Livestock News

This year the British Pig & Poultry Fair Forums will be going online, enabling producers to get all of the latest information and advice on Wednesday 12th May. With a top line up of 28 speakers across nine forums – from market outlooks to technical updates – there will be something for everyone.

A few months on from the official end to the transition period, livestock editor Sarah Kidby explores the key challenges and opportunities facing the sheep sector.

Onduline has launched a new durable roofing system, DURO SX 35, with advanced noise dampening qualities that make it ideal for auxiliary farm buildings, including those housing livestock.

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. 

The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) and British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) have come together to raise awareness that egg size matters when it comes to hen welfare.

More than two thirds of the UK’s sheep farmers who responded to a recent survey said they have experienced an increase in sheep worrying attacks by dogs during the past year.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have visited farmers Clare Wise and Stewart Chapman on their family farm, to hear first-hand how British farmers are delivering for the nation and the environment.

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.

Specialist agriculture sector dealership K O Machines have recently supplied an 8.6m Muthing MU-Pro/F Vario front and rear mounted hydraulic folding flail to Newport, Shropshire based, leading UK salad grower, PDM Produce.