Livestock top stories BROILERSTesco moves to lower stocking rates for fresh chickenSupermarket giant Tesco is joining Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury’s in requiring its chicken producers to stock their birds at a 20% lower rate than the industry standard. The move, which… DAIRYAdvice for managing a split-block calving herdHistorically, savings made from efficient block-calving outweighed seasonality penalties. Yet many contracts have tempted farms into going split block. Herds that move to split-block calving to satisfy milk buyer requirements… DAIRYHow self-feed silage allowed autumn-block herd to expandAn autumn block-calving herd has moved to a new site on farm, replaced a mixer wagon with self-feed silage and increased herd size by 120 cows. Cost of production for… LIVESTOCKHow artificial intelligence can help protect your herdFor dairy farmers who don’t wait until it’s too late Are you aware that many transition cow health issues go unnoticed? It’s a fact. However, these problems such as metritis… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Yield up 6 litres with 365-day housingWe’ve worked towards housing the cows all year round for a number of years, and after completing the cubicle shed last autumn, we have done just that. From a production… LIVESTOCKBenefits of cell grazing for efficiency and farm successionSuccession planning has prompted a Welsh upland farm to switch from suckler beef production on a set stocking system, to growing Wagyu cattle on an intensive form of rotational grazing.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Hedge rules show red tape continuesThe May ultra-marathon is complete. I can’t thank my team enough. The highlight was taking on an extra 53ha with a day’s notice and getting it drilled up from scratch.… Livestock news LIVESTOCK DISEASESDiseases pose worrying risk to UK livestock this summerDiseases such as bluetongue and African swine fever (ASF) pose potential risks to UK livestock this summer, according to veterinary professionals. The prevalence of these diseases in UK herds would… LIVESTOCKBovine TB cattle slaughterings up 17% in WalesThe latest official statistics released by Defra show the bovine TB situation continues to deteriorate in Wales. In Wales, there were 11,197 cattle slaughtered over 12 months between April 2023… FOOT HEALTHLameness tech promises fast, accurate detectionFootbath manufacturer Hoofcount has launched a revolutionary lameness detection device that automatically identifies digital dermatitis (DD) and enables faster treatment of lesions. In the UK, 30% of cows have DD… BEEFLivestock leaders see ‘potential benefits’ of cattle EIDLivestock representatives from the four main farming unions agree there are real potential benefits to introducing bovine electronic identification. These range from efficiency and animal health and welfare gains to… More articles Explore livestock Know How Business advice Essential guides Practical tips Case studies Dairy Beef Sheep Pigs Other livestock Grassland management Slurry and manure management Explore all topics Latest from livestock Know HowSee all DAIRYAdvice for managing a split-block calving herdHistorically, savings made from efficient block-calving outweighed seasonality penalties. Yet many contracts have tempted farms into going split block. Herds that move to split-block calving to satisfy milk buyer requirements… DAIRYHow self-feed silage allowed autumn-block herd to expandAn autumn block-calving herd has moved to a new site on farm, replaced a mixer wagon with self-feed silage and increased herd size by 120 cows. Cost of production for… LIVESTOCKBenefits of cell grazing for efficiency and farm successionSuccession planning has prompted a Welsh upland farm to switch from suckler beef production on a set stocking system, to growing Wagyu cattle on an intensive form of rotational grazing.… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow a dairy is using data to identify paddocks for reseedingAnalysing data from grass growth measurements to select the poorest yielding paddocks for reseeding in August will help Lydney Park Farm improve output across the whole grazing platform. The goal… ASSESSING PERFORMANCEUltra-high or low frequency EID tags: Which is best?A debate is raging about what tag technology should be used in the UK’s national cattle traceability scheme when it eventually arrives. The stand-off is between the low frequency (LF)… PIGSHow ear tag tech is improving Yorkshire pig farm's efficiencyA family pig business is one of the first in the UK to monitor commercial pig performance from farrow to finish with electronic identification technology. Infrastructure upgrades, marketing age, and… LIVESTOCKTips on improving silage quality in a wet seasonChasing high dry matter in clamp silages is costing livestock