Livestock News

New regulations mandating classification and price reporting for sheep carcasses in England have come into force this week, helping to ensure farmers are paid more fairly for their livestock at slaughter.  

Choosing the right maize variety for the farm location and the crop end use is key to maximising harvest results, according to Andrew Cook of seed breeder KWS. He highlights a couple of promising modern hybrids suitable for livestock forage or biogas.

Further milk farmgate price cuts have been announced, with milk processors explaining the reductions as a response to expanding milk supplies.

After an atrocious year for making forage, with drought causing a lack of available grazing as well as poorer quality and quantity of silage, experts came together at the recent Forage Forum to offer advice on maximising your available forage.

Following recent outbreaks of swine fever in Spain, UK pig producers are being urged to maintain strong biosecurity measures and ensure robust contingency plans are in place. 

Meat and poultry prices in December rose 0.82%, while beef saw a slight 0.1% decline, led by rump steak dropping 1.36% (26p/kg). 

Early bird tickets are now on sale for Dairy Tech 2026. The event, which takes place in February 2026, will bring together dairy farmers and industry experts. 

In today’s dairy industry, margins require careful management and operational complexity continues to increase.

With 2025 bringing one of the driest springs on record, and the hottest summer since records began, Sarah Kidby reflects back on the past year for livestock farmers, and what the next year might bring.

DEFRA has just confirmed that payments for both the animal health and welfare review and endemic disease follow-up will increase from January 2026.

Experts at the inaugural Ceres AgriStrategy Conference in Cambridge this month reflected on how farmers can build resilience in spite of volatility.

Several loads of lamb that were stopped earlier this week at a Border Control Post (BCP) in Calais, France, have now been released for return to the UK, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has confirmed.