TAKING THE HEAT OUT OF SUMMER CAN BOOST DAIRY COW RETURNS Practical steps to help dairy cows overcome the often-underestimated challenge of heat stress could help boost herd performance even in relatively modest UK summer conditions, advises Alltech's Neil Keane...  Image Image (Ref: All114 17/06)

TOYSTORY DAUGHTERS ACHIEVE TOP PRICES AT US HOLSTEIN SALES Top prices attained by daughters of Holstein breeders' bull Jenny-Lou Marshall Toystory at two prestigious US sales this month emphasise the growing global impact being made by this outstanding BW Marshall son...  Image (Morningview Toystory Amaya)  (Ref: In24 15/06)

BALANCED RATIONS REQUIRED TO OVERCOME VAGARIES OF EARLY SEASON GRAZED GRASS Suppressed intakes and milk yield fluctuations in dairy cows during early summer grazing could be symptoms of the condition sub-acute rumen acidosis (SARA) more normally associated with winter rations, according to Alltech's Neil Keane...  Image  (Ref: All113 7/05)

SIMPLE PARLOUR ROUTINES CAN HALVE BACTOSCAN READINGS Following a simple set of milking parlour routines can help to safeguard milk quality and reduced Bactoscan levels by up to 50%...  Image (Ref:Wynn20 21/05)

ANIMAL HEALTH WARNING FOLLOWING VACCINE THEFT A break in at the Wynnstay store in Kendal at the beginning of May has raised concerns that stolen animal health products may present a risk to herd and flock security...  (Ref:Wynn19 20/05)

FORAGE MINERAL ANALYSIS CRUCIAL   Developing a better understanding of forage mineral status could help many sheep producers cut fee supplementation costs .....    Image (Ref: Rum9 19/05)

HANGOVER CURE FOR SUCKLERS After suffering from months of poor forage quality many in-calf suckler cows are in poor body condition and in dire need of a nutritional lifeline in the run up to calving, says Rumenco technical manager David Thornton...  Image (Ref: Rum8 13/05)

UNPRECEDENTED RECOMMENDED LIST SUCCESS FOR ABERYSTWYTH HERBAGE BREEDING PROGRAMME Six new herbage varieties from IBERS, Aberystwyth University (incorporating the former IGER), have been successful in achieving positions on the 2009 NIAB Recommended Lists for Grass and Clover, released this week at Grassland UK...  Image (Ref:IGER39 7/05)

'BEST PRACTICE' RESEEDING SYSTEM USES UNIQUE HYBRID BRASSICAS TO AVOID LOST FORAGE ACRES A new approach to pasture renewal that utilises the fast-growth and high nutritional value of innovative hybrid brassicas to maximise year-round forage production has been developed by British Seed Houses...  Image  Image  (Ref: BSHF23 7/05)

BEACON SHINES AMONGST HIGH PLI NEW ENTRIES FROM BULLSEMEN.COM Majestic-Manor Beacon, at £200 PLI, is the highest of six newly released Holstein sires from Bullsemen.com now featuring in the Holstein UK bull proof listings....  Image (Ref: In23 6/05)

LESS IS MORE IN NEW APPROACH TO HEIFER REARING Restricted feeding strategies for dairy heifers offer UK dairy farmers opportunities to increase the overall efficiency of their businesses, according to US researcher Dr Jud Heinrichs...  Image  Graph  (Ref: All112 28/04)

TOYSTORY CREATES THE BUZZ IN APRIL 2009 PROOF RUN Holstein breeders' bull Jenny-Lou Marshall TOYSTORY has again risen dramatically in the latest proofs with an April  2009 PLI up to £135 (from £104 in January) and a UK Type Merit climbing to a +3.21 (from +2.46)... Image  (Ref: In22  7/04)

MAIZE GROWTH STIMULANT BOOSTS COB WEIGHTS IN UK TRIALS Cob yields in forage maize crops were increased by an average of 1 tonne per acre fresh weight (2.5t/ha) in multi-site trials carried out in 2008 on a new foliar growth stimulant from Alltech, generating in excess of a 10:1 return on investment...  Image  Graph  (Ref: All111 23/03)

EFFECTIVE MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTATION CRUCIAL THIS YEAR, NUTRITIONIST WARNS Livestock farmers must put even more of an emphasis on highly effective magnesium supplementation around turnout this spring, particularly for lactacting diary cows and ewes...  (Ref: Rum7  17/03)

NEW CLOSTRIDIAL DISEASE VACCINE DELIVERS BROADEST POSSIBLE DISEASE PROTECTION A new vaccine for cattle and sheep delivering the broadest possible protection against clostridial diseases has been launched by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health...  Image  Image  (Ref: SP189 12/03)

