Beef

While many farmers perceive lungworm in cattle to be an autumn disease – simply because the tell-tale cough from husk tends to peak late in the grazing season – the reality is early spring is the time to be thinking about better disease control, says vet Emily Linton.

An EA employee working on livestock farming regulation has been forced to pull out of a public debate, where he was due to support a motion which claimed ‘only vegan farming can make agriculture truly sustainable’.

Fodder beet could be an attractive alternative to costly bought-in feeds, says Mark Snell who grows the crop to use for his own livestock business and also to sell to other farmers.

According to the Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) group, vaccinating calves before turnout can protect them against lungworm and reduce economic losses from ill-health.

In 2022, the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway will be launched as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI); the culmination of more than two years’ worth of research and co-design between farmers, vets and Defra specialists.

A top call of 5,350 was among a number of highlights at the Farmers Guardian supported sale of show potential calves at Brecon, where heifers set a thought to be record average of more than 2,700.

Limousins peaked at 38,000gns at the Carlisle spring bull sale to average 7,895, down 223 on 2021 with a clearance rate of 77 per cent.

Craigdarroch Zico from Graham and Son, Dumfriesshire set new record of 32,000gns at Castle Douglas.

In the US, cattle numbers have continued to decline

Estimated breeding values (EBVs) can help when selecting the right bull for your herd requirements. Ellie Layton looks at what the data means.