Kilnstown tops ewe lambs at £320
Prices peaked at £320 at Harrison and Hetherington's Latter Fair Sale of 4500 Mule ewe lambs at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, when the lead pen from Kilnstown Farms, Bewcastle, sold to regular buyer, C Hewitt, Lancaster.
Make full use of autumn grass growth
With silage clamps short of forage across the country, livestock farmers have to use the next few weeks wisely if they are to make up for lost ground, according to independent grassland consultant Dr George Fisher, who believes producers should plan to boost forage reserves as much as possible.
Repeated soil testing is beneficial
By Bryan Griffiths and Fiona Burnett SRUC, for the Farm Advisory Service
Increases growth rates with creep mixes
With margins continually being squeezed, there is an increasing need for beef producers to ensure animals reach target market specifications as quickly and efficiently as possible, resulting in reduced total number of days on-farm.
Drought hits trace element availability
Trace elements are fundamental to fertility and need to be addressed especially at demanding times of years, such as breeding time, and moreso this year following the drought.
Warm summer extends growing season
Many farmers have struggled to produce their usual forage supplies as a result of the long dry summer, but autumn 2018 provides more opportunity than usual for late-season establishment of perennial or hybrid ryegrass, thereby helping to rebuild depleted forage stocks.
Semen use
A breeding plan using only sexed dairy and quality beef semen offers dairy farmers economic, genetic and herd health improvements according to a new booklet.
New on-farm milk processing system
A new innovative on-farm milk processing system providing new opportunities for farmers to future-proof their businesses by marketing their own milk, has been launched.
