Part 1: How to make the most of winter forage Variable weather last summer has meant varied forage samples for feeding this winter, writes Nerys Wright. Yet many of us continue to feed the same amount of forage and the same supplements – year in, year out – regardless... Read more

Sheep farmers are being encouraged to conduct a forage analysis well ahead of lambing to ensure ewes receive the correct feed rationing and nutrition following last year’s  challenging silage season. “Forage quality varies massively from year-to-year, and 2024’s wet spring and variable summer posed particular challenges for farmers trying... Read more

Beef farmers could finish their cattle quicker and more efficiently thanks to a new feedstuff. Available in blends or as a farm pack, ProFinisher boosts daily liveweight gain by up to 6% – so cattle are finished earlier on less feed. Cattle are said to achieve an overall 19kg... Read more

A ground-breaking acid technology could help poultry producers eliminate the threat of deadly pathogens. Trials undertaken by Aga2Tech, with support from Innovate UK, indicate an in-water peracetic acid treatment could prevent on-farm poultry infections – offering an effective alternative to antibiotics. Commercial trials involving 250,000 broilers were carried out... Read more

• Reduce impact of climate change • Major welfare benefits promised • Herd health set for improvements A new generation of livestock buildings and digital tools could reduce the impact of heat stress on housed dairy herds. Two companies – Galebreaker and Smartbell – have been awarded a second... Read more

Think beyond sustainable farming  payments Livestock producers growing herbal leys simply for Sustainable Farming Incentive payments could be missing out on wider benefits. Not all SAM3 herbal ley mixtures  are the same – and choosing the cheapest option for the SFI payment could be a false economy, suggests Agrii... Read more

• Ultra early varieties increasingly popular • Optimum resilience in variable conditions • Rotational benefits for farm enterprises A warmer UK climate is creating opportunities for farmers to grow earlier maize varieties, say plant breeders. Maize requires a minimum of 1200 Maize Heat Units (MHU) between May and September... Read more

• Concern over outbreak in Germany • Reminder to maintain biosecurity • Talk to friends and family Sheep producers are being urged to remain vigilant and maintain on-farm biosecurity following confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany. UK imports of sheep, cattle and pigs were swiftly banned following the discovery... Read more