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A Lake District family is breeding its own rams and screening high-risk stock for iceberg diseases to provide assurances for its Mule lamb customers. The Hodgsons have been at High…
A Welsh suckler beef herd’s calving interval has been shortened by 25 days, to 367 days, since measures including the use of heat-detection technology were introduced to improve fertility. Sub-fertility…
Introducing a dual-purpose breed into a cross-breeding programme on a Welsh dairy farm has added strength and size to its autumn calving herd. The Fleckvieh strikes a balance between a…
A switch to cross-breeding has improved financial performance and lifestyle on a Shropshire dairy farm. There was no watershed moment, nor a single figure which led the Nixon family to…
Sourcing functional bulls that suit a forage-only, minimal intervention organic system has led one Northumberland suckler unit to consider a three-week heifer bulling period. It has also allowed them to…
Focusing on three key efficiency measures has ensured the pedigree suckler cow and bull beef enterprises at Strathisla Farms, Perthshire, have remained commercially viable. The cattle have made a profit…
There is plenty to consider when searching for a new stock bull, including health status, fertility checks, historical management, feeding practices, and if the animal is fit for purpose. The…
Many farmers could make big improvements to the fertility of their herds by paying greater attention to dry cow management, stable nutrition and routine vet visits. According to vet Graeme…
Calving at two rather than three years old reduces rearing costs by about £600 a heifer and increases its lifetime productivity. In addition, it ensures genetics with the best potential…
With the changes in agricultural payments around the corner, there has never been a more appropriate time to focus on maternal key performance indicators (KPIs) and your cost of production…
A crucial stage of the artificial insemination (AI) process is the period between semen doses leaving the breeding company and them being used to inseminate sows. If doses aren’t stored…
Current key performance indicators (KPIs) being used by the pork industry to measure output are counterintuitive and are damaging financial performance. That’s according to pig consultant Stephen Hall who believes…
Sheep farmers could increase ram values by more than £900 by investing in proven estimated breeding values (EBVs). This is according to the six-year results from the RamCompare project, published…
Fertility is a complex issue and there are numerous reasons why a decrease may be observed. It’s important that your vet is involved, to investigate any fertility issues and to…
The use of novel traits could be a way to accelerate genetic gain, according to the findings of a research project from New Zealand. In New Zealand, the Breeding Worth…
Over the centuries a spectrum of breeds has evolved in Britain, from fast-growing, prolific lowland types to hardier, single-bearing ewes for the uplands. According to the National Sheep Association (NSA),…
The recording and analysis of data as your herd calves may take some time, but it does enable the root causes of any production issues to be spotted quicker, more…
Progressive farms across the globe are using dairy genomics to make far more accurate herd management decisions and the UK is one of the leaders. Genomics testing allows analysis of…
Many dairy farmers are searching for ways to control costs without compromising cow comfort, health or performance. Activity monitoring systems can help achieve cost savings by streamlining everyday tasks and…
We looked at the latest data and spoke to industry experts to find out more about the changing picture for pedigree animals. We look at the dairy, beef, sheep and…
By replacing labour and time-consuming tasks with technology, your herd is closely monitored at all times and you get the most accurate cow data for informed and data-driven decisions. Here…
Four new bulls, including a UK-bred bull, enter the young genomic sire ranking published today (6 April) by AHDB Dairy. Clinging on to the top spot for a third genetic…
Genomic testing replacement heifers has a cost benefit of £19.39 a heifer, according to a three-year study involving nine Welsh dairy farms. The project compared the difference between estimated breeding…
