Livestock News

As of July, primary pork products including steaks, roasting joints and mince, have been knocked off the best-performing red meat spot as consumers opt for more affordable proteins in an attempt to save money.

Scientists fear a new strain of the avian influenza virus discovered in China could spark the next global pandemic as a recent study reveals mutational changes that could increase the risk of the virus infecting humans.

A series of advanced workshops for pig workers is set to return this October for the first time in four years to address the growing challenges and responsibilities in the pork industry.

Despite improvement to overall intestinal health in flocks across the UK, coccidiosis prevalence is still higher than 2021 levels, and poultry farmers are advised to ramp up biosecurity on their premises to achieve good disease control over the winter.

A dry start to the summer followed by a wet July means farmers in the North East need to take a close look at calf nutrition over the next few months, according to Steven Eddie, ruminant nutritionist at East Coast Viners.

The third consecutive GB Calf Week will be kicking off at the UK’s largest dairy industry event on 13th September, with a series of on-farm and virtual events promoting responsible dairy calf management.

Research carried out by UCD’s School of Agriculture and Food Science has shown that significant cost savings are possible when using multispecies swards for grazing livestock, which can yield up to 25% more herbage and lead to quicker finishing times.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is urging sheep farmers to consider disease risk when buying in replacement stock and take the necessary precautions to prevent their flock from becoming infected.

Farmers who import live pigs or semen to the UK are being warned of the risks and reminded to follow protocols around PRRS.

With breeding sheep being traded from farm to farm, often via marts, this month the risk period for sheep scab transmission is heightened, Ulster Farmers’ Union has warned.

With the gap between farmgate milk and retail prices promising no let-up and high input costs putting significant strain on the sector, British dairy farmers are facing a tough six months ahead, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) has warned.

Dr Carrie Rimes, a former grassland ecologist turned artisan cheese-maker, recently hosted minister Lesley Griffiths on her new award-winning sheep milk dairy in Bethesda, Gwynedd, which was realised through government funding and support from the local council.