Livestock

For the first time farmers are buying more sexed dairy semen than conventional semen, according to a recent AHDB survey of breeding companies.

Despite guidelines highlighting the importance of colostrum management, too many calves are still failing to receive good quality, clean colostrum.

Tom Bruce, 27, lives in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Brought up on the family farm, he studied a masters in engineering and is now back working the land.

Participation in GrassCheckGB has helped Welsh sheep producer, Anwen Hughes, slash costs of production simply through better management and utilisation of grass.

For Chris and Rachel Knowles a simple system involving once-a-day milking and rotational grazing is producing high quality milk which is in demand from local businesses.

Livestock breeders have had to be creative to market their animals this year as the Covid-19 lockdown led to the cancellation of many sales and the entire summer showing season.

Farmers have learned more than they ever wanted to know about trade and international treaties since Brexit, and it should not be too much to ask for those who govern us to do the same, says Dr Nick Fenwick, FUW’s head of policy.

Asking farmers to build on their progress and go even further to protect the countryside is the right thing to do, but they must be given as much support as possible from Government to get the job done, says High Peak MP Robert Largan.

The Internal Market Bill will force all four UK nations to submit to the lowest common denominator when it comes to standards, selling farmers down the river, says Liberal Democrat agriculture spokesperson Tim Farron.

The National Beef Association (NBA) has issued a fresh plea for transparency in the foodservice sector after wholesaler Booker was caught re-labelling Uruguayan beef.