Livestock top stories

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Lack of management could harm farming areas

I quite enjoy farming in the Vale of York. We have varied soil types, including heavy land suited to grass and wheat, and light land for maize, as well as…

DAIRY

Video: How a new parlour improved herd efficiency and health

Investment in a rotary parlour has helped a Devon dairy maximise efficiencies during milking of its 350-head Holstein Friesian herd, with milking time slashed by more than 50%, labour burdens…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Herd zero-grazed for 254 days this year

They say that well sown is half grown. I’m not sure who “they” are, but I’ll go along with the theory.  We’ve been lucky. We finished drilling winter wheat in…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How mineral blood test helps cut barren rates

Analysis of ewe bloods for minerals in late gestation prompted a change in supplementation that has cut barren rates from 5% to 1.6% for an Aultbea-based sheep breeder. Ryan MacLean…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

First bovine coronavirus vaccine hits UK

Calf rearers and finishers now have another tool in the battle against respiratory disease in newborn calves, in addition to colostrum boosters. An intranasal vaccine for bovine coronavirus (BCov) has…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Four further cases of bluetongue found in Kent

Livestock farmers in the South East are being urged to stay extra vigilant after a further four cases of bluetongue virus in cattle were detected. Defra has confirmed that four…

Livestock news

LIVESTOCK

Livestock's contribution to society celebrated in new film

The AHDB has joined forces with ITN Business to produce a new documentary-style film demonstrating the positive role of farmed livestock, both to the environment as well as food production.…

LIVESTOCK

Game simulator helps teach cow handling to US farmers

A cow-handling game based on a flight simulator is helping US dairy farmers to train their staff in low-stress cow handling. Trademarked as “Mooving Cows”, users can update their skills…

SHEEP

English Winter Fair exhibitors advised to isolate sheep

Sheep farmers who exhibited stock at the English Winter Fair have been recommended to isolate their animals for at least four weeks following “an unconfirmed health issue” in the sheep…

BOVINE TB

Welsh plans for increased TB testing provoke backlash

Welsh rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths is facing a backlash from farmers after announcing additional testing requirements to tackle bovine TB. In a statement to the Senedd on Tuesday (14…

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DAIRY

Dairy teat care products: 6 things to consider

With a huge range of teat dips available, it can be difficult to know what the best choice is for your herd. Tom Greenham offers expert advice on how to…

DAIRY

Video: How a new parlour improved herd efficiency and health

Investment in a rotary parlour has helped a Devon dairy maximise efficiencies during milking of its 350-head Holstein Friesian herd, with milking time slashed by more than 50%, labour burdens…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How mineral blood test helps cut barren rates

Analysis of ewe bloods for minerals in late gestation prompted a change in supplementation that has cut barren rates from 5% to 1.6% for an Aultbea-based sheep breeder. Ryan MacLean…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How satellite biomass mapping tech could optimise grazing

With traditional grass-measuring techniques limited in their flexibility, a new trial has shown that physical measurement and accuracy can be improved by using a combination of satellite technology and algorithms.…

LIVESTOCK

What makes a good employer on a dairy farm?

Finding – and keeping – good-quality staff is a growing problem for dairy farm owners and managers. To help tackle this, LIC consultant Piers Badnell asked employees of 20 dairy…

LIVESTOCK

How to group calves for successful social rearing

To successfully rear calves in pairs or groups, use benchmarks to select for calf health: below 3% mortality and less than 5% of calves with poor transfer of passive immunity.…

DAIRY

What you need to know about Q fever in dairy herds

Dairy herds with sub-optimal fertility, unexplained abortions or weak calves are being advised to test for Q fever. Dubbed the “subtle disease”, it is now thought to be behind underlying…

DAIRY

Why regular foot-bathing strategies need to change

Routine foot-bathing should be part of a farm strategy for digital dermatitis, rather than viewed as the cure. Dr Laura Solano of Lactanet, Canada’s largest milk organisation, says dairy farmers…

DAIRY

Advice on milking machine maintenance for spring block-calvers

Spring-calving herds with a tight block and a full parlour shutdown can plan to do their milking machine maintenance, servicing and any upgrades during the dry period. But parlour servicing…

SHEEP

Flock genetics beat challenges to hit 170% reared budget

Prolific flock genetics and skilful management have overcome setbacks to get a lowland sheep flock hitting budgets, three years after being established. Farm manager Ben Smith says the accounts at…

LIVESTOCK

Why a mixed farm’s focus is on local food for local people

A mixed, tenanted farm in the Scottish Borders is using agritourism to help create a more resilient business and promote local food to the local community. The first idea for…

LIVESTOCK

How a Norfolk dairy diversified into tourism and hospitality

Converting a set of Georgian barns into holiday lets 20 years ago involved market research by post for dairy farmers Joanna and David Burroughs. Today, their daughter, Lindsay Miller, is…

OTHER LIVESTOCK

Why an Irish beef producer diversified into snails

Snails may not be a regular choice in British and Irish diets, but in mainland Europe they remain popular as an everyday staple and delicacy. Yet, in Ireland, snail farming…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

The risks of dog faeces to livestock and how to prevent them

Having five carcasses condemned for discolouration caused by cysts has cost a farm dearly and highlighted the issue of the dangers of dog muck. The costly case happened in 2021…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How to stop calf pneumonia reducing heifer longevity

Calf pneumonia has stayed in the top 10 of the most frequent diagnoses from carcass submissions* in Great Britain for almost a decade. And while heifers can recover and eventually…

DAIRY

How a greenfield dairy targets 'resilient' 50% yield lift

An autumn-calving herd is targeting 7,500 litres from 1.5t of parlour cake after moving farm, breed and system. The Barnes family of Alma Bank Farm, near Oakham, have endured six…

