Livestock News

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has welcomed the launch of a new initiative exploring a structured approach to controlling sheep scab – and looks forward to coordinating the work in South West England.

The North Country Cheviot is experiencing a surge in popularity outside its Scottish heartland as awareness of the breed’s versatility and easy lambing continue to grow. 

Determined rural thieves are targeting expensive quad bikes used by farmers to tend to livestock during the lambing season, latest NFU Mutual claim figures reveal.

The British Meat Processors Association says dismissing trade disruption at the borders as short term ‘teething problems’ is no longer credible, as it publishes its Brexit Impact Report.

Poultry farmers are being urged to maintain the highest possible standards of biosecurity after the avian flu housing order was lifted, as H5N8 is detected at a non-poultry premises in Lancashire.

Farmer-owned livestock marketing co-operative AQM Ltd spoke to Farmers Guide about its evolution over the past 50-plus years.

Defra has confirmed that the housing order will still be lifted despite a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza – but other restrictions remain in place.

Spring visitors to the countryside are being urged to keep their dogs under control as rural insurers warn of a potential hike in sheep worrying over Easter.

With the majority of sheep farmers embarking on lambing from early spring, vets are urging farmers to test for Enzootic Abortion of Ewes (EAE) if they experience abortions in their flock.

Scottish farmer Janet McQuistin speaks to Farmers Guide about rural life, the power of social media in overcoming isolation, and how she finally achieved her dream of farming full-time, despite the opinions of a school guidance counsellor.

The redistribution of red meat levies to take account of cross-border livestock movements between England, Wales and Scotland has been agreed by all three nations, and will be implemented on 1st April 2021.

Dairy farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit staff with some producers potentially being forced to leave the industry due to a lack of resource, a recent review has found.