farmers money in terms of feed quality and sustainability. Rather than wilting this year’s bumper grass crops for 36-48 hours… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Environment inspectors show farming interestIt has been a busy month since my last piece. Entertainment has included a couple of trips away from the farm. I went to Krakow in Poland for my stag… LIVESTOCKTips on using and cleaning a milk pasteuriser correctlyPasteurising whole milk for calves kills major pathogens while protecting useful antibodies – but it is not a remedy for unhygienic practices. Keeping the machine clean inside and out, and… DAIRY3 ways Gold Cup winner is hitting production targetsThe right cow for the system, optimising grass utilisation and feeding cows well are the main success factors for achieving top levels of milk solids and production from forage. This… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTBumper grass growth but wet conditions hamper utilisationBeef and sheep farmer John Ritchie, Farmers Weekly’s Grassland Manager of the Year 2023, replaced set stocking with rotational grazing on his Perthshire hill farm. He is sharing updates about… DAIRYHow lush spring growth is affecting summer grazing decisionsCornish dairy farmer and experienced grazing manager Chris Knowles is sharing updates about his 2024 grazing season with Farmers Weekly. In this second article, Chris reveals how he coped with… SHEEPHow RamCompare gives pedigree flock commercial edgeSheep industry stalwart and farmer Charles Sercombe believes performance recording holds the key to unlocking the efficiency of the UK’s flock. “Agriculture is at a crossroads: whichever party is elected… LIVESTOCKHow Brecon Beacons farmers are improving water qualityEstablishing buffer strips, resting fields and using precision technology to aid the timing of nutrient applications could all help drive improvements in water quality, preliminary findings from a pioneer project… DAIRY7 ways to prevent colostrum contaminationColostrum cleanliness should be given as much attention as immunoglobulin levels if farmers are to optimise calf health and performance. This is according to vets in a Glasgow University Veterinary… PIGSHow to plan and prepare for African swine feverPig producers are advised to double down on biosecurity and be as prepared as possible for the possibility of African swine fever crossing the Channel. The first case of African… Wet turnout The benefits of a spring rotation planner for beef cattle How to manage dairy cows at grass as seasons get more extreme Q&A: How to reduce the risk of grass staggers How to manage turnout of youngstock for optimum intakes Meat markets and pricesSee all MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESPig prices start to climb as EU market improvesStagnant GB pig prices have held at about 210p/kg since the beginning of 2024, however uplifts in EU prices and increased domestic demand could help to provide some support later… FARM POLICYAussie farmers in backlash over ban on live sheep exportsFarmers in Australia have been launching protests after their government announced plans to ban live sheep exports by 1 May 2028, which they say will put them out of business.… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade starts to falter after months of strong returnsLivestock farmers have received a decent return for lambs so far in 2024, with finished deadweight prices staying above £8/kg since mid-March. However, as new season lambs start to come… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESBeef price falls to 480p/kg but scope for summer surgeCattle rearers have been feeling the pinch as a result of falling beef prices, with ample supplies of stock coming forward, putting pressure on the trade. GB prime cattle started… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK pork producers gain market access to VietnamUK pork has been granted market access to Vietnam for the first time in a new deal estimated to be worth £12m to the sector during the first five years… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESIndustry change and costs limit demand for beef outfitsTerrifying straw costs and a changing suckler industry have led to a sticky trade this spring for commercial beef breeding cows with calves at foot. Eye-catching cows with strong calves… Livestock communitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Yield up 6 litres with 365-day housingWe’ve worked towards housing the cows all year round for a number of years, and after completing the cubicle shed last autumn, we have done just that. From a production… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Hedge rules show red tape continuesThe May ultra-marathon is complete. I can’t thank my team enough. The highlight was taking on an extra 53ha with a day’s notice and getting it drilled up from scratch.