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BEEF

3 weaning strategies explored for suckler farms

Many different strategies are employed by suckler herds across the UK to minimise stress, growth check and hassle when weaning suckler calves. Scotland’s Rural College beef specialist Basil Lowman stresses…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Apply lime now to grassland if conditions good, says expert

Where ground conditions are good, now is the ideal time for lime applications to grassland. However, calcium lime is recommended by independent consultant Dr George Fisher. Magnesium lime makes the…

SHEEP

New sheep dipping guidelines now in place - what to expect

Sheep farmers should collaborate closely with dipping contractors to keep abreast of updated dipping guidelines as part of an industry-wide focus on best practice. Fresh directives on prescribing sheep dip…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Dairy-beef outwintering setup saves on winter housing costs

Careful site selection allows Graham Parks to use outwintering as an entry for a reseed. It also saves him £35 a head on winter housing and feeding costs, maintaining his…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Are the seasons changing?

It has been an interesting year weather-wise. Winter was mild here in the Borders without excessive rain, allowing for good winter crop growth. Spring was damp, which delayed spring sowing,…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: £10 less for stores as they aren’t Suffolks

On 4 August we sold 300 store lambs at Dingwall and Highland Mart’s first lamb sale of 2023. These were our top draw of lambs, and we were happy enough…

Livestock news

BOVINE TB

Bovine TB cattle slaughterings below 20,000 in England

The number of cattle slaughtered in England over the course of a year due to bovine TB has dropped below 20,000 for the first time in 15 years. The latest…

NEWS

'Tighten the borders' say farmers, as swine fever reaches Sweden

The UK government is under pressure to raise the threat level of African swine fever (ASF) from medium to high, after Sweden reported its first case, with humans thought to…

BOVINE TB

New TB rules mean less red tape to move restricted cattle

Livestock movements during a bovine TB breakdown can be made using a single general licence from 2 October 2023, replacing the need for individual movement licences. The rule change, described…

LIVESTOCK

NSA issues disease risk warning amid annual sheep sales

Sheep industry leaders have issued a stark flock health warning, reminding farmers to do all they can to reduce disease transmission risk during the sheep sale season. Foot health, parasite…

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BEEF

3 weaning strategies explored for suckler farms

Many different strategies are employed by suckler herds across the UK to minimise stress, growth check and hassle when weaning suckler calves. Scotland’s Rural College beef specialist Basil Lowman stresses…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Dairy-beef outwintering setup saves on winter housing costs

Careful site selection allows Graham Parks to use outwintering as an entry for a reseed. It also saves him £35 a head on winter housing and feeding costs, maintaining his…

MAIZE

Maize crops perform well in this year's challenging weather

Maize has done well in this year’s challenging weather conditions, utilising summer rain for excellent plant growth, reports Neil Groom, manager of forage specialists Grainseed. “Spring was wet and maize…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

How cow minerals unlocked calf health for Somerset farm

The Creeds are meticulous when it comes to calf rearing, so when animals suddenly started to get sick, it was a mystery as to why – until they discovered their…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Gold Cup winners share body condition scoring strategy

Embracing technology and keeping a close eye on cow condition have helped maintain pregnancy rates at 23% and support cow longevity at an Ayrshire family farm. The Logans, from Holehouse…

DAIRY

Advice on BVD vaccination for autumn block-calvers

As autumn block-calving builds momentum, herd managers need to check they have remembered to slot in their annual boosters against bovine viral diarrhoea at least one month before mating starts.…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why farmers should make efficient use of autumn flush

After another challenging growing year, grazing platforms are finally where they should be. But with current warm, moist conditions creating good growth rates at the right quality, Livestock Improvement Corporation…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

What is holding back improvements in youngstock management?

An exclusive Farmers Weekly survey has revealed that poor farmer to vet engagement and monitoring could be preventing beef and dairy farms from lowering disease and improving performance in calf…

LIVESTOCK

Three-cut silage: Go for leaves, not bulk

Three-cut silage systems can take first cut a week earlier next year and still get the same yield, plus better quality. Scheduling all three cuts in the clamp before the…

LIVESTOCK

NSA issues disease risk warning amid annual sheep sales

Sheep industry leaders have issued a stark flock health warning, reminding farmers to do all they can to reduce disease transmission risk during the sheep sale season. Foot health, parasite…

LIVESTOCK

6 tips for livestock farmers preparing for Red Tractor audit

Few farmers look forward to their Red Tractor inspection, and many bemoan the bureaucracy surrounding it – especially when it is one of several audits carried out annually to comply…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How to stop losses when grazing youngstock on herbal leys

A fundamental misunderstanding of how to manage stock grazing herbal leys has caused heartache on some farms this summer, as more yearling cattle and weaned lambs have died from twisted…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

How a dairy farm pilot tackled conception and culling rates

Giving repeat breeders a holding injection after service has improved conception rates and reduced forced culls at New Manor Farm in Somerset. Like many dairy farmers, Martin Hawkins was frustrated…

AWARDS

Farmers Weekly Awards 2023: Mixed Farmer of the Year finalists

The 2023 Farmers Weekly Mixed Farmer of the Year finalists demonstrate a commitment to producing quality British produce, with an impressive handle on costs. Despite operating a range of farm…

DAIRY

4 ways to assess the true cost of mastitis to your farm

The cost of a case of mastitis is used to calculate the total annual expense to a herd. This figure is then used to estimate return on investment (ROI) in…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Advice on how to maintain a tight calving block

Achieving a tight calving block is key to the success of a block-calving system. Typically, farms will aim for a calving period of nine to 12 weeks, with 75-80% of…

