Welfare

With rising costs and the need to be carbon conscious, breeding productive, efficient and profitable dairy cattle has never been so paramount.

Teaser rams can be an effective way of compacting your lambing period, however making sure they are used correctly and kept in optimum condition, is key to success, according to Rhys Hopkins of Paragon Vets, Cumbria. Katie Fallon reports.

Tests have confirmed ML resistant sheep scab mites can be effectively controlled with organophosphate (OP) plunge dipping.

A farmer who failed to comply with livestock disease control measures has been ordered to pay £8,646 in fines and costs. 

Updates on the latest wormer advice and how to prevent costly treatment regimes have been on the agenda at sheep focussed events recently. Katie Fallon reports.

Foreign pork products from systems using farrowing crates would not be allowed to be imported if the UK Government chose to ban them here, Farming Minister Victoria Prentis has said.

Turkey farmers struggling with bird flu outbreaks are being left thousands of pounds out of pocket because of the length of time it is taking to cull birds after disease notification.

A fresh bird flu outbreak on the Shetland Isles has put poultry exports from the UK at risk.

Farmers are no longer encouraging their children to follow in their footsteps as they do not want them to suffer the same pressures they are currently facing, MPs have been told.

Beak trimming is currently necessary for hens in all systems of production to avoid injurious feather-pecking and occasional cannibalism, British Egg Industry Council chief executive Mark Williams has said.