Livestock News

With 2024 well underway, it’s the time of year to reflect on lessons learnt from the last 12 months. Stuart Wilkieson, Sam Coulson, and John Lack from Elta Group’s agricultural brands answer some key questions on the trends seen.

Speakers at this year’s Oxford Real Farming Conference emphasised the importance of small local abattoirs and concerns over ongoing closures – whilst Defra outlined new funding and progress.

Iceland customers can now buy products from the award-winning Ayrshire butcher, We hae meat. The national grocery retailer is to stock the firm’s skinny steak slice and ‘chippy-style’ ranges in 42 of its Scottish stores. 

Emily Hall, livestock farmer and product manager for Nettex discusses key colostrum targets and what to look for in a colostrum powder when supplementation is needed.

Two dairy farmers from Somerset and Coleraine in Northern Ireland have made it onto the 2024 New Year Honours list, recognising their selfless service to others.

Winter housing can be an incredibly stressful time for livestock. Elevated cortisone levels in stressed animals can have numerous potential harmful effects on the animal’s immune system. Amongst the major disease problems in housed cattle are pneumonia and calf scour. Vet and veterinary pharmacologist Dr Tom Barragry offers some guidance.

Healthy cows are at the heart of a successful dairy farm, enabling more sustainable production and animal welfare. Early disease detection and precise monitoring are essential for animal health and farm management.

As we come to the end of a strange year for weather, we take a look at the impacts on parasite burdens, as well as the wider animal health trends from the year, plus research breakthroughs and new advances. Sarah Kidby reports.

Another five cases have been confirmed in cattle within the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) in Kent.

In the UK it is estimated that a quarter of high yielding dairy cows suffer from sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA). David Bonsall, animal nutrition technical manager at Omya says it gets worse over the winter when a large percentage of the UK herd is housed, but there are management changes farmers can make to prevent and cure it.

Applications are now open for the Smaller Abattoir Fund, which offers grants to support smaller red meat and poultry abattoirs across England.

Farm vet Faye Heath, of Westpoint Farm Vets in Winchester, provides some top tips to ensure a successful lambing season.