Know How / Assessing performance Case studiesSee all ASSESSING PERFORMANCEHow a new entrant got backing to set up in dairyA simple, once-a-day system, relying on grazed grass and spring-block calving, was the step into dairy farming for new entrant Nick Cavill. The first cups went on in 2018 and… DAIRYVideo: How a new parlour improved herd efficiency and healthInvestment 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… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow satellite biomass mapping tech could optimise grazingWith 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.… SHEEPFlock genetics beat challenges to hit 170% reared budgetProlific 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… ASSESSING PERFORMANCECost-focused Angus herd targets further £8 a cow savingsA processor-led carbon benchmarking initiative has challenged a Cheshire Angus unit to squeeze more cost out of its already lean system. Ian Norbury at Mobberley Angus, near Wilmslow, has already… SHEEPHow a Welsh hill farm is improving lambs' finishing weightsGreater numbers of lambs produced from a Welsh hill flock are hitting finishing weights since performance recording was introduced to improve genetics across the entire flock. The Davies family run… Practical adviceSee all LIVESTOCKWhy focus on grazing basics is key to maintaining profitsIncreased reliance on concentrate feeding and a decline in grass production are threatening the future profitability of Irish dairy farms. Some of this reliance is a result of climate stresses… DAIRYHow to use data wisely to inform your dairy business choicesDairy farm technology can save time, automate practical tasks, or record more data, accurately and more often. But to improve farm profit through saving – or making – money requires… DAIRY6 common farmer milking myths put to the testHaving domesticated cows 9,000 years ago, it is tempting to think we know all we need about milking. The dairy industry has a wealth of experience, with generations of knowledge… DAIRY4 ways to drill down on mastitis data for your herdIt is common practice to use mastitis and cell count patterns to see which broad area of risk is responsible for a herd’s infections. Various software packages, along with programs… SHEEPWhy and when farmers should weigh sheepThere is a whole heap of reasons to weigh sheep regularly. In fact, the benefits are four-fold: for health, nutrition, management, and genetic purposes, says Peter Stoker, marketing manager from… LIVESTOCKTips for smart savings on dairy input costsEconomies of scale are not the only way to generate savings on input costs. For those smaller businesses prepared to monitor prices, adopting a flexible and smart approach to buying… InsightsSee all DAIRYRevised methane method pegs dairy emissions 20% lowerNet carbon emissions from a sample of livestock farms fell significantly when analysed by a carbon methodology that accounts for biogenic methane. Distinguishing between biogenic (methane from ruminants) and fossil… LIVESTOCK6 livestock tech developments to look out forFrom driverless tractors to cameras for identifying diseases, several high-tech innovations are coming down the track. Farmers Weekly looks at six highlights. See also: NI farm transforms slurry and food… DAIRYWearable device for cattle aims to improve dairy healthA new device, which is claimed to be the first integrated health microchip and activity monitor for livestock, could enable early detection of pre-clinical conditions and disease prediction in real… SHEEPHow reducing methane emissions is win-win for flock performanceResults from thousands of methane measurements from sheep flocks across Ireland have confirmed that genetics play a part in enteric fermentation. This means farmers can select for low emitters, reducing… LIVESTOCKThe benefits of investing in a maternal ramAdvances in sheep production systems including flock identification, record-keeping, ultrasound scanning, handling systems and computing power have transformed our ability to use information to identify and breed from sheep with… HEALTH AND WELFAREWhy health gains cut ruminant methane emissions by 10%Three classic livestock benchmarking targets can help sheep and cattle farms raise technical performance and meet obligatory methane goals to battle climate change. Livestock policy leaders are urging farmers to… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow remote sensing tech can help fine-tune grass managementA farm-level study in Wales has shown remote sensors can provide valuable information on how grass responds to inputs. Furthermore, they can do this in greater detail and more rapidly… DAIRYDairy fertility research reveals potential for further gainsThe use of novel traits could be a way to accelerate genetic gain, according to the findings of a research project from New Zealand. In New Zealand, the Breeding Worth… SHEEPDoes the UK have too many sheep breeds?Over the centuries a spectrum of breeds has evolved in Britain, from fast-growing, prolific lowland types to hardier, single-bearing ewes for the uplands. According to the National Sheep Association (NSA),… SHEEPExperiment shows potential for cell-grazing herbal leysCell-grazing promotes greater sward growth and weight of lambs weaned a hectare than continuous grazing. And cell-grazing herbal leys, or multispecies swards, has the potential to outperform less diverse ones.… SHEEPA buyer's guide to sheep management softwareWith the current uncertainty around Brexit’s impact on the sheep sector, who knows what the new year has in store. But one thing that is becoming increasingly apparent is the… BEEFBeef sector lacks incentive for meat quality, farmers sayProcessors and supermarkets are missing out on opportunities to grow the value of beef by failing to pay farmers a premium for meat with good eating quality. That’s the conclusion… Advertiser contentSee all LIVESTOCKFarm data: confidence to make the best decisionsFocusing on performance and profitability are key to livestock farming success. It makes sense. After all, the more information we have, the better the chances of making the best decision.… LIVESTOCKThe farm app helping to increase livestock performanceHerdwatch, the number one farm management software, is now used on over 18,000 farms across the UK. The app which allows farmers to manage their farms at their fingertips caters… LIVESTOCKGathering data on your cows: How Tru-Test makes life easyDatamars is a livestock management company that owns a number of trusted, respected brands, including Tru-Test which many farmers will be familiar with from things like weighing scales, stick readers… LIVESTOCKSustainability key to driving success for BFA winnersKate and Kevin Hoare are full time dairy farmers in Tideford in South-East Cornwall and have been running their own farm business since January 2018. Kate told us “We are… LIVESTOCKHow to record and measure your spring calving performanceThe recording and analysis of data as your herd calves may take some time, but it does enable the root causes of any production issues to be spotted quicker, more… LIVESTOCK6 steps to invisibility and improving profitabilityProgressive farms across the globe are using dairy genomics to make far more accurate herd management decisions and the UK is one of the leaders. Genomics testing allows analysis of…