Livestock News

Defra has announced the loosening of bluetongue virus measures due to the drop of midge activity during colder months.

The latest lamb energy and gut development supplement has been launched to give newborn lambs a strong start.

The UK government has backed new legislation to tackle livestock worrying. The new measures aim to reduce dog attacks on animals and help secure successful prosecutions that recognise impacts of the attacks on farmers and their businesses. 

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.

SRUC Edinburgh is offering CT scanning of rams in Scottish flocks, with QMS covering 50% of the cost per ram.

Successful dairy farming is built on proactive health management. By staying ahead of health issues, farmers not only ensure their cows’ well-being and productivity but also future-proof their farm.

Data from the Farming Connect Welsh Pasture Project has shown that grass production in Wales in 2023 exceeded previous years, but managing it was challenging.

Farming groups have welcomed the government’s decision to halt negotiations with Canada for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) – owing to disagreements on hormone treated beef and import taxes on British cheese.

When lambing losses were identified as a priority area for beef and sheep farmer Richard McCornick, recording losses effectively helped to highlight issues and boost survival. Richard shared his experiences at a recent farmer meeting.

Dairy farmers are being encouraged to vaccinate youngstock and naïve cattle against lungworm (husk) ahead of the 2024 grazing season after a significant rise in cases in recent years.