Livestock top stories FEED AND NUTRITIONHow US dairies are using drones to measure clamp tonnageUsing drones to measure silage stocks in maize clamps is replacing estimates on US dairy farms. Farmers can now plan their storage requirements before harvest and better organise feeding –… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Schoolkids look on as crews tackle field fireIt has been a busy time in the run-up to harvest. The silage yielded better than expected, thanks to a bit of rain beforehand. Salisbury Plain is currently very burned… BOVINE TBGruffydd opens door to wildlife TB actionWales’s new rural affairs minister has said he is prepared to take action in wildlife to tackle bovine TB, if scientific advisers recommend it. Speaking to Farmers Weekly at the… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Hosepipe and fan rigged up to cool cowsWe finished drilling maize on 23 May, followed almost immediately by an inch of rain. The crop emerged within four days and has established really well. Second-cut silage was delayed… HOUSING AND HANDLINGHow two farmers improved handling facilities for TB testingTB 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… DAIRYHow to identify outliers to raise herd performanceTargeting 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Cows drinking 100 litres/day to combat heatSilage was again done in glorious weather – this was second cut done in four days, roughly 138ha (340 acres). There were no breakdowns, staff performed well and 1,400 bales… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow willow can help provide vitamin B12 to growing lambsThe use of willow for browsing by lambs is being rolled out on a Northumberland farm to help address a cobalt deficiency. The move follows on-farm field trials which, despite… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTAre longer rest periods feasible in grazing dairy herds?Changing grazing management to allow taller entry covers and residuals can be successfully used to improve degraded pastures on dairy farms, a three-year trial has shown. Soil health improved and,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Milk yields up but hot spells hit fertilityWith a week of good weather finally forecast, we’ve knocked down 12ha (30 acres) of mature grass to bale as hay for dry cows. We seem to spend all summer… BEEFFW Awards: Meet the 2026 Beef Farmer of the Year finalistsThis year’s finalists are maximising self-sufficiency and lowering costs by growing as much home-grown feed as possible. See also: FW Awards 2026: Meet the finalists Finalists Hawes Farms, Meads Farms, Aylesbury,… BREEDING AND FERTILITYHow NZ genetics added hybrid vigour to wool-shedding flockAs direct subsidies are phased out and significant changes made to agricultural support, sheep farmers are thinking outside the box by adjusting their systems to become more resilient. For John… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Night-time shenanigans to get second cut inIt was great to see Lewis Hamilton recently winning his first race for Ferrari. Unfortunately, I had to listen to it on the radio as I was cutting our second… LIVESTOCK8 tips to optimise brooding of free-range turkey poultsThe arrival of free-range turkey poults and goslings on rearing farms marks a critical stage in the production cycle for the Christmas market. This is when the foundations for the… Livestock news LIVESTOCKPig producers achieve 72% drop in antibiotics useUK pig farmers have slashed antibiotic use by 10% in a single year, bringing overall use down by 72% in a decade. Data captured by the electronic Medicines Book (eMB)… BOVINE TBDaera launches NI bovine TB wildlife consultationNorthern Ireland’s agriculture minister has launched a consultation on wildlife intervention measures to help tackle bovine TB, including options ranging from badger culling to vaccination. Daera minister Andrew Muir said… 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… 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 HOUSING AND HANDLINGHow two farmers improved handling facilities for TB testingTB 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… DAIRYHow to identify outliers to raise herd performanceTargeting 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… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow willow can help provide vitamin B12 to growing lambsThe use of willow for browsing by lambs is being rolled out on a Northumberland farm to help address a cobalt deficiency. The move follows on-farm field trials which, despite… BEEFFW Awards: Meet the 2026 Beef Farmer of the Year finalistsThis year’s finalists are maximising self-sufficiency and lowering costs by growing as much home-grown feed as possible. See also: FW Awards 2026: Meet the finalists Finalists Hawes Farms, Meads Farms, Aylesbury,… BREEDING AND FERTILITYHow NZ genetics added hybrid vigour to wool-shedding flockAs direct subsidies are phased out and significant changes made to agricultural support, sheep farmers are thinking outside the box by adjusting their systems to become more resilient. For John… LIVESTOCK8 tips to optimise brooding of free-range turkey poultsThe arrival of free-range turkey poults and goslings on rearing farms marks a critical stage in the production cycle for the Christmas market. This is when the foundations for the… BREEDING AND FERTILITYHow an annual ram MOT can help optimise flock performanceSuccessive heatwaves this summer could have a lasting effect on tup fertility well into September. While a tup can recover its semen quality six weeks after experiencing high temperatures, the… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTGrassland focus on upland farm lays foundation for expansionThe return of the fourth generation to Cwmbrynich Farm has given the Havard family renewed confidence in the future of livestock farming in the uplands. See also: Top tips on tailoring… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTAdvice on when – and if – to ted grass cut for silageTedding a swath of grass needs to reduce metabolisable energy losses by 0.3MJ/kg of dry matter, otherwise it may not justify a contractor’s charge for the job. A single pass… HEALTH AND WELFARE10-step checklist to prevent and control heifer mastitisHeifers with an elevated somatic cell count in early lactation might remain in trouble for their whole lactation. Data suggests they may average about 1kg/day less milk over the lactation,… FEED AND NUTRITIONAdvice on supplementing dry cows with magnesiumMagnesium is an essential mineral in preventing milk fever in fresh calvers. When dry cow nutrition is based on a total mixed ration, magnesium can be integrated in the mix.