Livestock top stories LAYERSOver a million layers to be culled as bird flu strikesAvian influenza has struck one of the largest and most modern egg laying sites in the country, with more than a million birds now expected to be culled in an… DAIRYAdvice on flexible milking as a management toolBuilding flexibility into milking frequency could boost production, alleviate staff shortages, or create a better work-life balance at certain times of the year. There is scope for farm owners to… SHEEPHow autumn flock resilience plan cuts lambing and cake billPrioritising fertility and challenging ewes to milk off forage has halved an autumn lambing flock’s labour requirement and saved on 27t of bought-in feed. Focus has shifted from aiming for… LIVESTOCKHow to improve output from cows grazing in poor conditionsTo improve the utilisation of grazed grass this year, the focus must be on the first two grazing rounds. Poor ground conditions from February to April, with incorrect management, can… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Crazy temperature swings hard to work withAt the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’m reporting more wild fluctuations in temperature. My last article opened with the weather situation, with 9in [22.5cm] of snow falling,… DAIRYData collection for dairy herds: What to considerDeveloping cow technology in response to the trend for fewer dairy farms milking more cows, and ongoing labour shortages, has to be more than just a data generating system. Capturing… PARASITIC DISEASESHaemonchus vaccine given UK funding aidEfforts to produce an affordable vaccine for a fatal bloodsucking parasite affecting sheep farms across the globe have been given a seven-figure boost by a tech giant. The Bill and… Livestock news FOOT AND MOUTHMeat processors call for tougher FMD measuresTougher and more rigorous measures to repel foot-and mouth-disease (FMD) are needed – that’s the call from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA). In addition, the association argues that travellers… LIVESTOCKWelsh farmers sought for greenhouse gas reduction projectCommercial beef and sheep farmers in Wales are being sought for a project developing breeding strategies that reduce greenhouse gases. The aim of the “Breeding better beef and sheep” project… FOOT AND MOUTHCase of foot-and-mouth disease discovered in GermanyAn outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been reported in Germany. It is the first outbreak of the disease in the country since 1988, involving a herd of water buffalo… NEWSBVD measures in Northern Ireland welcomed by unionThe Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has welcomed new bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) measures, describing them as “crucial” to supporting the Northern Ireland (NI) livestock industry’s efforts to eliminate the disease.… 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 DAIRYAdvice on flexible milking as a management toolBuilding flexibility into milking frequency could boost production, alleviate staff shortages, or create a better work-life balance at certain times of the year. There is scope for farm owners to… SHEEPHow autumn flock resilience plan cuts lambing and cake billPrioritising fertility and challenging ewes to milk off forage has halved an autumn lambing flock’s labour requirement and saved on 27t of bought-in feed. Focus has shifted from aiming for… LIVESTOCKHow to improve output from cows grazing in poor conditionsTo improve the utilisation of grazed grass this year, the focus must be on the first two grazing rounds. Poor ground conditions from February to April, with incorrect management, can… DAIRYHow milking robots have driven upland dairy’s expansionBromfield Farm, near Wigton in Cumbria, has embraced cutting-edge technology with the installation of seven robotic milking systems and two robotic feed pushers. This has eased workloads and improved cow… LIVESTOCKMeet the 2024 NMR RABDF Gold Cup finalistsSix herds breeding robust cows, developing their staff, and reducing their farm’s carbon footprint, are competing for the 2024 Gold Cup award. Sponsored by the Royal Association of British Dairy… LIVESTOCKWhy Angus breeder prioritises health and forage-only dietsHigh health status, easy calving genetics and performance from forage are the foundations of Angus Stovold’s Aberdeen Angus herd. His cattle, although largely sold for breeding, also have to succeed… DAIRYBenefits of a post-calving vet check for herd healthA post-calving vet check not only helps prevent subclinical endometritis, but it also lets the farm vet keep track of a herd’s overall health status. It is not just at-risk… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTBenefits of a calf cart for moving newborn calvesInvesting in a calf cart (or trolley) may be the key to keeping staff happy and healthy. The aim of calf transport is to move calves hygienically and safely between… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTHow a Wiltshire dairy makes better use of slurryInvestment in a new slurry system on a Wiltshire dairy farm has resulted in a drop in bagged nitrogen use of more than 100kg/ha a year on the grazing platform.