http://www.fwi.co.ukFarmers Weekly interactive provides a livestock farming news feeden-gbFri, 05 Sep 2008 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112032/fwi-weekly-news-review-5-september.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112032/fwi-weekly-news-review-5-september.htmlCatch up on all the latest stories to have appeard on FWi this week in our news round-up.Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112028/devon-farmers-defend-cattle-import-decision.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112028/devon-farmers-defend-cattle-import-decision.htmlThe Devon farmers at the centre of the bluetongue furore have defended their decision to import cattle from an at-risk country. Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:41:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112022/bluetongue-lack-of-control-abroad-puts-britain-at-risk.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112022/bluetongue-lack-of-control-abroad-puts-britain-at-risk.htmlBritain's livestock industry is being put at risk by lax controls against bluetongue disease abroad and by farmers' reluctance here to vaccinate animals against the virus.Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:20:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112008/beef-and-lamb-exports-benefit-from-weak-pound.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112008/beef-and-lamb-exports-benefit-from-weak-pound.htmlThe value of UK beef and lamb exports increased by 30% on last year to £200m during the first half of 2008, according to latest figures from EBLEXFri, 05 Sep 2008 11:30:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112001/british-white-beef-a-hit-with-top-restauranteurs.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/112001/british-white-beef-a-hit-with-top-restauranteurs.htmlBeef produced from British White cattle - one of the UK's rarest breeds - is creating a frenetic demand among leading butchers and top chefs, reports Jeremy Hunt ...Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:40:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/04/111978/scots-launch-midge-map-to-fight-bluetongue.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/04/111978/scots-launch-midge-map-to-fight-bluetongue.htmlThe Scottish government has launched an online 'midge map' to help farmers in the fight against bluetongue.Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/04/111931/strategy-switch-leads-to-success-for-south-west-beef-farmers.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/04/111931/strategy-switch-leads-to-success-for-south-west-beef-farmers.htmlTargeting the right stock to the right market by studying the market place carefully and using selective breeding sees Somerset beef farmer John Cope regularly topping markets throughout the south west and northern England.Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/03/111956/bull-calf-toll-rises-as-dutch-ban-continues.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/03/111956/bull-calf-toll-rises-as-dutch-ban-continues.htmlBritish farmers are having to shoot 3000 calves a week because of the Dutch boycott on British calf imports, according to the NFU. Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/03/111942/nfu-scotland-sets-out-plan-for-the-hills.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/03/111942/nfu-scotland-sets-out-plan-for-the-hills.htmlA rotting sheep fank on an exposed heather hillside in the Highlands was the symbolic venue chosen by NFU Scotland to launch a plea to government for a fundamental rethink of support for livestock producers.Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/03/111932/beef-farmers-diversify-to-meet-demand-for-quality-locally-sourced-beef.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/03/111932/beef-farmers-diversify-to-meet-demand-for-quality-locally-sourced-beef.htmlThe rise in demand for locally sourced, quality meat has lead a Devonshire couple down the road of diversification in their quest to meet consumer demands.Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/03/111943/meps-join-forces-in-battle-against-eid-plans.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/03/111943/meps-join-forces-in-battle-against-eid-plans.htmlThe campaign against the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep identification (EID) has taken a step forward.Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/02/111926/clarence-court-hens-enjoy-herbs-for-good-health.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/02/111926/clarence-court-hens-enjoy-herbs-for-good-health.htmlFree-range egg producer Clarence Court has planted a selection of fresh herbs for hens at its special breeds farm near Camborne, Cornwall.Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:15:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/02/111923/opinion-farming-sector-needs-to-work-together.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/02/111923/opinion-farming-sector-needs-to-work-together.htmlThe south west has always produced great beef. In the current economic climate, the challenges to the farming sector have never been greater, so the need to work together has never been stronger.Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/01/111917/native-breeds-make-commercial-sense.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/01/111917/native-breeds-make-commercial-sense.htmlA desire to finish more lambs off grass and achieve good margins from organic production led sheep and cattle producer Mason Palmer from Winchelsea to reassess his terminal sire choice to simplify flock management.Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/01/111918/genetics-change-lifts-pig-productivity.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/01/111918/genetics-change-lifts-pig-productivity.htmlIntroducing possibly one of the fastest-growing terminal sires on the market for an Oxfordshire pig producer has seen 10% increases in meat yield, daily gain and throughput.Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/01/111916/charollais-sheep-are-proving-their-worth.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/01/111916/charollais-sheep-are-proving-their-worth.htmlMeeting the demand from commercial buyers is central to one Charollais breeder's ram breeding programme.Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/01/111915/cows-and-concrete-dont-mix-free-seminar.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/01/111915/cows-and-concrete-dont-mix-free-seminar.htmlLameness expert Nick Bell, Bristol University is offering a series of free seminars at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show, entitled 'cows and concrete don't mix'.Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/08/31/111880/dairy-event-and-livestock-show-2008-is-essential-to-farming-plans.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/08/31/111880/dairy-event-and-livestock-show-2008-is-essential-to-farming-plans.htmlMany involved in the livestock sector consider it essential to go to the Dairy Event and Livestock Show. We ask several producers what they aimto get out of it and why the event is so important.Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/08/30/111862/patchy-season-makes-silage-analysis-essential.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/08/30/111862/patchy-season-makes-silage-analysis-essential.htmlThis year has been one of the most challenging for many producers in terms of getting the most out of inputs, but whether it's silage or soil, knowing what you've got and how to use it is critical to farm productivity.Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:00:00 GMThttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/08/29/111892/bluetongue-cattle-to-be-retested.htmlhttp://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/08/29/111892/bluetongue-cattle-to-be-retested.htmlThe eight imported dairy cattle which tested positive for bluetongue near Tiverton, Devon, are being re-tested for confirmation of the virus Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:40:00 GMT