Dairy & Beef News

Cargill UK is launching live temperature and humidity data online through the summer months to help dairy farmers and their advisers recognise and mitigate the signs of heat stress in dairy cattle.

The new custom-built genomic testing laboratory was opened by the NMR in April 2021, and it has now completed the first 1,000 tests on tissue samples from UK dairy cattle.

Dairy and beef farmers are being urged to change just one thing to improve parasite control, as part of a new campaign by Boehringer Ingelheim to help farmers implement practical, impactful changes.

This year, the eleventh annual spring auction sale of Hereford bulls posed a difficulty for Scottish breeders Ervie Hereford, as the national Covid-19 lockdown meant it was impractical to expect many bull customers to attend on sale day. The Douglas family decided this was the year for a livestreamed auction.

As part of having a sustainable UK beef industry, it is critical that beef production maximises feed conversion efficiency (FCE), while enhancing fertility and health and using environmentally responsible and sustainable feeds, explains nutritional supplement manufacturer UFAC-UK. 

Oregano essential oil (OEO) has been found to help lower milk somatic cell count (SCC) and reduce levels of oxidative stress biomarkers – leading to greater milk production. These findings were from trials carried out at the Federal University in Brazil.

As bovine TB can survive for months in the environment and still be infective, it is important to break the habit of badgers visiting farms, as part of efforts to reduce transmission, said farm vet Sarah Tomlinson at this year’s Dairy Tech Online.

Volac research scientist Dr Jessica Cooke explains how feeding more milk and weaning more gradually could result in better fertility, survival and milk yields – while Boehringer veterinary adviser Ailsa Milnes explores vaccination options.

Farmers could face uncontrollable fly populations and costly health issues in their livestock when the weather warms up, if they don’t get ahead and protect their stock now, experts are warning.

Having upgraded from jars to a direct line 16×16 Westfalia Surge parlour around 15 years ago, the setup at Lyburn Farm in Salisbury, although still functional, wasn’t able to provide detailed information or keep up with the growing herd. That’s when the farm’s Jono Smales decided it was time for a new parlour.

As requirements for milk quality are constantly changing, Evans Vanodine offers its expert advice on developing a prevention programme for mastitis.

Introducing the AfiCollar, which livestock farmers are praising for its accuracy, ease of use and training programme.