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Don’t forget farming’s role in tourismWe recently returned from a fantastic break. Apologies in advance if this article sounds like an advert from the Welsh tourism board, but our experience was genuinely that impressive. We… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Environment inspectors show farming interestIt has been a busy month since my last piece. Entertainment has included a couple of trips away from the farm. I went to Krakow in Poland for my stag… Dairy DAIRYAdvice for managing a split-block calving herdHistorically, savings made from efficient block-calving outweighed seasonality penalties. Yet many contracts have tempted farms into going split block. Herds that move to split-block calving to satisfy milk buyer requirements… DAIRYHow self-feed silage allowed autumn-block herd to expandAn autumn block-calving herd has moved to a new site on farm, replaced a mixer wagon with self-feed silage and increased herd size by 120 cows. Cost of production for… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow a dairy is using data to identify paddocks for reseedingAnalysing data from grass growth measurements to select the poorest yielding paddocks for reseeding in August will help Lydney Park Farm improve output across the whole grazing platform. The goal… HEALTH AND WELFAREDairy mobility survey lays out lameness recommendationsCombining mobility scoring cameras with specialised staff roles could help tackle the lack of progress in dairy cow foot health. This is revealed in the survey results of attitudes to… ASSESSING PERFORMANCEUltra-high or low frequency EID tags: Which is best?A debate is raging about what tag technology should be used in the UK’s national cattle traceability scheme when it eventually arrives. The stand-off is between the low frequency (LF)… LIVESTOCKTips on improving silage quality in a wet seasonChasing high dry matter in clamp silages is costing livestock farmers money in terms of feed quality and sustainability. Rather than wilting this year’s bumper grass crops for 36-48 hours… LIVESTOCKTips on using and cleaning a milk pasteuriser correctlyPasteurising whole milk for calves kills major pathogens while protecting useful antibodies – but it is not a remedy for unhygienic practices. Keeping the machine clean inside and out, and… DAIRY3 ways Gold Cup winner is hitting production targetsThe right cow for the system, optimising grass utilisation and feeding cows well are the main success factors for achieving top levels of milk solids and production from forage. This… FOOT HEALTHLameness tech promises fast, accurate detectionFootbath manufacturer Hoofcount has launched a revolutionary lameness detection device that automatically identifies digital dermatitis (DD) and enables faster treatment of lesions. In the UK, 30% of cows have DD… DAIRYHow lush spring growth is affecting summer grazing decisionsCornish dairy farmer and experienced grazing manager Chris Knowles is sharing updates about his 2024 grazing season with Farmers Weekly. In this second article, Chris reveals how he coped with… BEEFLivestock leaders see ‘potential benefits’ of cattle EIDLivestock representatives from the four main farming unions agree there are real potential benefits to introducing bovine electronic identification. These range from efficiency and animal health and welfare gains to… DAIRY7 ways to prevent colostrum contaminationColostrum cleanliness should be given as much attention as immunoglobulin levels if farmers are to optimise calf health and performance. This is according to vets in a Glasgow University Veterinary… Advertisements Livestock machinerySee all GRASSLAND AND MAIZE EQUIPMENTPottinger harvest app offers route maps for silage cartsTroubled by seasonal silage workers getting lost on long draws between field and clamp? Pottinger’s Harvest Assist app now has the solution, with navigation both to a field and back… BALERS AND WRAPPERSHarvest Tec parts company with UK distributor PFC AgriHarvest Tec, the US manufacturer of forage preservatives, moisture sensors and application systems, and its distributor PFC Agri Solutions, have parted company. A dedicated support team for the UK is… DIET FEEDERSKV Siloking feeders get hydro-mechanical Variospeed optionA stepless transmission option developed for the larger two- and three-auger models in the Siloking trailed diet feeder range from Kverneland is designed to reduce stresses and strains on tractor… GRASSLAND AND MAIZE EQUIPMENTNew kit breaks cover at Sustainable Grass and Muck eventForagers barked, mowers whirred and muckspreaders stunk out the 400ha Aberystwyth University Farm last week, giving punters the perfect chance to get their grass machinery fix. Here, we pick out… Most popular this week
