Dairy & Beef News

Positions are open for three-year terms on the Beef & Lamb, Cereals & Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork sector councils.

In response to continued market demand, British supplier Warrendale Wagyu has announced ambitious plans to double production in the next two years at its 2023 conference, which was attended by more than 250 farming delegates.

Home-grown concentrates such as crimped grain are a cost-effective way of balancing low energy and nutrient levels in first cut silage that was harvested later this season as a result of wet weather, Lientjie Colahan from Lallemand explained.

Following feedback from 46 producers, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) has urged the government to address the escalating labour situation in the sector in its latest submission of evidence to the Migration Advisory Council (MAC).

Livestock farmers are being warned about the increased risk of grass staggers in cattle and sheep as a result of this year’s wet spring, with Rumenco nutritionist Dr Alison Bond advising supplementation to balance a lower-than-average magnesium intake from grass.

Beef and dairy farmers are being reminded of the signs of summer mastitis in dry cows and heifers, and strategies to prevent it this summer.

Taking proactive steps ahead of forecasted heat waves this summer is an effective way of reducing the incidence of heat stress in cattle and minimise yield losses due to overheating, an issue of increasing concern to UK dairy and beef farmers as global temperatures continue to rise.

The vast computational power of machine learning has the ability to better alert farmers, resulting in earlier interventions and treatments to benefit animal health and welfare and provide a significant economic boost to the industry. This is according to Chloe Hazell, Agxio’s bioscientist & research lead, who explores the potential of data and AI in the beef and dairy industries.

Led by McCartneys auctioneers, the sale of pedigree cows and calves from the noted Wroxall Simmental herd of CH Evans & Son at Kington Grange Farm, Claverdon, Warwickshire, recorded just over £120,000 in gross earnings, with the leading cow-calf pair fetching a combined 6000gns.

Results from an ongoing study indicate heat stress is becoming a costly problem on UK dairy farms and can affect milk yields in both housed and grazed cows, with some businesses facing losses of up to £90,000.

As we make our homes fit for purpose to cope with climate change, researchers are asking, should we do the same for our livestock?

Farmer-owned dairy cooperative Dale Farm is the first enterprise in Northern Ireland to switch to clear bottle caps on all of its own-label milk in a bid to make Dale Farm milk packaging more sustainable.