MASTITIS WARNING FROM DAMP STRAW   Milk producers looking to minimise mastitis problems this winter must counter the hygiene threat from damp straw bedding ...  Image   (Ref CH32 17/11)

FERMENTED YEAST RELEASES PRODUCTION POTENTIAL, INDEPENDENT US NUTRITIONIST TELLS UK PRODUCERS  Independent trials in the USA and widespread producer experience suggest feeding a fermented yeast culture to high yielding dairy cows improves overall feed utilisation by up to 4%, delivering increased yield and butterfat benefits as a result...  Image  (Ref: Rum1 24/10)

LOWER VOLUME, EASIER-TO-ADMINISTER PNEUMONIA TREATMENT Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched a lower volume, easier-to-administer Nuflor formulation licensed for the treatment and prevention of bacterial pneumonia...  Image  Image  (Ref: SP185 24/10)

SOWING UNDER BIODEGRADABLE FILM SAFEGUARDS FORAGE MAIZE YIELDS IN MARGINAL AREAS As the season's maize harvest continues, many farmers are reporting poor quality and low yields as a result of the persistently wet weather and lack of sunshine which have prevented crops from ripening fully...  Image  Image Image  (Ref: Wynn2  23/10)

HIDDEN MYCOTOXINS THREAT IN GRAIN AND FORAGE  Risks of mycotoxins in forages as well as feed grains are set to be unusually high this winter according to independent  industry reports, increasing the necessity for greater vigilance and protective action by livestock farmers...  Graph  Image  (Ref: All105  29/08)

FARM OPEN DAY TEACHES THE BENEFITS OF NUTRITIOUS GRAZING Incorporating perennial chicory into your grassland sward can significantly improve liveweight gains in lambs...  Image  Image  Image  (Ref: Wynn1 23/09)

CHECK BRASSICAS FOR SAWFLY TO AVOID LOSING OUT-WINTERING FODDER Farmers growing brassicas to provide grazing for out-wintering should check their crops for sawfly and take immediate action if the pest is present, warns British Seed Houses...  (Ref: BSHF22 16/09)

PASTURE INNOVATIONS UNDERPIN SUSTAINABLE SHEEP FARMING  Pasture improvement achieved through cost effectively over-seeding white clover into established pastures was a key talking point at a recent farm open day near Barnard Castle, County Durham, along with the combination of red clover with perennial chicory for boosting lamb finishing rates...  Image  (Ref: BSHI44  8/09)

REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR DAIRY AND LIVESTOCK FARMERS Reducing the environmental footprint while lowering costs will be the theme of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Services (IBERS), Aberystwyth University stand at the Dairy and Livestock Event...  (Ref: IGER36 5/09)

GERMAN HOLSTEINS PROVING THEIR WORTH UNDER UK CONDITIONS German-bred Holsteins Laudan, Leif and Ramos - all now with UK proofs - occupy three of the top six places in the latest £PLI rankings following the August proof run...  Image  (Ref: In17 21/08)

AUGUST PROOF RUN FURTHER STRENGTHENS QUALITY AND VALUE OF BULLSEMEN.COM GENETICS Four bulls in the top 10 of the new £PLI rankings plus the highest new entry in Durham grandson Zenjo mean that Bullsemen.com has again strengthened its position as the dominant new force in dairy genetics following the latest proof run...  Image  (Ref: In16 21/08)

MORE RESISTANT RYEGRASS VARIETIES OFFER LONG TERM SOLUTION TO GROWING THREAT OF CROWN RUST ON GRASSLAND  Crown rust resistance should be a key consideration for farmers when selecting grass varieties for this autumn's reseeding in order to minimise the increasing threat from this potentially costly fungal disease, advises British Seed Houses...  Image  Graph  (Ref: BSHI43 4/08)

QUALITY PLUS PROTOCOL FOR BIOPLEX ORGANIC MINERALS An enhanced quality programme guarding against high-risk contaminants and guaranteeing total chelation and product content is now being used by Alltech to underpin safety and performance in its Bioplex organic mineral range...  (Ref: All103 1/08)

HIGH RANKING SEXED SEMEN OFFERED AT CONVENTIONAL SEMEN PRICES High ranking Holstein bulls Dillon, Pomeroy and Stopper - all over £130 PLI, more than +200kg for milk, and at least +1 for UK Type Merit - are being offered by Bullsemen.com as sexed semen this ummer at "conventional semen prices"...  Image  (Ref: In15 28/07)

