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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How efficient grazing unlocked hill farm’s potential

Fertiliser costs have been cut by 80% and feed costs halved on a Dumfriesshire beef and sheep farm that credits improved grassland management for its changing fortunes. Taking part in…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Neighbour’s straw averts bedding shortage

The big question looming over me back in June was whether we would have enough straw to last us until harvest. And this included putting all top bales through the…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Tips for deterring starlings before winter flocks arrive

Hit early, hit hard and be consistent with scare tactics to prevent “scout” birds from settling and avoid ending up with a whole flock of starlings on farm this winter.…

LIVESTOCK

Why ultrasound scanner is one vet’s favourite bit of kit

If I had to choose one piece of kit I wouldn’t want to be without as a vet, would it be the traditional yet still indispensable stethoscope or thermometer? Or…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Lambs on pellets as ewes pick at dry grass

Last month, I said we were making second-cut silage. That was optimistic: weeks of strong, hot winds have ripped all the moisture out of everything. Stock have eaten all that…

SHEEP

How failed succession plan led to new beef and sheep setup

A progressive beef and sheep farmer in the Scottish Borders served notice to vacate the family farm after 32 years has succeeded in rebuilding a profitable business. Determined it would…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Emergency grants for farmers hit by bluetongue and drought

Farmers facing a double hit from drought and bluetongue are being offered emergency financial support as concern grows over the disease’s spread across the South West. The Addington Fund has…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Farmers warned fleece will not protect sheep from BTV-3

Farmers are being warned not to delay shearing in an attempt to protect sheep from bluetongue BTV-3, amid concerns the practice could create serious welfare risks. Industry leaders and vets…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Drought focuses minds on water resilience

The stream that runs past our house has completely dried up. Two other streams on the farm are just about running with enough water for some of the sheep. Our…

LIVESTOCK

Hot weather fuels early rise in poultry salmonella

Poultry producers are being urged to maintain strict biosecurity as hot, dry conditions contribute to an earlier-than-usual rise in salmonella cases. Cases have risen across breeder, broiler, and layer units,…

DAIRY

Advice as drought pressures dairy forage stocks

Weeks of dry weather have taken their toll on forage crops, raising fears that many farmers will face winter feed shortages. Nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Bluetongue deaths drive up fallen stock costs

Farmers hit by severe bluetongue losses are facing thousands of pounds in additional fallen stock collection costs as sheep deaths mount in hotspots. The National Sheep Association (NSA) says some…

DAIRY

Genosource Jumpstart P heads young Holstein sire ranking

Strong health and production credentials have put a new bull at the top of the latest AHDB young Holstein sire evaluations, published 11 August. Genosource Jumpstart P transmits 56.8kg (+0.28%)…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Drought mitigation priority as smoke clears

In my last article, I commented how great our spring grass growth had been. Silage crops were abundant and we were set up for a fruitful grazing season. Well, how…

Livestock news

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Emergency grants for farmers hit by bluetongue and drought

Farmers facing a double hit from drought and bluetongue are being offered emergency financial support as concern grows over the disease’s spread across the South West. The Addington Fund has…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Farmers warned fleece will not protect sheep from BTV-3

Farmers are being warned not to delay shearing in an attempt to protect sheep from bluetongue BTV-3, amid concerns the practice could create serious welfare risks. Industry leaders and vets…

LIVESTOCK

Hot weather fuels early rise in poultry salmonella

Poultry producers are being urged to maintain strict biosecurity as hot, dry conditions contribute to an earlier-than-usual rise in salmonella cases. Cases have risen across breeder, broiler, and layer units,…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Bluetongue deaths drive up fallen stock costs

Farmers hit by severe bluetongue losses are facing thousands of pounds in additional fallen stock collection costs as sheep deaths mount in hotspots. The National Sheep Association (NSA) says some…

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How efficient grazing unlocked hill farm’s potential

Fertiliser costs have been cut by 80% and feed costs halved on a Dumfriesshire beef and sheep farm that credits improved grassland management for its changing fortunes. Taking part in…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Tips for deterring starlings before winter flocks arrive

Hit early, hit hard and be consistent with scare tactics to prevent “scout” birds from settling and avoid ending up with a whole flock of starlings on farm this winter.…

