Dairy & Beef News

Dairy farmers have an opportunity this year to clamp decent tonnages of quality maize silage, which could be a useful buffer with uncertain milk prices. But it will be crucial to avoid the top three most common harvest pitfalls.

In line with Somerset-based Godminster Farm’s ethos: ‘nature repays those who treat her kindly’, Pete Cheek who has been in charge of the farm’s 300 organic dairy herd for more than 25 years, is working with McArthur Agriculture to replace imported soya bean meal from the cows’ diet with home-grown and roasted pulses.

Taking steps to manage microbiota in maize silage this season will reduce the potential for costly mycotoxin problems at feed-out, according to Lientjie Colahan, technical sales support at Lallemand Animal Nutrition.

British dairy farmers are being forced to think seriously about their future due to concerns about insufficient returns, volatile markets and the scale of on-farm investment required.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) are launching a new dairy breeding and genetics campaign, hosting multiple workshops to help farmers access and analyse their dairy herd’s genetic potential.

The latest addition to Neogen’s range of footbath chemicals, Hoofshield Advance, has been shortlisted for a new product award and will be featured on the company’s stand at UK Dairy Day.

Farmers are invited to a free event hosted by AHDB on 22nd August to learn about improving stock selection for slaughter based on current market trends and how to achieve a healthier bottom line.

Having signed a £48 million deal in June, AB Agri (part of Associated British Foods) has now completed the acquisition of National Milk Records (NMR), the primary supplier of management information and testing services to the UK dairy supply chain.

The Dairy Show is set to return to the Bath & West Showground in Somerset on Wednesday 4th October 2023 to showcase the latest innovations, address challenges and opportunities around net zero, and celebrate the best in British dairying.

In a letter to MPs, farm vets from VetPartners are calling on the government to address the volatility of the milk market at a time when farmers are facing increased labour costs and the price of fuel, equipment, energy and rents have risen.

The industry-renowned dairy course ‘Entrepreneurs in Dairying’, run by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) and sponsored by HSBC UK, is set to return this October and is open to anyone interested in a career in the dairy sector.

Livestock farmers will be able to apply for grants of up to £500,000 to improve cattle housing and boost productivity, with further grants being made available for purchasing equipment and technology as part of the government’s Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.