Livestock News

The GB Calf Strategy 2025–2030 has been launched, calling on the dairy-beef sector to ensure every calf is reared with care, purpose, and value.

The EFRA Committee has raised concerns over the “alarming amounts” of illegally imported meat and dairy products entering Great Britain, warning they pose a significant risk of spreading animal diseases that could threaten nation’s food security, farming, and the wider economy.

An investigation has been launched following suspected fatal botulism cases in cattle on farms in Essex, Northamptonshire and Shropshire.

Farmers have been advised to take extra steps to protect calves from Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) ahead of housing this winter. Experts warn that the risks are heightened this year, with record beef prices making animal health and performance more critical than ever.  

The UK red meat exports in the first half of 2025 were worth £966 million, marking an almost 10% increase. 

Prices of chicken have marked the biggest increase this summer, according to the AIMS meat and poultry inflation tracker for August 2025.

Harris Tweed, the wool clothing manufacturer, has responded to PETA’s calls for the brand to replace sheep’s fleece with plant-based alternatives such as hemp — and even rebrand itself as ‘Harris Weed’.

Suffolk livestock farmer Julian Hagger, of Blacks of Bacton, has just purchased his fourth Teagle trailed straw blower in 15 years, from the recently established DJ Agri Services – which took over from Suffolk Agri Centre when it closed in March 2024.

Great British Calf Week returns on 10th September, focusing on how using data can help inform decisions on farms and within the supply chain.

The English red meat sector delivered around £5.5 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy in 2023. According to AHDB, this achievement underlines the industry’s critical role in supporting jobs, communities, and a wide range of public goods. 

The first laboratory-made vaccine to protect livestock against the Barber’s Pole worm – a highly damaging gastrointestinal parasite most commonly found in sheep and goats – has just been developed.

Livestock farmers have been warned about the deadly hemlock water dropwort poisoning following recent incidents reported by South West vets.