Livestock News

Offences include keeping animals in a poor living environment, repeated overdue TB testing or breaching avian flu housing orders.

Protein-rich peas and beans are replacing concentrates in the winter ration of sheep and cattle at a Radnorshire farm.

Colostrum is critical to the short and long-term health of lambs. Nettex provides a guide on how to supplement both ewe and powdered colostrum.

A dairy farm in Cheshire that was having trouble handling sand-laden slurry, has solved the problem with a new pump and help in the set-up of its reception pit.

Routine surveillance has identified two cases of bluetongue in cattle on a farm near Cantley, Broadland in Norfolk.

Following active surveillance within the temporary control zone (TCZ), two further cases of bluetongue have been identified taking the total number of UK cases to seven. Both cases are linked to a holding with previously confirmed cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3).

Farmers urged to be vigilant as further cases identified through additional surveillance.

A recent Defra webinar on funding for grassland and livestock saw farmers question the funding available for low input grassland, species rich grassland and good quality semi-improved grassland options under the SFI.

Mary Hamnett and Gordon Oliver, who breed Aberdeen Angus cattle in the Pennines, have a simple, shared vision – to help farmers reduce feed and labour costs and produce quality beef from grass.

The Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) group has published its latest technical guide, which reflects significant changes in approaches.

Farmers can apply for up to £250,000 to modernise and replace slurry storage infrastructure as the government announces a funding pot of over £70m.

Farmers in and around the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), can now access and call a dedicated bluetongue hotline to get advice or ask questions linked to the current situation.