OPPORTUNITIES TO CUT FEED AND FERTILISER COSTS Reseeded leys with the optimum ryegrass content provide feed at two-thirds the cost of older depleted leys, whilst the addition of white clover has the added benefit of cutting fertiliser costs by over £180/ha...  Image  (Ref: BSHI42 21/07)

IBERS WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE 'F-WORDS" AT SHEEP 2008 Farmers and flockmasters attending Sheep 2008 at Malvern on Wednesday 30th July will see how good husbandry and good practice can mitigate some of the increased costs brought about by recent high oil prices...  (Ref: IGER34 17/07)

TOYSTORY RETURNS TO OFFER UK BREEDERS THE COMPLETE SOLUTION Renewed availability in the UK of the globally revered Toystory will provide dairy farmers with an eagerly awaited opportunity to breed from one of the most complete Holstein sires of recent times, says Bullsemen.com...  Image  (Ref: In14 14/07)

NEW TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS LONG-LASTING EFFECT OF THE NSAID FINADYNE A new trial has highlighted the long-lasting effect of the Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Finadyne with the product continuing to act in animals for up to two days after treatment...  (Ref: SP84 1/07)

FORAGE HERBS OFFER SWARD PRODUCTIVITY BOOST Modern varieties of herbs such as perennial chicory and plantain can increase the production potential from forage-based livestock systems in the UK, according to New Zealand agronomist Dick Arnst...  Image  (Ref: BSHI41  1/07)

TIMING AND TECHNIQUE CRITICAL TO SUCCESS OF WHOLECROP AND CRIMPED GRAIN HARVESTING Livestock farmers seeking to reduce the impact of rising feed costs by harvesting wholecrop and/or crimped cereals need to be accurate in their timing, preservation and clamp management in order to maximise returns...  Image  Image  (Ref: All101 26/06)

DAIRY FARMERS IMPROVE THEIR NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SKILLS A recently completed project by the Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences' Grassland Development Centre at Aberystwyth University has helped over 200 dairy farmers across Wales to get more from their slurry and fertiliser nutrients...  (Ref: IGER32 10/06)

SOWING BRASSICAS AFTER FIRST CUT HELPS FILL LATE SEASON FORAGE GAPS Livestock farmers with concerns over later season forage shortages can still take action to bolster home-grown supplies by sowing certain brassica crops...  (Ref: BSHF21  23/05)

NEW PASTURE RENEWAL GUIDELINES SHOW 7:1 RETURN ON RESEEDING INVESTMENT Reseeding worn out grazing pastures has the potential to boost dairy farming returns by £275/acre/year, yieldig a 7:1 return on investment, according to new guidelines published jointly by British Seed Houses and Monsanto...  (Ref: BSHI39  23/05)

LAUNCH OF ABERMAGIC AT GRASSLAND & MUCK UNDERLINES CONTINUED PROGRESS OF HIGH SUGAR RYEGRASS BREEDING PROGRAMME Five years of data from IGER's Long Term Trial confirm that the latest AberHSG variety to become available to UK farmers offers another significant step forward in yield and herbage quality...  Image  (Ref: BSHI40 23/05)

"FREE SOYA" JUSTIFIES COST OF EFFECTIVE FORAGE TREATMENT   Dairy farmers could reduce their winter soya requirements by as much as 15 tonnes for every 1000 tonnes of quality grass silage by using an effective forage inoculant, claimed Alltech at Grassland & Muck ... (Ref: All100 23/05)

FASTER FINISH FOR LAMBS ON PERENNIAL CHICORY New Aberystwyth University research data supporting the use of perennial chicory in lamb finishing systems was revealed at Grassland and Muck 2008...  (Ref: BSHI36 21/05)

GUARDING AGAINST A MAJOR PEST OF WHITE CLOVER A new small leaf white clover variety with considerably enhanced resistance to the widespread pest clover eelworm (stem nematode) was a highlight of Grassland 2008 ...  (Ref: BSHI37  21/05)

FREE AID TO ASSESSING SWARD CLOVER CONTENT A practical pasture management aid designed to help livestock farmers estimate sward clover content was available free to visitors of the British Seed Houses stand at Grassland and Muck 2008...  (Ref: BSHI38  21/05)

OPTIMISM FOR ABATTOIR IF INVESTORS COME FORWARD Plans to re-open the abattoir at Bishops Castle in south Shropshire have received a significant boost following a feasibility study that identifies real potential for the business to fulfil demand for high quality locally sourced meat... Image  (1/05)

