Many farmers believe choice of terminal sire determines calving ease which ultimately can mean the difference between positive and negative profit margins, but by concentrating more on having good, big milky suckler cows, not only do you stand more of a chance of getting a good live calf to any breed, but also a cow that will produce many calves for years to come.
MOST FARMERS are continuously looking for ways to make their system as simple, yet as effective as possible, but when you have a full time job as well as a farm to run, that ease of management is more vital than ever.
With new classes and free entry, the Royal Highland Winter Fair is gearing up to meet the challenges that face the winter show circuit in a positive and pro-active manner.
ISOLATING CALVES showing early signs of illness – as vets strongly advise – has been made easier by using the purpose-built pen from Dumfries-shire company, Solway Recycling, Rigghead, Shawhead.
A NEW product which ensures that young calves are reared in both comfort and in an environmentally friendly way, is new to the market on the UK mainland.
Having always strived to maintain a simple system, based on 'growing grass, making silage and milking cows', the decision to switch breeds was not one taken lightly by Stranraer farmer, Robert McColm.
BENCHMARKING IS a key industry management focus and now dairy farmers can access information from a new set of targets for herd performance thanks to a study published by the University of Reading.
DAIRY FARMERS can now use a new technique for identifying mastitis-causing bacteria which can identify nearly twice as many pathogens and provide results in hours rather than days.
The champion winner at Gisburn Auction Marts’ pedigree dairy show and sale went on to secure the day’s lead price of £2420, selling to David Coulthurst, Goosnargh, Preston.
BUILDING GROWTH in the Scottish beef processing sector is a pipe dream unless the industry can be given a workable CAP from the powers-that-be – and that must include some element that supports stock numbers.
WITH GRAIN and protein prices on the rise, beef finishers will need to maximise feed conversion efficiency if they are to be profitable this winter, according to Keenan’s senior specialist, Seth Wareing.
THE FAST growth rates of Charolais-sired cattle is a trait that is widely publicised and it’s the main reason for the breed being top choice for north Yorkshire-based Mark and Jane Hayhurst, who run both pedigree and commercial cattle at Great Carr, Malton.
YOU LIVE and learn, and feeding high energy blocks proved a life-saver during snowstorms last year, in Alec Telfer’s flocks of 500 Blackface ewes at Broadmeadows, Yarrowford, Selkirk, and 450 ewes at Craigburn, Leadburn, West Linton.
TAKING FOSTER lambs through to finishing weight looks like it will be a cost effective exercise this coming lambing season, as market prices are set to remain firm and a respectable profit margins in the order of £15 to £20 per head is possible, says an industry expert.
AS SHEEP scanning gets well underway in many parts of the country for the forthcoming lambing season, farmers running a flock with a barren rate greater than 2% can now ask for a subsidised flock blood test to establish whether the cause of the problem is toxoplasmosis.
