silaging normally starting at the end of the month, it gives us… 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… 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… 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: What farmers need from new Welsh governmentFinally, a change has happened in Wales. For all of my adult life, the Welsh government has been run by Labour and, as is well documented, many farmers think Labour… Livestock news 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… ENVIRONMENTNFU warns cattle permits could curb farm investmentThe NFU has warned that extending Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) to cattle farms could damage confidence and investment in the livestock sector, after receiving hundreds of survey responses from beef… 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 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… FEED AND NUTRITIONAdvice on preventing two types of spoilage in silage clampsGood operators are pushing production from forage by making top-quality, high-protein and wetter grass silages, which make it more challenging to prevent secondary fermentation. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding within the industry… PIGS5 steps to achieve good pig farm biosecurityGiven the ever-present threat of notifiable disease African swine fever, Young National Pig Association members have made a range of pledges to help improve biosecurity on pig farms. Everyone has… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTTips on pre-mowing grazing paddocks with poor residualsPaddocks with poor residuals after the first two grazing rounds can be reset now by pre-mowing before the grass plant gets into its reproductive phase. Wet ground conditions, over allocation… DAIRYSmart dairy investments when cashflow is tightOperating in a tight financial climate means double-checking planned investments are really worth the money. Before parking this year’s building (or maintenance) project because escalating input costs are squeezing the… PIGSHow to make biosecurity effective on pig farmsThe government’s consultation on a compulsory porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus control and eradication scheme, for farms in England with more than 50 pigs, will soon close. Alongside a… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow to start rotational grazing with beef and sheepBetter grazing management has allowed the Berry family to expand their sheep and beef enterprise without the need to take on additional land. A series of measures, including rotational grazing… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTBenefits of digestible cocksfoot and tall fescue in droughtDemand for grass mixes that perform dependably in dry conditions can be met by growing cocksfoot and tall fescue, with only slight changes in management to ryegrass-dominant swards. While perennial… 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 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… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESBeef sector warns falling prices may lead to fewer cattleMany livestock farmers are facing losses on finished cattle as beef prices continue to decline. With prime beef dropping to below £6/kg deadweight, finishers who purchased store cattle last year… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESFurther pig contracts at risk as sector struggles with backlogsSeveral major processors have served notice to pig producers, either terminating contracts or asking them to provide fewer pigs, as the industry struggles to tackle a growing backlog of pigs… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESMorrisons’ abattoir serves notice to pig producersWoodheads abattoir in Lincolnshire, owned by the supermarket chain Morrisons, has given notice to a significant number of pig producers, citing a “challenging economic climate”. Some producers are expected to… BUSINESSMull Slaughterhouse launches new livestock collection serviceA slaughterhouse and butchery service on the Scottish Isle of Mull is launching a livestock collection service to help remote farmers and crofters access local processing without arranging their own… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Grazing system switch presents bull quandaryThere is a saying locally: “Dinnae cast yer cloot until May is oot”. There is some debate as to whether this refers to the month of May or the May… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Flexible grazing decisions key in dry springWith the weather this spring being remarkably similar to last year, we are extremely pleased we made the decision to shut one field up at lambing time. If it hadn’t… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Refocus on detail delivers best broiler cropMay tends to be a quieter time on the farm here. With lambing out of the way and silaging normally starting at the end of the month, it gives us… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: What farmers need from new Welsh governmentFinally, a change has happened in Wales. For all of my adult life, the Welsh government has been run by Labour and, as is well documented, many farmers think Labour… Dairy 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… 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… DAIRYSmart dairy investments when cashflow is tightOperating in a tight financial climate means double-checking planned investments are really worth the money. Before parking this year’s building (or maintenance) project because escalating input costs are squeezing the… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTBenefits of digestible cocksfoot and tall fescue in droughtDemand for grass mixes that perform dependably in dry conditions can be met by growing cocksfoot and tall fescue, with only slight changes in management to ryegrass-dominant swards. While perennial… DAIRYHow breeding index could reduce dairy carbon footprintThe dairy genetic index EnviroCow can deliver environmental benefits on commercial dairy farms with a cumulative potential reduction in carbon footprint of up to 16%, according to a UK study.… DAIRYWhy cutting dairy carbon footprint starts in the calf shedFor one south-west dairy, cutting carbon is about producing milk more efficiently, starting with the next generation of cows. Two Pools Farm, near Bristol, is one of 50 dairy farms… DAIRYHow dairy farmer made savings to counter milk price dropDairy producer Paul Waterfall has had to contend with an 8p/litre drop in milk income since last autumn. The business produces 6m litres of milk annually, so this equates to… ENVIRONMENTDairy permitting could drive up farm costs, NFU warnsDairy farms in England could face new environmental permitting requirements under forthcoming government plans, prompting warnings from the NFU over cost and regulatory burden. Defra is expected to consult this… BREEDING AND FERTILITYPros and cons of sweeper bulls v all artificial inseminationRunning bulls in dairy herds carries safety and biosecurity risks, but they are an effective and often low-cost means of sweeping up cows and heifers not in-calf after the artificial… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all 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… RAKES AND MERGERSScotGrass: Roc mergers get more tech and bigger bedsA major redesign of Roc’s trailed mergers should see them cover ground quicker and, with the addition of isobus control, make life easier for operators. Both newcomers – the three-belt… FORAGERSScotGrass: New John Deere F9 forager lands on UK farmsFollowing its launch last year, John Deere’s refreshed F9 forage harvester range is heading into its first proper chopping season. Most models have received a power boost, but the biggest… BALERS AND WRAPPERSScotGrass: Surprising demand for little MF square balerPlenty of farmers and contractors continue to earn a decent crust from small square bales, evidenced by the 30 annual UK sales of Massey Ferguson’s SB 1842S. Priced at about… Most popular this week