SHEEP

How failed succession plan led to new beef and sheep setup

A progressive beef and sheep farmer in the Scottish Borders served notice to vacate the family farm after 32 years has succeeded in rebuilding a profitable business. Determined it would…

DAIRY

Advice as drought pressures dairy forage stocks

Weeks of dry weather have taken their toll on forage crops, raising fears that many farmers will face winter feed shortages. Nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales…

DAIRY

FW Awards: Meet the 2026 Dairy Farmer of the Year finalists

This year’s finalists are profitable block-calving herds with a good work/life balance and high standards in staff management. See also: FW Awards: Meet the 2026 Poultry Farmer of the Year finalists…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Advice for dealing with bluetongue as cases spread rapidly

North Devon-based Torch Farm and Equine Vets were called out to their first suspected case of bluetongue (BTV) on 7 July. In less than a month (up to 3 August),…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Benefits of practical approach to dry cow therapy protocols

Research and tighter rules on antibiotics use have given one Somerset dairy farm the push it needed to move away from blanket dry cow therapy and adopt a more selective…

DAIRY

The five non-negotiables of a resilient dairy business

Farming with one eye on the future – hoping some of their nine grandchildren will want to join their dairy business – Rodney and Dorothy Elliott are also learning from…

LIVESTOCK

FW Awards: 2026 Poultry Farmer of the Year finalists

Unlike last year when all three finalists were egg producers, this year sees three poultrymeat producers vying for the coveted title.  See also: FW Awards 2026: Meet the finalists The…

DAIRY

Advice on protecting dairy staff from workplace dangers

Dairy farmers may have a legal responsibility to protect their workers – family and staff – but everyone on farm has a collective responsibility for health and safety. Rather than…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Tips on choosing brassicas for home-grown winter forage

Brassicas dovetail neatly with grass production, producing forage in the months of lower grass growth, from August to February, depending on the variety. Given good growing conditions, they can provide…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How wide hedges tightened farm's biosecurity

New 5m-wide, double-fenced hedges are helping protect stock from infectious disease as well as enhancing biodiversity on a Northumberland beef and sheep farm. “It’s good biosecurity before the trees have…

DAIRY

Tips on improving people skills from a NZ dairy manager

Managing a herd of cows may be far easier than managing a team of staff, but dairy farmers can develop their people skills. All it takes is a willingness to…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How multi-pronged health focus raised flock performance

Lower-than-average scanning and rearing percentages on a Denbighshire sheep farm persuaded a father and daughter team to seek help for a solution. As they discovered, it is rare to get…

HOUSING AND HANDLING

How two farmers improved handling facilities for TB testing

TB testing can be one of the most demanding and dangerous jobs on a cattle farm, particularly in high-risk areas where frequent testing is required. Well-designed handling facilities can transform…

DAIRY

How to identify outliers to raise herd performance

Targeting average numbers to track performance and monitor changes takes too long to have impact – it is also misleading because a herd’s average can hide a huge range in…

Grazing advice

Meat markets and prices

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MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Calf prices stay strong as buyers chase depleted numbers

The UK calf market continues to be in a strong position for farmers, with the Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA) reporting “incredible” prices in some areas, driven by a shortage of…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Breeding sheep set new records at Thame summer sale

Breeding sheep enjoyed an exceptionally firm trade at the recent Thame Summer Sheep Fair, despite ongoing challenges presented by grass shortages and bluetongue disease. The event, sponsored by Shearwell Data,…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Farm groups fear influx of Brazilian meat after EU ban

Organisations representing UK farmers and meat processors are demanding the suspension of imports of meat and animal products from Brazil in line with action the EU will instigate next month.…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Meat exporters challenge new French border inspections

Legal action by UK meat suppliers is being prepared to challenge new border inspections of meat carcasses destined for France. Since 1 August, hauliers are being ordered to assist French…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Pig prices remain subdued in oversupplied market

Pig prices remain suppressed amid ongoing supply and demand imbalances, both in the UK and further afield. In the week to 25 July, the UK Standard Pig Price stood at…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Beef prices hold firm as cattle supplies tighten

Finished cattle prices remain strong, moving up across most categories in early July, before stabilising again by the middle of the month. At the same time, slaughtering numbers are down,…

Livestock community

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Neighbour’s straw averts bedding shortage