FINE TUNING DAIRY RATIONS AT GRASS Dairy farmers looking to counter a seasonal dip in milk butterfat level after turnout should concentrate on improving the feed fat profile of the milking cow ration and effective rumen buffering...  Image  (Ref: CH30 30/04)

SOME CHICORY TIPS FOR FARMERS  Adding perennial chicory to grasslands can boost growth rates of lambs , new research has revealed...  Image  (Ref: BSH35 25/04)

SUDDEN DEATH WARNING FOR BEEF AND DAIRY FARMERS Beef and dairy cattle across the country are at risk of sudden death as a result of a number of unpredictable diseases according to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA)...  (Ref: SP182 10/04)

BULLSEMEN.COM BRINGS MINIMUM STANDARDS TO SEXED SEMEN Sexed semen is now available from eight Holstein bulls in Bullsemen.com's current "Minimum Standards" catalogue, with all meeting the company's "no holes" philosophy of at least £130 PLI, +200kg milk and +1.0 of type...  Image  (Ref: In10 1/04)

BULLSEMEN.COM'S STRONG APRIL PROOFS PERFORMANCE BUILT ON RELIABILITY  Bullsemen.com is now marketing 10 of the top 30 bulls ranked by PLI - now including Mtoto son Mascol at number 2 - and managing director Nick Kirby is keen to emphasis overall reliability above all else...  Image  (Ref: In11 1/04)

NEW FEED SUPPLEMENTS TARGET THREATS TO PROFITABILITY  A new range of nutritional supplements formulated to help progressive dairy and beef herds tackle the major threats to profitability has been launched by global feeding solutions company Alltech...  Image  Image  (Ref: All98 25/08)

NEW SLURRY ADDITIVE CAN CUT FERTILISER BILL The ability to boost manure nitrogen content by 6kg/cow/year can cut the fertiliser bill by over £5/cow is the significant benefit from a new, natural mineral-based product that can be added directly to slurry...  Image  (Ref: CH29 11/03)

MINIMUM STANDARDS IN BULL SELECTION OFFERS BEST ROUTE TO A PROFITABLE, PROBLEM FREE HERD Guaranteed minimum standards for the three key proof parameters of milk production type merit and £PLI apply to all 27 Holsteins in Bullsemen.com's latest sire catalogue...  Image  (Ref: In9 6/03)

PROTECT HIGH VALUE HEIFERS FROM LEPTOSPIROSIS WELL BEFORE TURNOUT Now's the time to make sure high value dairy heifers are fully protected against bovine leptospirosis, well in advance of the peak disease transmission period at turnout...  (Ref: Sp181 6/02)

NEW ENTRIES SYMBOLISE POSITIVE EVOLUTION OF HOLSTEIN RANKINGS Greater emphasis on functional traits in the new Holstein UK bull proof rankings is improving choice and value for commercial dairy farmers, according to Bullsemen.com managing director Nick Kirby...  Image (Ref: In8  4/02)

HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES EXTEND BSH FORAGE MAIZE RANGE  Two new high yielding varieties from the French breeder Caussade Semences extend the British Seed Houses maize range for 2008...  Image  (Ref: BSHM14 25/01)

NEW LAMB FEEDER FROM TROUW NUTRITION Trouw Nutrition has launched a simple, heated, re-constituted milk feeder unit to help shepherds maximise orphan and third lamb early life growth rates highly cost-effectively...  Image  (Ref: Tr22 22/01)

VALUE FOR MONEY BULLS FROM BULLSEMEN.COM DOMINATE JANUARY PROOFS Ten bulls in the top 40 ranked by £PLI in the January 2008 proof run gives Bullsemen.com double the offering of top quality sires of any other supplier and confirms the company's meteoric rise from newcomers to leading player in UK cattle genetics in just 15 months...  Image (Ref: In7 17/01)

PROTECTING YOUR BALED SILAGE FROM WIREWORMS As has been well documented previously, the correct storage of silage bales is vital to preserve and retain the quality and nutritional value of the feed inside...  (Ref: IGER27 14/1)

2007

NEW SILAGE 'CORRECTOR' FROM TROUW NUTRITION Trouw Nutrition has developed a new silage corrector product to help livestock producers counter some of the rumen problems associated with this season's poor quality forages...  (Ref: Tr21 20/12)

