Livestock News

The ban on gatherings of galliforme poultry and galliforme birds – including chickens, turkeys, pheasants, partridges, quail and guinea fowl – has been lifted.

The first UK ovine embryos have been shipped to the United States following the lifting of a long-term ban in 2021 on sheep and lamb imports from countries previously affected by BSE.

Vets from the VetPartners group are lobbying their MPs to address the volatility of the milk market, as a time when farmers are facing increased costs.

The poultry industry has slammed claims by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) that avian influenza is ‘spiralling out of control due to the rise of factory farming’.

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.

As a recent survey highlights a 20% drop in scanning results last year, and industry data suggesting forage quality is low this year, Rumenco nutritionist Alison Bond highlights the importance of supplementation.

Testing has begun as part of a project to reduce the environmental impact of ammonia emissions from livestock, after ammonia-harvesting technology was put in place at a pig farm running the trials.

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.

The National Sheep Association is highlighting the importance of British consumers having access to high quality, affordable British food, that also benefits the countryside and farming communities.

With resistance to worm treatments severely undermining control programmes, scientists are seeking a solution in the form of an on-farm vaccine.

Set to take place at the Staffordshire County Showground on 18th and 19th November, there will be more than £20,000 in prize money on offer at this year’s English Winter Fair.