… FEED AND NUTRITIONAdvice on managing silage stocks effectively for dairy dietsFeed accounts for the biggest proportion of variable costs on a dairy farm. But that cost is often unnecessarily high because farmers fail to match silage quality to the needs… LIVESTOCKHow a Cornish dairy curbed its carbon footprintWhile cutting carbon emissions has come into focus over recent years, it has been a long-term priority for Cornish dairy farmer Andrew Brewer. Farming in partnership with his wife, Claire,… LIVESTOCKHow a Portuguese green oasis inspired a move to agroforestryMike Adams had never seen the point in growing trees in fields. But visits to farms in southern Europe and Turkey proved transformational; he is now sold on their benefits… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTBenefits of embracing NZ grazing techniques – 30 years onAn influx of New Zealand consultants – led by the late Jerry Ryder, Wiltshire dairy farmer and the-then president of the British Grassland Society – set off a rotational grazing… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow gauchos, Incas and advisers evolved Welsh farm systemA Welsh grazier has taken life lessons from indigenous peoples and farming lessons from leading farmers and consultants to ring the changes at home. Wil Evans’s experiences inspired him to… DAIRYAdvice on installing a new dairy parlourA parlour is a significant investment and should not be given the green light before carefully considering the business’s future, options and design. David Ball, lead environment specialist at the… DAIRYWhy low-mastitis herd helps keeps tabs on medicines cabinetThe downside of a dairy herd with less than 5% mastitis is having to maintain a stock of in-date antibiotics. This is the case for the Hodginkson family, who run… Ewe management advice How mineral blood test helps cut barren rates in Highlands flock Tips for feeding and managing ewes for lambing success Advice on planning for triplet lambs and options for rearing How to budget and allocate rotational grazing for ewes Meat markets and pricesSee all MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESTesco pushes for greater price stability for its pig farmersPig producers supplying Tesco will be paid using a new pricing mechanism, calculated using a combination of industry prices and costs of production on farm. It is hoped the new… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESGB import ban on German livestock following FMD outbreakCattle, pigs and sheep and their products may no longer be imported from Germany to Great Britain, the government has announced, in response to the single case of foot-and-mouth disease… BUSINESSUS beef and pork exporters target UK marketUS meat exporters are pursuing improved access to the UK marketplace for both beef and pork. The US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) anticipates that a potential free trade agreement between… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESBeef finishers chase £6/kg for prime cattle this springThe beef trade has kicked off to a flying start in 2025 with finished prices skyrocketing at both abattoirs and in the live ring. Deadweight prices have gone from strength… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESClosure of Hampshire's last abattoir ‘huge blow’ for farmersIn a blow to local food supply chains, the last remaining abattoir in Hampshire is set to cease operations at the end of January. The impending closure of Newman’s Abattoir,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESOutlook 2025: Deadline nears for cage-free eggs pledgeThe 2025 deadline set by several retailers in 2016 to allow for a comprehensive transition to cage-free egg production is fast approaching, but significant uncertainty remains as to whether this… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Crazy temperature swings hard to work withAt the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’m reporting more wild fluctuations in temperature. My last article opened with the weather situation, with 9in [22.5cm] of snow falling,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Carbon confusion reigns Down UnderReflecting on a recent trip to Australia in my previous article, I mentioned the serious risk