MILKING OVER 300 COWS IN JUST 60 MINUTES The ability to milk over 300 cows an hour is the result of a new milking plant installation at Grove Dairy Farm in Castlederg, Ireland...  Image  (Ref: Full24 18/12)

NEW TYPE MERIT RANKINGS REFLECT THE NEEDS OF MODERN MILK PRODUCERS Greater focus on longevity, udder health and profitability in Holstein UK's new Type Merit rankings will make future bull proofs more relevant and beneficial to modern commercial dairy farmers, believes cattle genetics entrepreneur Nick Kirby... Image  (Ref: In6 13/12)

CUMBRIAN OUT-WINTERING DEMONSTRATION HIGHLIGHTS POTENTIAL TO SAVE SUCKLER COW FEEDING COSTS Feeding cost comparisons on a Cumbrian beef unit staged an EBLEX out-wintering demonstration last week (6th December) revealed savings of up to £2.50 per cow per week from grazing brassica fodder crops instead of housing cattle...  Image Image  (Ref: BSHF20 10/12)

NORTHEAST OUT-WINTERING DEMONSTRATION HIGHLIGHTS POTENTIAL TO SAVE SUCKLER COW FEEDING COSTS Feeding cost comparisons on a County Durham beef and sheep unit that staged an EBLEX out-wintering demonstration last week (5th December) revealed savings of between £4 and £5 per cow per week from grazing brassica fodder crops instead of housing cattle...  Image  (Ref: BSHF19 10/12)

PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK TRIALS HIGHLIGHT EFFICACY OF COMBINATION TREATMENT Pneumonia treatment trials on commercial farms across the UK show that the use of an antibiotic in combination with an anti-inflammatory will deliver marked animal recovery...  Image  (Ref: SP178 28/11)

AVOID COLD WEATHER GROWTH RATE CHECKS IN HEIFER CALVES - REVIEW WINTER MILK REPLACER CONCENTRATIONS  As the colder weather starts to bite, heifer calf rearers need to review milk replacer feeding concentrations to preserve optimum growth rates...  Image  (Ref: Tr20 28/11)

DEVON OUT-WINTERING DEMONSTRATION HIGHLIGHTS POTENTIAL TO SAVE FEEDING COSTS Feeding cost comparisons on a Devon beef unit that staged an EBLEX out-wintering demonstration last week (21 November) revealed an 80% saving from grazing brassica crops instead of housing cattle....  Image  (Ref: BSHF18 26/11)

ABATTOIR STUDY HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR LUNG PROTECTION THERAPY WHEN TREATING CATTLE FOR PNEUMONIA  Pneumonia-induced lung damage could be costing some cattle almost 74kg a year in lost lifetime growth potential with even moderate damage resulting in animals losing 39kg over an 18 month beef finishing system...  Image  Image (Ref: SP177 20/11)

IGER TAKES HEALTHY BEEF TO HEART Farmers and consumers visiting this year's Winter Fair will learn how a new £1m research programme co-ordinated by IGER and involving researchers at the Universities of Nottingham and Bristol could impact positively on cardiovascular disease and have important health benefits in the wider community...  (Ref: IGER256 13/11)

ADVICE IN REVIVING COWS AFTER CALVING  Trouw Nutrition has published an educational DVD for dairy farmers highlighting just how important it is to replenish the fluids cows lose during calving and provide vital nutrients for optimum lactation performance and fertility...  (ref: Tr19 15/11)

MINERAL AVAILABILITY PROGRAM FLAGS UP POTENTIAL MINERAL ISSUES Increasing standard mineral premix supplementation levels to overcome dietary shortfalls in minerals may not be economic and may even supply excess levels of trace elements, warns Trouw Nutrition...  Image  (Ref: Tr18 7/11)

BULLSEMEN.COM TOPS VALUE-FOR-MONEY RANKINGS Four bulls in the first six places of Dairy Farmer magazine's latest "Best Buy" rankings make Bullsemen.com the undisputed best value-for-money semen supplier in the UK...  Image  (Ref: In5 31/10)

NEW CONCENTRATE OFFERS A FLEXIBLE METHOD TO COPE WITH RISING FEED COSTS Greater rationing flexibility created by the use of the new concentrated non-protein nitrogen source Optigen offers UK dairy farmers a range of potential benefits including increased yields, greater lactation persistency, improved milk fat, and/or reduced feed costs...  Image  (Ref: All97 19/10)