Considering investment in slurry robots?
Robotic slurry scraping and collection are relatively new concepts, but for the right housing layout they can deliver savings and improved cow health
20 November 2024
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5 min read
Dairy Talk - Becky Fenton: "While the discussions were valuable, I didn't hear much that was truly groundbreaking"
As I write this at the beginning of November, we are currently in the midst of doing our maize in Cheshire.
16 November 2024
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3 min read
Dairy Talk - Dan Burdett: "I used to farm by certain dates in mind for turnout and housing"
Another year, another calving block comes to an end, filled with a few surprises and challenges but mainly positive memories
15 November 2024
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3 min read
Mixed prospects for maize when formulating rations this winter
The results of the first 750 maize silages analysed by Trouw Nutrition GB this year clearly demonstrate the effect of the growing season on feed quality
09 November 2024
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2 min read
Zero treatments and zero calf losses – the holy grail?
What zero treatment and zero calf losses looks like on-farm on a day-to-day basis was discussed by Dr Jodi Wallace from Ormstown Veterinary Hospital in Quebec, Canada at the Total Dairy Conference held in Stratford-upon-Avon recently
08 November 2024
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5 min read
Philip Kirkpatrick: "I think there will be a lot more land coming to the market"
Farmers and rural businesses are rightly up in arms following the Budget, in which valuable Inheritance Tax reliefs for agricultural and business assets were decimated
06 November 2024
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5 min read
Foot Health: Early treatment key to managing sole lesions
One of the most common causes of lameness among the UK's dairy herds, sole lesions can have a significant impact on animal health and cow productivity
30 October 2024
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4 min read
Balancing mineral supplementation in dairy diets
Ensuring an optimal mineral status across all life stages and lactations is key to reducing the risk of over supplementation in housed herds
29 October 2024
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6 min read
Turning methane emissions into a business opportunity
Methane emissions from dairy farms higher than thought - but conversion to biogas could reduce emissions and save more than £400m a year in fuel costs
25 October 2024
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3 min read
Wiltshire sheep shearer makes switch to share milking in New Zealand
A former UK sheep shearer has made the move to New Zealand where he has recently been awarded the 2024 share farmer of the year award
25 October 2024
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5 min read
Dairy Farmer - From the Editor: "The way that the magazine aims to put farmers' views first and foremost I hope still rings true"
This year marks the 95th anniversary of Dairy Farmer
23 October 2024
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1 min read
Dairy Farmer's 95th anniversary: Roger Evans
Roger Evans, award winning writer and Dairy Farmer columnist, discusses how he came to start writing in Dairy Farmer
23 October 2024
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5 min read
Dairy Farmer's 95th anniversary: A view from Rosemary Collingborn
Rosemary Collingborn, a past ‘Cowmen Comment' writer and dairy farmer from Wiltshire looks back at her assocation with Dairy Farmer
23 October 2024
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3 min read
Dairy Farmer celebrates its 95th anniversary
Dairy Farmer is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year, so we take a look at how the industry has changed and ask some of our regular writers to give their views on dairy farming
23 October 2024
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1 min read
Robotic farm turns focus to efficiency gains
Following significant investment in his family's dairy farm, Andrew Leggot is now focusing on achieving small improvements in efficiency
23 October 2024
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7 min read
Tackle parasites at housing to protect heifers this winter
Experts are urging farmers to safeguard dairy heifers from parasites at housing to maintain their health, growth, and productivity over winter
23 October 2024
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4 min read
Regular audits to reduce dairy farm carbon footprints
While cattle emissions are generally negative for the environment, ruminant agriculture is a positive contributor to soil health showed by results from a recent Soil Association Exchange report
20 October 2024
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4 min read
Dairy Talk - Ben Yates: "As a family, we have been to several local shows where both our boys have enjoyed success in their handling classes"
It has been a busy couple of months through our calving period, with 360 calvings in eight weeks
18 October 2024
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3 min read
Lyndon Edwards: How I am leading the charge towards environmental sustainability in the dairy sector
Lyndon Edwards, an organic dairy farmer from Gloucestershire and chair of the AHDB dairy sector council since 2021, discusses the Dairy Roadmap
16 October 2024
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5 min read
Tight supply helps push up milk prices
Lower milk production has given support to milk prices but farmers will now be looking at the prospects for the UK and beyond in the next few months
16 October 2024
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5 min read
Milk price increases continue as market cools
The early October pullback in price levels from the record butter and cream prices, including some of the higher moisture cheeses such as mozzarella, may be deemed to have arrived a little premature
16 October 2024
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4 min read
New test for malignant catarrhal fever
A new test for malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is now available from the Agri-food and biosciences Institute
14 October 2024
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2 min read
EU spot prices start to fall
EU spot prices for butter came off markedly in the first week of October, with prices for Q4 crashing €500 (£419) or so to around €7,500/tonne (£6,283), with prices €1,000/tonne (£838) lower than that for Q1
14 October 2024
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5 min read
New risk level to Johne's certification for cattle
A new level of Johne's disease certification risk is to be launched this autumn to provide greater transparency for farmers and those buying stock
10 October 2024
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4 min read
Lely releases sand flush accessory for robotic manure collectors
Lely has introduced a sand flushing system to its robotic manure collectors to make it easier for dairy farmers who bed on sand
25 September 2024
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1 min read
Dairy Talk - Ifan Roberts: "Although finances are important always remember that your brand is your superpower"
As I flew home from my nine weeks of individual Nuffield travel in New Zealand, China, Chile and North America, studying the topic of ‘Inspiring the next generation of dairy entrepreneurs', I found myself asking: 'What have I learned?'
23 September 2024
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3 min read
Sunflowers a valuable source of protein for Holstein herd near Cardigan
A Welsh dairy farm is companion cropping maize with sunflowers to reduce its purchased protein costs
22 September 2024
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5 min read
Roger Evans: "That cheque, that arrived in December, used to bring with it a lot of comfort"
The big story since I last wrote has to be the decline in the number of dairy farmers. Just to put it into some sort of perspective, when we started First Milk I think we had 3,500 members
20 September 2024
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3 min read
Argentinian dairy farm embraces automation and sees positive impact
El Rancho farm was the first dairy unit in Argentina to install milking robots in 2018 and now the focus is on controlling rising costs
19 September 2024
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5 min read