The big question looming over me back in June was whether we would have enough straw to last us until harvest. And this included putting all top bales through the…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Lambs on pellets as ewes pick at dry grass

Last month, I said we were making second-cut silage. That was optimistic: weeks of strong, hot winds have ripped all the moisture out of everything. Stock have eaten all that…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Mother Nature still controls 90% of the outcome

Well, my optimism for harvest of 12t/ha average yield was short-lived once the combine started to roll. We planned to start wheat harvest at the start of August, but we…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Drought focuses minds on water resilience

The stream that runs past our house has completely dried up. Two other streams on the farm are just about running with enough water for some of the sheep. Our…

Dairy

LIVESTOCK

Why ultrasound scanner is one vet’s favourite bit of kit

If I had to choose one piece of kit I wouldn’t want to be without as a vet, would it be the traditional yet still indispensable stethoscope or thermometer? Or…

DAIRY

Advice as drought pressures dairy forage stocks

Weeks of dry weather have taken their toll on forage crops, raising fears that many farmers will face winter feed shortages. Nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

Arla launches schools drive to tackle dairy skills gap

Arla is targeting more than 100 schools and 100,000 young people in a drive to tackle a persistent skills gap in British dairy farming. The dairy cooperative’s new outreach programme…

DAIRY

Genosource Jumpstart P heads young Holstein sire ranking

Strong health and production credentials have put a new bull at the top of the latest AHDB young Holstein sire evaluations, published 11 August. Genosource Jumpstart P transmits 56.8kg (+0.28%)…

DAIRY

FW Awards: Meet the 2026 Dairy Farmer of the Year finalists

This year’s finalists are profitable block-calving herds with a good work/life balance and high standards in staff management. See also: FW Awards: Meet the 2026 Poultry Farmer of the Year finalists…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Advice for dealing with bluetongue as cases spread rapidly

North Devon-based Torch Farm and Equine Vets were called out to their first suspected case of bluetongue (BTV) on 7 July. In less than a month (up to 3 August),…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Benefits of practical approach to dry cow therapy protocols

Research and tighter rules on antibiotics use have given one Somerset dairy farm the push it needed to move away from blanket dry cow therapy and adopt a more selective…

DAIRY

The five non-negotiables of a resilient dairy business

Farming with one eye on the future – hoping some of their nine grandchildren will want to join their dairy business – Rodney and Dorothy Elliott are also learning from…

DAIRY

What makes a good employee on a dairy unit?

Punctuality is top of the list when it comes to the attributes dairy farmers seek in an employee, closely followed by someone who has a “happy personality” and is “willing…

DAIRY

Advice on protecting dairy staff from workplace dangers

Dairy farmers may have a legal responsibility to protect their workers – family and staff – but everyone on farm has a collective responsibility for health and safety. Rather than…

DAIRY

Tips on improving people skills from a NZ dairy manager

Managing a herd of cows may be far easier than managing a team of staff, but dairy farmers can develop their people skills. All it takes is a willingness to…

MAIZE

Why UK faces growing mycotoxin risk in silage

Extreme weather patterns are increasing the risk that mycotoxins will cause problems for the UK’s high-yielding dairy herds. A global shift in crop production fuelled by climate change is expected…

Livestock machinery

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LOADING SHOVELS

Driver's view: Mark Tiplady's Volvo L70H loading shovel

For years, JCB has reigned supreme on the silage clamp, batting off challenges from steadier industrial-grade loading shovels with relative ease. But for some outfits, the extra bulk, hydraulic power…

TEDDERS

Mid-range Claas Volto tedders get major driveline revamp

Claas has revamped its mid-range tedders to bring them into line with the larger trailed machines. Five models span working widths from 6.6m to 10.8m, with the largest available in…

TECHNOLOGY

Converted Leyland 255 powered by used electric car parts

A quick drive-by of Ben Bament’s low-key workshop in Farmborough, Somerset would reveal nothing of the wizardly engineering cloaked under the most ordinary of machines berthed outside. Among his curious…

DIET FEEDERS

Trioliet offers more accurate Solomix feed ration weighing

Livestock mixer-feeder specialist Trioliet has devised a new weighing system for its Solomix tandem-axle models designed to be more accurate and easier to maintain than previous installations. The snappily titled…

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