Know How / Assessing performance

Case studies

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ASSESSING PERFORMANCE

How a new entrant got backing to set up in dairy

A 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…

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…

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.…

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…

ASSESSING PERFORMANCE

Cost-focused Angus herd targets further £8 a cow savings

A 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…

SHEEP

How a Welsh hill farm is improving lambs' finishing weights

Greater 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 advice

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LIVESTOCK

Why focus on grazing basics is key to maintaining profits

Increased 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…

DAIRY

How to use data wisely to inform your dairy business choices

Dairy 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…

DAIRY

6 common farmer milking myths put to the test

Having 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…

DAIRY

4 ways to drill down on mastitis data for your herd

It 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…

SHEEP

Why and when farmers should weigh sheep

There 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…

LIVESTOCK

Tips for smart savings on dairy input costs

Economies 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…

Insights

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DAIRY

Revised methane method pegs dairy emissions 20% lower

Net 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…

LIVESTOCK

6 livestock tech developments to look out for

From 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…

DAIRY

Wearable device for cattle aims to improve dairy health

A 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…

SHEEP

How reducing methane emissions is win-win for flock performance

Results 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…

LIVESTOCK

The benefits of investing in a maternal ram

Advances 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 WELFARE

Why 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 MANAGEMENT

How remote sensing tech can help fine-tune grass management

A 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…

DAIRY

Dairy fertility research reveals potential for further gains

The 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…

SHEEP

Does 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),…

SHEEP

Experiment shows potential for cell-grazing herbal leys

Cell-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.…

SHEEP

A buyer's guide to sheep management software

With 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…

BEEF

Beef sector lacks incentive for meat quality, farmers say

Processors 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…

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