PASTURE RENEWAL A PRIORITY AFTER DAMAGING WINTER Assess options to minimise loss of production. Underperforming pastures are a significant risk this spring and beyond for many livestock farmers if action isn't taken to rectify the effects of an exceptionally damaging winter period, according to Helen Mathieu of British Seed Houses...  Image  (Ref: BSHI45 10/03)

OUTSTANDING EARLY RESULTS FOR TOYSTORY Holstein breeders' bull Jenny-Lou Marshall TOYSTORY, who jumped up in the indices following the addition of 350 second crop daughters to his January 2009 proof is justifying his rankings with outstanding initial classification results and early success in the show ring...  Image  (Ref: In21 3/03)

NEW WYNNSTAY STORE OPENS ITS DOORS IN LEOMINSTER A brand new farm and country store selling a range of agricultural, equine, pet food, household and hardware products has been opened in Leominster...  Image  Image  (Ref: Wynn13 3/03)

NEW HORSE & PONY SUPPLEMENT FROM RUMENCO Rumenco has launched a new, high specification feed supplement product to provide horses and ponies with the full range of nutrients they need to balance pasture and other forages...  Image  (Ref: Rum6  2/03)

MILK INCOME PRESSURES BOOSTING VALUE OF C16 FAT INCLUSIONS IN DAIRY RATIONS For dairy farmers on compositional contracts a falling milk price boost the value of high c16 rumen-protected fat feed products...  (Ref: CH33 27/02)

GENOMICALLY PROVEN SHOTTLE SON NOW AVAILABLE IN UK Genomically proven bulls are now available in the UK from Bullsemen.com, and the Shottle son Ian is already creating significant interest, according to the company's managing director Nick Kirby...  Image  (Ref: In20  25/02)

NEW BULLING SUPPLEMENT FROM RUMENCO  Rumenco has added another supplement product to its popular SUPAlyx range...  Image (Ref: Rum5 19/02)

US CONSULTANT OFFERS DAIRY FARMERS NEW THINKING ON MASTITIS CONTROL Innovative American ideas on mastitis control were discussed by dairy farmers at a recent meeting in the Midlands facilitated by one of the region's more progressive feed companies...  Image  (Ref: All110 16/02)

NEWCOMER HOLMAN COMBINES STRONG PRODUCTION WITH EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT TRAITS Wa Del Ricecrest Holman strengthens the already formidable team of Holsteins offered by Bullsemen.com in their annual bull book...  Image  (Ref: In19 2/02)

NEW PRE-PLANNING SUPPLEMENT FROM RUMENCO  Rumenco has introduced a cost-effective high energy/low intake combination feed and mineral supplement for ewes pre-lambing and pre-tupping...  Image  (Ref: Rum4 20/01)

BOOSTING EWE SELENIUM STATUS IN LATE PREGNANCY INCREASES LAMB GROWTH RATES AND WEANING WEIGHTS Lamb growth rates improved by almost 12% in the first five weeks of life, and weaning weights by 2kg/lamb, as a result of improved selenium status in ewes in late pregnancy and early lactation, according to University College Dublin (UCD) research...  Image  (Ref: All109 15/01)

LONGEVITY AND FITNESS THE COMMON THEME IN UNPRECEDENTED BULLSEMEN.COM SHOWING IN JANUARY 09 HOLSTEIN RANKINGS Six bulls in the top 10 of the January 2009 £PLI rankings, plus one of the first O-Bee Manfred Justice sons as a top 30 new entry, gives Bullsemen.com an unprecedented and unrivalled position in the latest Holstein bull proof run...  Image (Laudan Xena)  (Ref: In18  14/09)

CALCIFIED SEAWEED AVAILABLE AGAIN  A new, dry granular source of calcified seaweed offering the potential to cut chemical fertiliser costs and significantly improve plant uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) is now available direct to UK farmers... Image  (Ref: CSM1 5/01)

2008

FARM INVESTMENT PAVES THE WAY FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS OF MILK PRODUCTION Despite the current global financial downturn and increasing farm input costs, recent milk price increases are at last enabling many of the region's dairy farmers to re-invest in the businesses...  Image  Image  Image  Image  (Ref: Full33 15/12)

RUMENCO INTRODUCES 100KG 'SUPA' TUB Specialist feed and mineral bucket supplement manufacturer Rumenco has launched a new 100kg SUPALyx tub as it rationalises the weight of products in its range to help merchant warehouse staff and farmers avoid the risk of musculo-skeletal injuries...  Image  (Ref: Rum3 27/11)

ACIDOSIS HEALTH WARNING FOR LIVESTOCK FARMERS Dairy, beef and sheep farmers face an increased risk of severe acidosis amongst their livestock this winter as the temptation to feed large quantities of cheap cereals takes hold...  (Ref: Wynn5 25/11)

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)