Dairy & Beef

Ahead of the spring calving season, beef and dairy producers wanting to optimise herd health and performance need to start planning their micronutrient supplementation programmes.

Two cows trapped in a slurry pit have been saved thanks to the heroic efforts of a Dorset farmer and local firefighters.

Strong online and ringside bidding saw the day’s top price reach £5,600 at the Hereford bull sale in Southwest Scotland.

At the beginning of this week (19th February), a ship from Brazil anchored in the port of Cape Town, with 19,000 distressed cattle aboard. The animals have been kept in appalling conditions for weeks. 

With lameness being common across a range of dairy systems, causing welfare issues and financial losses, Dr James Wilson offers some guidance on prevention and control – and shares trial results from an effective alternative to formalin and copper sulphate footbath solutions.

Defra is contacting individual premises under restriction to inform them of the development.

If you purchase a full pallet of Volac-manufactured calf milk replacer during February 2024 you’ll receive two bags free of charge to save you money on your investment into high quality pre-weaned calf nutrition.

A typical day turned into a life threatening situation for Carol Rettie, when one of the “quietest” bulls she had ever handled panicked during handling. Carol has shared her story in a new RSABI video to help improve safety in farming.

Levy rate increases proposed by the AHDB for the Beef and Lamb, Cereals and Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork sectors have received approval from ministers at Defra and the Devolved Administrations.

A recent farm trial has found the Lifeline pre-calver bucket, a specialist pre-calving mineral supplement, increases colostrum IgG by 20% when offered for two months prior to calving.

Vets are urging farmers to be vigilant for Schmallenberg virus (SBV) – which can mimic other diseases including bluetongue – as a rising number of early lambing flocks are hit with deadly SBV this season.

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in dairy and beef calves and costs the industry around £50 million a year. In its most recent GB Calf Week, AHDB hosted a range of expert panels to offer top tips on how to tackle the disease. Sarah Kidby reports on improvements made on two farms.