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In 10 years, Philip Jones has shaved 36 days off his calving index, cut heifer age at first calving to 24 months and eliminated bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) from his…
Since robots were installed at Argoed Farm, average milk yield in the Holstein herd has increased by 2,000 litres a year, to 9,000 litres, an immediate payback from investing in…
A four-year grazing project on heavy land is improving resilience, biodiversity and soil health without reseeding or winter housing. The aim of the Adaptive Multi-Paddock Grazing Project, running on FAI…
This year marked a turning point for the Lywood family as they sold their first litres of organic milk from Marshalls Farm in West Sussex, following a two-year conversion period.…
When the George family increased milking frequency they realised an uplift in milk yield of 2,000 litres a cow. As pedigree Holsteins, the cows were already high yielding, producing an…
Scottish farmer William Baillie has increased milk yields by 1.5 litres a cow a day since making small changes to the diet of his dairy cows. Soaking concentrates overnight…
Many farmers could make big improvements to the fertility of their herds by paying greater attention to dry cow management, stable nutrition and routine vet visits. According to vet Graeme…
Calving at two rather than three years old reduces rearing costs by about £600 a heifer and increases its lifetime productivity. In addition, it ensures genetics with the best potential…
Dairy farmers switching to high-quality grass silages made in multi-cut systems should persevere if they are encountering acidosis from young, wet, low-fibre silages. Some dairy farms are reporting sub-acute acidosis…
Marketing cattle at the right time is not just about giving processors what they want, it’s about cost control and efficiency. This is according to Yorkshire cattle finisher Doug Dear…
With global supplies looking vulnerable and farmers facing huge spikes in feed prices, there is no better time to look at viable alternatives to feeding imported soya. The good news…
Management during the early stages of a piglet’s life dictates its future growth and potential, with studies frequently showing an increased weaning weight can result in optimised finishing time and…
A winter grazing crop of Italian ryegrass, berseem clover and forage rape can finish more than twice as many lambs as an equivalent acreage of brassicas, a farm trial has…
This year’s silage is proving to be variable in quality and will need careful and frequent monitoring to make the best use of it. That is the verdict on samples…
It is unsurprising many farmers are switching from bottles to buckets with teats for feeding milk to older calves. Our test, carried out over a four-month period at my family…
Trees offer animals huge benefits, according to Lindsay Whistance, senior livestock researcher at the Organic Research Centre. She sets out the value of silvopasture to livestock systems. See also: Defra…
Soya is almost unique in its qualities as a source of highly digestible, high-protein, plant-based feed with a good amino acid profile. It is also available year round and is…
Multispecies leys can perform as well as traditional ryegrass in upland regions, a three-year study by the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Wales has found. Seed mixes incorporating meadow fescue, Timothy…
Urea-based products used to preserve rolled grain lose at least 40% of nitrogen content before they are consumed by the animal, new research has shown. Urea acts as a preservative,…
A recent study carried out by Harper Adams and ForFarmers has found that, contrary to belief, lower-density starter diets don’t necessarily lead to lower performance. In fact, the study showed…
Severely reduced processing capacity due to the Covid-19 pandemic has left some pig finishing units dealing with backlogs and feeding lower-energy holding diets to manage supply and avoid hefty penalties.…
Farmers could be selecting cattle bred to produce lower methane emissions in the near future, according to a leading scientist. Methane is an important greenhouse gas, with 28-times the potential…
According to the British Poultry Council’s latest report, overall antibiotics use on UK poultry meat units fell by more than 80% between 2012 and 2018, to a total of 16.2t.…
Increasing calcium in pre-calving diets can improve postpartum uterine health and fertility, a recent study has revealed. The study, which took place at the University of Illinois, examined feeding dry…
“Wow, time flies!”, Henry Petter says. The first Triomatic feeding robot has been feeding since 2006 at his dairy farm. “It has brought us more than we could have ever…
We’re hearing a great deal about input costs and the on-going price volatility affecting agriculture. With no clear view of how this will play out over the coming 12 months,…
You can have a significant effect on mix quality. With only minor adjustments, you can achieve great results from your diet feeder. This will make your farm more efficient and,…
It is a good idea to regularly check the knives in your diet feeder for wear and tear. Damaged or worn knives may result in a host of unforeseen costs.…
When your business relies on the smooth running of key equipment, it is vital that both planned and unplanned downtime on production lines is kept to a minimum. This puts…
With spring officially upon us, the nation’s dairy herds will soon leave the sheds and return to the fields. Transitioning from indoor to outdoor rations makes this a time when…