Meat markets and prices

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MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Lamb trade holds firm in build-up to Christmas

Favourable exchange rates and improved demand on the Continent for exports have helped to support lamb prices during the autumn so far. Liveweight lamb prices averaged 259.2p/kg for the week…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Pig prices drop to 217p/kg as throughputs rise

Finished deadweight pig prices have fallen by 8.5p/kg since peaking in mid-August and the standard pig price is currently at its lowest level since April. Demand remains fairly steady, both…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Irish Angus beef closer to protected geographical status

Irish beef farmers are a step closer to achieving protected geographical indication (PGI) status in the EU for certified Irish Angus Beef. If successful, this could allow beef producers in…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Welsh secure new lamb deal with Japan

Welsh sheep farmers are set to benefit from new interest for lamb exports from Japan and Germany. Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) announced at the Welsh Winter Fair in…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Beef prices stay firm with tight supply outlook for 2024

Deadweight beef prices remain close to 40p/kg above this time last year, hovering around 480p/kg since mid-September. Prices are being supported by tight supplies of cattle and improved retail demand…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Beef trade holds strong with support at auction marts

Tighter supplies of prime cattle and some early festive demand reported among industry from butchers and abattoirs have been supporting both liveweight and deadweight prices. Finished cattle prices in the…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Lack of management could harm farming areas

I quite enjoy farming in the Vale of York. We have varied soil types, including heavy land suited to grass and wheat, and light land for maize, as well as…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Herd zero-grazed for 254 days this year

They say that well sown is half grown. I’m not sure who “they” are, but I’ll go along with the theory.  We’ve been lucky. We finished drilling winter wheat in…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Weaning day tweaked with fingers crossed

It has become apparent in recent months that the livestock industry’s favourite abbreviation, AI, has been hijacked. Just about every news bulletin I hear contains a reference to AI, but…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Cattle aren’t the problem, but we can do better

“Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you’re passionate about.” That's what Amy Hughes, my predecessor as chairman of the British Cattle Breeders Club (BCBC), said when I asked for…

Dairy

DAIRY

Dairy teat care products: 6 things to consider

With a huge range of teat dips available, it can be difficult to know what the best choice is for your herd. Tom Greenham offers expert advice on how to…

DAIRY

Video: How a new parlour improved herd efficiency and health

Investment in a rotary parlour has helped a Devon dairy maximise efficiencies during milking of its 350-head Holstein Friesian herd, with milking time slashed by more than 50%, labour burdens…

LIVESTOCK

What makes a good employer on a dairy farm?

Finding – and keeping – good-quality staff is a growing problem for dairy farm owners and managers. To help tackle this, LIC consultant Piers Badnell asked employees of 20 dairy…

LIVESTOCK

How to group calves for successful social rearing

To successfully rear calves in pairs or groups, use benchmarks to select for calf health: below 3% mortality and less than 5% of calves with poor transfer of passive immunity.…

DAIRY

What you need to know about Q fever in dairy herds

Dairy herds with sub-optimal fertility, unexplained abortions or weak calves are being advised to test for Q fever. Dubbed the “subtle disease”, it is now thought to be behind underlying…

DAIRY

Why regular foot-bathing strategies need to change

Routine foot-bathing should be part of a farm strategy for digital dermatitis, rather than viewed as the cure. Dr Laura Solano of Lactanet, Canada’s largest milk organisation, says dairy farmers…

LIVESTOCK

Livestock's contribution to society celebrated in new film

The AHDB has joined forces with ITN Business to produce a new documentary-style film demonstrating the positive role of farmed livestock, both to the environment as well as food production.…

DAIRY

Advice on milking machine maintenance for spring block-calvers

Spring-calving herds with a tight block and a full parlour shutdown can plan to do their milking machine maintenance, servicing and any upgrades during the dry period. But parlour servicing…

LIVESTOCK

Game simulator helps teach cow handling to US farmers

A cow-handling game based on a flight simulator is helping US dairy farmers to train their staff in low-stress cow handling. Trademarked as “Mooving Cows”, users can update their skills…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

How water treatment technology could cut slurry storage

Adapting water treatment technology to a farm setting could reduce slurry storage requirements by 10-15%, make better use of farm nutrients and produce an effluent that is suitable for discharge…

LIVESTOCK

How a Norfolk dairy diversified into tourism and hospitality

Converting a set of Georgian barns into holiday lets 20 years ago involved market research by post for dairy farmers Joanna and David Burroughs. Today, their daughter, Lindsay Miller, is…

DAIRY

How early life calf nutrition affects long-term metabolism

Researchers are discovering more about early life programming and how critical this is for adulthood, according to Trouw Nutrition’s Dr Leonel Leal. This starts with colostrum, but also includes feeding…

Livestock machinery

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TELEHANDLERS

Claas swaps diesel for electric in Scorpion 732e telehandler

Farmers open to switching their diesel-powered telehandler for an electric alternative might soon have another option. Claas and Liebherr have worked together to develop a Scorpion 732e packing one 90kW…

FORAGE WAGONS

Ex-Claas forage wagons reborn under Fliegl banner

Fliegl has revived the Cargos forage wagon range deemed surplus to requirements by Claas. There was little time for major design changes, with just six months separating the completion of…

RAKES AND MERGERS

Lightweight R8 Compact joins Reiter Respiro merger range

Reiter has slimmed down its merger design for the latest Respiro R8 Compact, with a new chassis and shorter linkage being the primary contributors to a substantial 30% weight saving…

100HP

Tafe swaps vintage rebuilds for electric and hydrogen power

Tafe might be best known for its reproductions of classic Massey Ferguson tractors, but the Indian brand has been beavering away on a host of more modern products. Additions include…