• Improvements in pig productivity • Focus on consumer and welfare • Food service sector opportunities UK pork production is expected to remain steady in 2025, suggests the latest forecast from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. Limited growth in breeding herd numbers and continued pressure on export markets... Read more
Staying vigilant for signs of liver fluke and worms is paramount for sheep farmers, as the risk of parasites becomes increasingly variable, say advisers. Traditional risk periods for parasites are no longer applicable and regular monitoring is the only way to know if – and when – treatment is... Read more
• Mixed farm switches to all-livestock • Change secures future for business • Other farms can do same process A Norfolk beef and sheep farmer is switching from a mixed arable system to an all-livestock operation to improve farm resilience and performance. David Cross – who is an AHDB... Read more
A new forecast is helping sheep producers accurately predict the timing of the next nematodirus outbreak, writes Nerys Wright. Significant variations in weather conditions make forecasts difficult from year to year. But when an outbreak does occurs, it can rapidly cause severe harm or even death in a large... Read more
• Cost-benefit vaccine calculator • Helps to properly assess risks • Already being used in the field A new weapon is helping vets and farmers decide whether it is worthwhile vaccinating livestock against bluetongue. The Battle Bluetongue tool is a vaccination finance calculator to help beef and sheep producers... Read more
Improve nutrition for dairy herds Dairy farmers who take first-cut silage during April often end up with better quality forage, says a specialist. Sticking to a traditional May cutting date for making first-cut grass silage could be putting winter milk yield at risk, claims Amanda Clements, Ecosyl technical business... Read more
• Helps improve flock management • Easy to operate strict culling policy • Integrated farm assurance scheme State-of-the-art data management is helping an organic sheep producer run a more efficient flock. A strict culling policy and close monitoring of lamb weights during the finishing period are the keys to... Read more
Part 2: Choosing a compound feed Following last month’s article on optimising forage, this month we focus on selecting a compound feed to complement your forage analysis, writes Nerys Wright. Seasonal variations in forage quality mean the same compound feed and quantities may not be suitable in every situation... Read more
• Viable alternative to feeding warm milk • Advantageous at different growth stages • Can help save time during busy periods Feeding cold milk to surplus lambs makes no difference to growth rate – and can ease the workload during a busy season, suggests a study Some 58% of... Read more
• Deadweight prices reach record highs • Domestic production expected to fall • Tighter supplies meet higher demand Beef prices are expected to remain firm this year – although imports are expected to rise to compensate for a fall in domestic production. UK beef production is expected to decline... Read more
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