of bushfires. During my stay, two farms we visited in the Grampians region of… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Festive lamb demand pushed sales up 35%December was fabulous but manic. The pop-up shop was a massive success, even beating Easter sales. We also had our best-ever Grantham farmers’ market and the most orders ever received… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Expecting another good year of lamb tradeBlwyddyn Newydd Dda (Happy New Year)! I write this article on New Year’s Day, a time that always brings a sense of optimism and hope, as if the turning of… Dairy DAIRYAdvice on flexible milking as a management toolBuilding flexibility into milking frequency could boost production, alleviate staff shortages, or create a better work-life balance at certain times of the year. There is scope for farm owners to… LIVESTOCKHow to improve output from cows grazing in poor conditionsTo improve the utilisation of grazed grass this year, the focus must be on the first two grazing rounds. Poor ground conditions from February to April, with incorrect management, can… DAIRYData collection for dairy herds: What to considerDeveloping cow technology in response to the trend for fewer dairy farms milking more cows, and ongoing labour shortages, has to be more than just a data generating system. Capturing… DAIRYUlster trio lists five dairying tips from study tourBusiness scale and financial performance were just two of the top five insights gained by three young dairy Nuffield scholars visiting leading dairy operators last summer. Young farmers Bronagh Dempster,… DAIRYHow milking robots have driven upland dairy’s expansionBromfield Farm, near Wigton in Cumbria, has embraced cutting-edge technology with the installation of seven robotic milking systems and two robotic feed pushers. This has eased workloads and improved cow… DAIRY5 new products at Dairy-Tech 2025 to improve efficiencyIn a precarious time for the industry, technology to enhance productivity has never been more important. Here, we take a look at just a few of the new products that… LIVESTOCKMeet the 2024 NMR RABDF Gold Cup finalistsSix herds breeding robust cows, developing their staff, and reducing their farm’s carbon footprint, are competing for the 2024 Gold Cup award. Sponsored by the Royal Association of British Dairy… BREEDING AND FERTILITYCattle conference to debate breeding goals for industryThe role of dairy beef cattle in regenerative farming systems, and obstacles challenging the progress of UK dairy genetics, are among the topics under discussion at the upcoming 2025 British… DAIRYBenefits of a post-calving vet check for herd healthA post-calving vet check not only helps prevent subclinical endometritis, but it also lets the farm vet keep track of a herd’s overall health status. It is not just at-risk… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTBenefits of a calf cart for moving newborn calvesInvesting in a calf cart (or trolley) may be the key to keeping staff happy and healthy. The aim of calf transport is to move calves hygienically and safely between… DAIRYIVF calf Hilda marks major step in sustainable dairy farmingThe birth of Hilda, an IVF calf from the Dumfries-based Langhill herd, is being hailed as a groundbreaking achievement in the quest for more sustainable farming practices. Hilda is the… FEED AND NUTRITIONCopper in dairy rations: Is too much as bad as too little?Evaluating copper levels in every feed source and supplement before formulating rations for dairy cows – and youngstock – will help meet animal requirements but prevent overfeeding and protect animal… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all DIET FEEDERSLamma 2025: Auto concentrate feeding with Hanskamp MobileThe solar-powered FeedStation Mobile from Dutch firm Hanskamp will automatically serve a preset concentrate ration to individual dairy and beef cows and calves in the field, giving stock farmers more… TELEHANDLERSLamma 2025: MX develops GDT conveyor bucket for grass silageFrench firm MX has launched a feeding bucket specifically designed to handle long-chop clamped grass. While its existing auger-based setup works effectively for maize-based rations, getting a thorough mix and… 100HPLamma 2025: Tafe 75hp tractor targets livestock marketTafe has a new UK importer for its revamped range of five 15-series tractors. Comvex takes on the mantle from long-serving Tractors UK, which had been bringing in the Indian… TELEHANDLERSLamma 2025: Extra lift capacity for Manitou MLT 742-140The introduction of a tougher boom on its ag-spec telehandlers has allowed Manitou to bump up lifting capacity throughout the range. New model numbers have been introduced as a result,… Most popular this week
