Articles
Agri Environment and Climate Scheme: The Habitat Mosaic option
The Habitat Mosaic Management option is one of many options that can be applied for in this scheme. It is a good flexible option with a reasonable payment rate of £104.63 per Ha per yr.
Read More > about Agri Environment and Climate Scheme: The Habitat Mosaic optionMycoplasma infections in cattle
What are Mycoplasma?
Mycoplasma are small bacteria. There are over 125 different types, and several that are found on cattle. They are different to most other bacteria because they don’t have a cell wall around them. ‘Mycoplasma bovis’ is the most common type that can be associated with disease in cattle in the UK.
Read More > about Mycoplasma infections in cattleLiver fluke treatment of housed cattle
If you haven’t already treated your cattle for liver fluke it is worth having a serious think about it. The Food Standards Agency recently reported that in 2014 27% of cattle slaughtered in Scotland had their livers condemned because of fluke damage. Meanwhile AHDB Beef and Lamb have estimated that producers may be losing up to £90/head based on factors including increased finishing times and reduction in carcase weight/conformation.
Read More > about Liver fluke treatment of housed cattleIncreased risk of Listeriosis from silage this year
Silage analysis this year has shown that in many cases the pH of the silage is higher than we would like it to be. Higher pH levels indicate the silage has fermented poorly. This can be as a result of the grass being wetter at the time of cutting. Silages with higher pH levels are less stable on storage and more prone to spoilage and bacterial growth. It should be remembered that drier silages/haylages will be more stable on storage so are less risky even if the pH levels are high.
Read More > about Increased risk of Listeriosis from silage this yearHealth Planning
Income and profits in the beef and sheep sectors will depend on attention to detail and technical efficiency. Spending a little time identifying areas which need attention is an extremely worthwhile exercise. A starting point for this would be designing a health plan for your livestock enterprises.
Read More > about Health PlanningRagwort Control
Ragwort is a biennial that produces a flat rosette of leaves in its first year of growth that rarely flowers.
Read More > about Ragwort ControlSilage Potential Acid Load (PAL)
Among the many useful pieces of information contained in the silage analysis report is the item PAL.
Read More > about Silage Potential Acid Load (PAL)Low Protein Silages This Year?
Many beef and sheep silages sampled so far appear to be lower in protein than we would normally expect.
Read More > about Low Protein Silages This Year?Weaning Tips
After birth, weaning is the most stressful time for both calves and cows. Get some tips to deal with it.
Read More > about Weaning TipsTurning Out Ewes and Lambs Onto Wet Ground
This year many farms are waterlogged and while conditions should eventually dry out there is a chance that earlier born lambs will have to be turned out onto very wet fields.
Read More > about Turning Out Ewes and Lambs Onto Wet GroundSign up to the FAS newsletter
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