Livestock News

Dairy farmers are being urged to make the most of the recent grass growth to produce good quality third and fourth cut silages.

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.

A timely appraisal of forage stocks now could pay dividends this winter, with experts predicting farmers could battle severe shortages in the housing season following a wet spring and mixed summer.

Innovative projects developing solutions to overcome animal health challenges on farm are set to receive a further £9 million funding under the second round of the endemic livestock disease initiative seeking to revolutionise the UK livestock sector.

The Pondus in-shed camera system is relatively new to the market and uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to monitor birds. Unlike many other systems on the market, it focuses on what the birds are doing rather than traditional environmental monitoring. We spoke to Pondus CEO Claire Lewis to find out more…

UK livestock markets have raised thousands of pounds for mental health charities, in support of Len’s Light Tractor Relay – which saw a Warwickshire farming couple travel 2,000 miles in honour of their son, who died by suicide last year.

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.

Vital vaccines for sheep and beef have become scarce during the past three years due to disruptions to animal vaccine supplies.

AHDB’s annual Love Lamb Week (LLW) campaign is set to return on the first week of September to highlight the qualities of UK lamb by teaming up with popular farming influencers on social media to share ‘Shepherds and their Pies’.

Livestock farmers are being urged to consider vaccinating against bovine coronavirus (BCoV) as recent studies have identified the pathogen as the most prevalent virus behind calf respiratory disease in the UK.

Sheep farmers who have not vaccinated their flock early for EAE (enzootic abortion of ewes) may be unable to do so later in the season due to delays in the manufacturing and distribution process of the Cevac Chalmydia vaccine, the supplier has said.

Animal Health and Welfare Pathway funding can help sheep farmers implement a strategic worm control plan. The Pathway, which is open now, will pay sheep farmers £436, covering the cost of the vet’s time and the diagnostic testing.