Grassland

Liver fluke cysts are shed onto pasture from infected mud snails and we know they can survive for many months given the right conditions, but can they survive in silage?

The cattle lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus, is a cause of serious respiratory disease in youngstock and adult cattle. Taking a pro-active approach to prevention, and rapidly treating outbreaks, can lessen the negative impact on productivity and reduce costs.

Plans to increase milk production by about 1,000 litres a cow through more effective utilisation of grazing are underway at Rhual Dairy, Flintshire. Hannah Noble reports.

In virtually all grazing systems, cows will be exposed to production-limiting parasites. The presence of parasites does not always result in clinical disease, but the impact of parasite burdens on herd and individual animal performance can still be substantial.

For Ian Horsely, what happens below ground on his 56-hectare (140-acre) unit near Bromyard, Worcestershire, is key to his farming future, and utterly dependent on the way he farms.

Livestock farmers are being challenged to obtain one tonne more of utilised dry matter from grass this year, as latest figures highlight improved pasture in Great Britain could be under- performing by about 4tonne DM/ha (1.6t

Extreme winter weather has left a legacy of catch up jobs, and managing existing grassland and assessing which fields need to be reseeded is among them.

As field conditions begin to improve, farmers will be considering their options for restoring soil health and boosting forage stocks. 

One-to-one mentoring with grazing experts has helped Duncan and Sarah Howie in the transition from all-year-round to block calving, with milk from forage now improved. Hannah Noble reports.

It is vital cattle producers have a plan to minimise, manage and treat parasitic infections before they reduce productivity and business profitability, according to Boehringer Ingelheim.