Moderate to high risk of liver fluke infection in cattle this autumn, winter
Farmers in Northern Ireland (NI) should prepare for a medium to high risk of liver fluke infection in sheep and cattle this autumn 2021 and winter 2022....

Livestock surrogates successfully made fertile
Fertility of mammals can be restored as they produce sperm derived from donors, research shows....

Sheep could be bred for climate resilience
Pinpointing genes relating to variations in milk production could help breed animals resilient to warming conditions, a study suggests....

Rainfall drives adaptation in Ethiopian sheep
Precipitation has greater influence than altitude and temperature on adaptation of livestock populations, a new study suggests....

Tackling climate change in farming and food production
Projects with a specific focus on efficiency, cutting emissions and improving environmental performance have been selected as part of the next round of the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund...

Gene map to aid studies of key traits in sheep
Genetic code insights pave the way to more accurate research into traits of interest in sheep, such as health and resilience....

Virtual tool launched by QMS to help farmers ‘Meat the Grade’
Livestock farmers will now have access to a free online tool which will help them to boost their bottom line by improving livestock selection and management for slaughter. ...

Sheep Feed Conversion Trials at Rothamsted
Recent individual Feed Conversion Trials with Exlana sheep at the Robert Orr Small Ruminant Facility at the Rothamsted Research North Wyke Farm Platform aim to identify genetics that will allow...

Play it safe at UK livestock marts as Autumn sales get underway
Farmers are being urged to strictly observe public health physical distancing guidelines as the Autumn sales in Scotland’s livestock marts get underway. ...

FAI Farms Ltd completes successful management buyout
FAI Farms, a leading research, data and consultancy business working to provide practical solutions for climate and food security, announces their successful completion of a management buyout....

Engineered Llama Antibodies Neutralize COVID-19 Virus
Antibodies taken from llamas have been shown to neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus in lab tests....

Pirbright scientists uncover goat immune genes involved in natural resistance
Genetic research conducted by scientists at The Pirbright Institute has revealed that goat and sheep genes for specific immune cell receptors are extremely diverse and different compared to other...

Climate change could wreck traditional sheep farming in Wales
After the hottest June on record, July 25 2019 was the hottest July day ever recorded in the UK, with temperatures reaching 38.1°C. ...

UK-US Prepare for Trade Negotiations
Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands is in the United States this week (9-11 March) as the UK and US prepare to kick-start free trade agreement negotiations....

Addressing the UK’s rumen and liver fluke challenge
Researchers at the University of Liverpool want to combat the growing prevalence of rumen fluke and liver fluke in the UK....

Can the UK farming sector achieve net zero carbon emissions?
Achieving net zero carbon emissions on-farm was one of the hot topics debated at the Oxford Real Farming Conference on 8 January. Panellists from the House of Commons, Chatham House, NFU, Green...

Scotland's Cattle Herd in Decline, Sheep Recovering in 2019
The number of cattle in Scotland has now hit a 60-year low, according to the June survey data released by the Scottish Government. ...

Countryside must not become a ‘soft target’, NFU tells police chiefs
NFU President Minette Batters will urge Chief Constables to ensure farms and rural communities do not become a ‘soft target’ for criminals, in an address to the National Police Chiefs Council...

Restaurant Guide Supports Quality Beef and Lamb
UK - A top restaurant guide featuring Quality Standard Mark (QSM) beef and lamb has been launched in London....

Warnings of Food Price Increases Underline Importance of British Food Production
UK - The UK National Farmers Union has said warnings of a food price increase next year adds gravitas to the need for a strong, secure and viable domestic food production system....

Scotland Launches Action Plan for New Generation Farmers
SCOTLAND - A 10 point action plan aimed at kick-starting a new generation of farmers by dramatically increasing the number of starter opportunities on public land has been published....

Better Data Better Management to Improve Competitiveness
ANALYSIS - Agriculture is at the start of a digital revolution and to advance it will need to embrace and understand the increasing amount of data that is being collected and is available, writes...

Researchers to Improve Foot and Mouth Vaccines with £1.5 Million Funding Boost
UK - Researchers at The Pirbright Institute have secured almost $1.5 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fund the development of improved foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines...

The New Quick and Easy Reference to Identifying and Treating Sheep and Goat Diseases
UK - Authored by a veterinary specialist, Sheep and Goat Diseases: Veterinary Book for Farmers and Smallholders provides a comprehensive overview of diseases of veterinary importance, including...

UK Sales of Antibiotics for Animals Dropped 9 Per Cent Last Year
UK - Sales of antibiotics for use in animals in the UK are at a four-year low, putting the UK on track to meet ambitious targets to tackle antibiotic resistance, according to a Defra report released...

Medics Urge More Action on Antibiotics in Farming
UK - Fifteen of the UK's most senior medics have called on the government to tackle "routine misuse of antibiotics in UK farming", in a letter published in The Telegraph to mark the start of...

Sheep Association Pushes for Rapid Action on Rural Payments
UK - The problem of late delivery of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and farmer statements has still not been resolved, with the National Sheep Association (NSA) hearing of many cases relating...

Versatility of Lamb Demonstrated at Muslim Lifestyle Expo
UK - Home-grown lamb production and the value it adds to the Halal market has been showcased at a major event in Manchester....

Fall in UK Farm Incomes Continues
UK - New Defra figures have shown a dramatic fall in farm incomes for the third consecutive year....

Sheep Farmers Urged to Help Sector Understand Ram Longevity
UK - Prompted by claims from members that rams do not work on commercial farms for as many seasons as wanted, the National Sheep Association (NSA) is urging farmers to participate in a new study...