… MEDICINESHow pain relief and fluid therapy can benefit ruminantsFor prey species like cattle, expressing pain is risky, as it signals weakness to predators. Knowing this helps us understand why they appear so stoic, even when they are in… HEALTH AND WELFARE3 milking settings to check that help lower mastitis riskHerds with excellent control of environmental hygiene can nevertheless struggle with environmental bacteria infecting cows during lactation. In such cases, a milking time assessment may provide some answers. While parlour… HEALTH AND WELFARE3 focus areas for managing mastitis risk in robotic herdsA focus on key problem areas for mastitis control in automatic milking systems has informed updates to the Mastitis Control Plan for robotic dairy units. Deliverers of the plan are… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow clover leys helped lift profit after loss of rented landThe sudden loss a large block of rented land was a big setback for the Roberts family. But by increasing output from their remaining acreage and reducing inputs, they have… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow solar water pumps can extend areas suitable for grazingLack 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… 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 PRICESBeef prices hold firm as cattle supplies tightenFinished 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,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESTighter supplies underpin summer lamb pricesReduced stocking densities and tighter domestic demand are supporting lamb prices, despite the usual seasonal drop in values as new-season lamb enters the market. “Supply has been quite tight in… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESDefra minister rejects call for targeted pig supportDefra farming minister Stephen Morgan has rejected calls for targeted support for beleaguered pig producers, insisting current market difficulties do not warrant any government intervention. The case was made by… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES£2m in direct support offered to Scotland's pig producersA new £2m support scheme for Scotland’s independent pig producers has been launched by the Scottish government to help with the significant market challenges facing the sector. Scotland has lost… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESStrong calf trade helps lift dairy farmer marginsThe run of consistently strong calf values shows no signs of easing, with prices staying firm until at least mid-August when autumn-calving herds start to boost supply. Auctioneers nationwide report… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade sees 'muted' seasonal declineFinished lamb prices are on the way down as the seasonal surge in numbers starts to pressure the market. AHDB data showed a 32p/kg drop in the New Season SQQ… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Schoolkids look on as crews tackle field fireIt has been a busy time in the run-up to harvest. The silage yielded better than expected, thanks to a bit of rain beforehand. Salisbury Plain is currently very burned… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Hosepipe and fan rigged up to cool cowsWe finished drilling maize on 23 May, followed almost immediately by an inch of rain. The crop emerged within four days and has established really well. Second-cut silage was delayed… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Cows drinking 100 litres/day to combat heatSilage was again done in glorious weather – this was second cut done in four days, roughly 138ha (340 acres). There were no breakdowns, staff performed well and 1,400 bales… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Milk yields up but hot spells hit fertilityWith a week of good weather finally forecast, we’ve knocked down 12ha (30 acres) of mature grass to bale as hay for dry cows. We seem to spend all summer… Dairy HOUSING AND HANDLINGHow two farmers improved handling facilities for TB testingTB 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… DAIRYHow to identify outliers to raise herd performanceTargeting 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… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTAre longer rest periods feasible in grazing dairy herds?Changing grazing management to allow taller entry covers and residuals can be successfully used to improve degraded pastures on dairy farms, a three-year trial has shown. Soil health improved and,… FEED AND NUTRITIONAdvice on supplementing dry cows with magnesiumMagnesium is an essential mineral in preventing milk fever in fresh calvers. When dry cow nutrition is based on a total mixed ration, magnesium can be integrated in the mix.… HEALTH AND WELFARE3 milking settings to check that help lower mastitis riskHerds with excellent control of environmental hygiene can nevertheless struggle with environmental bacteria infecting cows during lactation. In such cases, a milking time assessment may provide some answers. While parlour… HEALTH AND WELFARE3 focus areas for managing mastitis risk in robotic herdsA focus on key problem areas for mastitis control in automatic milking systems has informed updates to the Mastitis Control Plan for robotic dairy units. Deliverers of the plan are… HEALTH AND WELFARETeat dip choice key to mastitis protection, study findsThe type of teat disinfection product used post-milking can have a big impact on the level of protection against environmental pathogens. New findings from vet and researcher Sofie Piepers and… HEALTH AND WELFAREHow 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 FERTILITYHow cow collars saved 150 hours of labour in breeding seasonInvestment 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 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… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all LOADING SHOVELSClaas Torion 537e gets battery-electric powertrainBattery power has reached Claas' Liebherr-built Torion 537, signified by its "e" designation and flash of blue across the bonnet. The zero-emissions mini shovel has a 32.2kWh pack as standard,… RAKES AND MERGERSKrone adds Pro spec option to compact 12.5m Swadro rakeAdvanced control and automated features currently found only on Krone’s two biggest four-rotor grass rakes are now available on the smaller Swadro TC 1250 with the introduction of the new… BALERS AND WRAPPERSCompostable bale net accompanies Case IH baler updatesA solution to the age-old issue of how to conveniently – and responsibly – dispose of bale net is on its way from CNH in the form of biodegradable netting.… RAKES AND MERGERSKrone unveils 10.4m Swativo forage merger setA 10.4m pick-up and belt-type swather developed by Krone has been designed with particular emphasis on gentle handling of delicate leafy crops such as lucerne and clover – though it… Most popular this week