Grassland and silage management

Meat markets and prices

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MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Beef and lamb markets well supported into the autumn

A warmer start to September and tighter supplies of stock has helped to strengthen prices for both beef and lamb in recent weeks across the UK. Analysts say the improved…

NEWS

New border control regime poses biosecurity risk

Industry figures have warned the government’s new food border control regime poses a biosecurity risk. While the UK was a member of the EU, it relied upon a team of…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Finished pig values dwindle despite tighter UK supply

UK pig prices have started to ease back in recent weeks after reaching record highs in August. The EU-spec standard pig price (SPP) averaged 224.76p/kg deadweight for the week ending…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Confident Kelso average breaks £1,000 barrier

A record-breaking £1,056 average sire price confirmed cash and confidence was present in commercial sheep farming at the UK’s largest ram sale last Friday 8 September. A summer of national…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Firm lamb trade forecast after grass-driven yearlings hit £180

Firm forecasts for breeding lambs have been mooted following confident shearling sales powered by strong pasture growth and a liveweight lamb price above 250p/kg all summer. Buyer confidence is greater…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Lamb prices above last year’s levels despite seasonal falls

Tighter supplies of lamb in recent weeks and better demand on the Continent have helped to offer some short-term support to prices during August. Auctioneers say heavier lambs and well…

Livestock community

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Are the seasons changing?

It has been an interesting year weather-wise. Winter was mild here in the Borders without excessive rain, allowing for good winter crop growth. Spring was damp, which delayed spring sowing,…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: £10 less for stores as they aren’t Suffolks

On 4 August we sold 300 store lambs at Dingwall and Highland Mart’s first lamb sale of 2023. These were our top draw of lambs, and we were happy enough…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Longest wait for straw ever

I couldn't wait for this lovely weather (5 September) and decided to wrap our first-cut hay a couple of weeks ago while waiting for the straw to dry. I've never…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Silage work was fraught, but we got there

Due to the significant change in weather that happened around the summer solstice, we could refer to this summer, as the "summer of two halves". Considering the drastically dry conditions…

Dairy

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Apply lime now to grassland if conditions good, says expert

Where ground conditions are good, now is the ideal time for lime applications to grassland. However, calcium lime is recommended by independent consultant Dr George Fisher. Magnesium lime makes the…

MAIZE

Maize crops perform well in this year's challenging weather

Maize has done well in this year’s challenging weather conditions, utilising summer rain for excellent plant growth, reports Neil Groom, manager of forage specialists Grainseed. “Spring was wet and maize…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

Calf monitoring and health plans key to future performance

Some 90% of farmers want to make changes to improve the future sustainability of their youngstock management in the next 12 months, according to a Farmers Weekly exclusive survey. Yet…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

How cow minerals unlocked calf health for Somerset farm

The Creeds are meticulous when it comes to calf rearing, so when animals suddenly started to get sick, it was a mystery as to why – until they discovered their…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Autumn-calving herds advised to graze now to cut diet costs

Autumn block-calving herds should target pre-grazing covers no greater than 3,000kgDM/ha, or they will compromise intakes and utilisation. Cows in early lactation won’t be able to graze swards that are…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Gold Cup winners share body condition scoring strategy

Embracing technology and keeping a close eye on cow condition have helped maintain pregnancy rates at 23% and support cow longevity at an Ayrshire family farm. The Logans, from Holehouse…

LIVESTOCK

Limiting concentrates in milking robot improves efficiency

Providing more feed outside of the milking robot reduced the amount of uneaten concentrates, which would benefit farm efficiency, according to a study involving 48 housed cows at the Agri-Food…

DAIRY

Advice on BVD vaccination for autumn block-calvers

As autumn block-calving builds momentum, herd managers need to check they have remembered to slot in their annual boosters against bovine viral diarrhoea at least one month before mating starts.…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

Why genetics are critical for improving dairy cow fertility

Dairy cow fertility is at the heart of herd profitability, driving milk yields, cutting interventions and improving cow lifespans. Evidence supporting the role of genetics in improving fertility has accumulated…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why farmers should make efficient use of autumn flush

After another challenging growing year, grazing platforms are finally where they should be. But with current warm, moist conditions creating good growth rates at the right quality, Livestock Improvement Corporation…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

What is holding back improvements in youngstock management?

An exclusive Farmers Weekly survey has revealed that poor farmer to vet engagement and monitoring could be preventing beef and dairy farms from lowering disease and improving performance in calf…

LIVESTOCK

Three-cut silage: Go for leaves, not bulk

Three-cut silage systems can take first cut a week earlier next year and still get the same yield, plus better quality. Scheduling all three cuts in the clamp before the…

Livestock machinery

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TRACTORS

Case IH and New Holland unveil 75hp electric tractors

Battery-powered electric tractors look set to enter mainstream agriculture following the commercial launch of 55kW (75hp) models at the Farm Progress Show in the US. Unlike the electric compact tractors…

MOWERS

Compact design for new 8.4m and 9.2m Novacat butterfly mower

Farmers without the bank balance, workload or field sizes to justify a set of Pottinger’s 10m V 10000 butterfly mowers now have some slightly smaller V-spec options to consider. The…

FORAGERS

Retro machinery fleet in demand for silage work

Three mechanically minded friends have clubbed together to form a contracting outfit that runs almost entirely on lovingly fettled modern classic machinery. Ashley Benson, Dave Marwood and James Rawsthorn –…

TELEHANDLERS

LWC launches its biggest 3cu m toe-tip grain bucket

Demand for increased handling capacity as farms grow and produce bigger volumes of grain and oilseed crops has prompted Leeds-based LWC to develop its largest toe-tip bulk handling bucket. The…

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