Livestock

Defra Secretary George Eustice has said the ventilation and temperature measures included in the livestock transport consultation were intended to support improvements in the poultry sector.

While commercial cattle exhibitors are hopeful of some livestock shows this year, a smaller than usual offering of calves were present at Ruthins sale of show potential cattle with prices understandably back on previous year

LIMOUSIN bulls sold to 42,000gns at the breed society sale at Carlisle, with an average of 8,118.48, which is an increase of 1,470.02 on the year with a clearance rate of 79 per cent.

ON the first day of the February bull sales at Stirling, Aberdeen-Angus peaked at 15,000gns, with the 66 bulls averaging 6,499, up 67 on the year with an 86 per cent clearance rate.

A Beef Shorthorn bulls sold to 27,000gns, a breed record, and also had a record average of 6,127, up 1,347 on the year, with a 79 per cent clearance rate. Females topped at 7,500gns, a record price for the February sale.

BOTH the championship and reserve at the show and sale of store cattle at Middleton in Teesdale went to British Blue-sired heifers from J.C. and J. White, Lunedale.

With maize drilling likely to start in less than 10 weeks, now is the time to finalise the details of managing the crop.

With food service falling behind retail on traceability, the NFU Scotland conference heard how modern technology could be utilised to check the provenance of meat