Restaurants and eateries are being urged to buy more British pork – and provide clearer information on where their food comes from. The National Pig Association (NPA) says doing so will help to restore confidence in a pig industry facing mounting financial pressure caused by an oversupply of pigs,... Read more

More large pig producers are installing misting systems in farrowing houses to combat summer heatwaves while boosting sow welfare and productivity. Cooling systems are increasingly viewed as a routine part of modern pig building design rather than an optional extra. Installation costs range from about £40 to £100 per... Read more

A Norfolk poultry company is seeking more farms across East Anglia to rear free-range chickens and turkeys. Traditional Norfolk Poultry managing director Mark Gorton says demand for the company’s chicken and turkey products continues to grow as they are increasingly recognised by retailers and consumers. “The marketing campaign for... Read more

Cambridgeshire vet Jessica Seale, of Slate Hall Veterinary Services of Rampton, has won Farm Vet of the Year at the National Egg  & Poultry Awards. Ms Seale studied veterinary science at Bristol University. She graduated in 2020 and has a masters degree from the Royal Veterinary College. She began... Read more

Pig producers are being advised to review fly pressure in housing as prolonged warm weather creates ideal conditions for populations to build. Dave Reece, Lodi UK pest control technical adviser, says fly numbers can rise rapidly during warmer periods, particularly where muck and moisture provide the ideal breeding environment.... Read more

UK pig producers are stepping up biosecurity against the growing threat of African Swine Fever – but further improvements are needed, suggests a survey. Some 53% of producers have already tightened biosecurity, according to biosecurity specialists Roam Technology. But 13% of respondents said they did not feel prepared for... Read more

August often feels like a “hold your nerve” month, writes Nerys Wright. Lambs are still pushing on, ewes are recovering from the demands of rearing and – if it is dry, like this year – feed can soon become a huge challenge. When dry weather bites, the pressure on... Read more

Livestock farmers should assess forage stocks now and plan winter rations early as dry weather continues to curb grass growth, despite a strong start to the silage season. Grass growth has fallen to about 31.8kg DM/ha/day, according to AHDB Forage for Knowledge. This is well below the five-year average... Read more

Getting rumen development right in the first weeks of life is one of the best investments any beef producer can make. The benefits continue throughout the animal’s lifetime, improving performance, efficiency and profitability. Poor rumen development can have lasting repercussions for the profitability of beef calves. The good news... Read more

New UK research suggests the trend towards feeding calves very high volumes of milk replacer may not deliver sufficient returns for dairy farmers. Feeding more than 1,050g of milk solids per calf daily can increase costs without producing meaningful improvements in growth or health, suggest two studies. Higher milk... Read more