Rearing Animals [BE.RA]

Milk Fever in Suckler cows on Machair Land

Hypocalcaemia, also known as milk fever, is typically not an issue in suckler cows, although experience shows that the conditions on the Uists are just right to be an exception…

Agri Culture – Jim Chapman: Adapting to Life After an Accident

Listener Advisory Note : This episode contains a mention of suicide, please listen with care.

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Jim Chapman, farmer and farm safety ambassador. Jim talks openly about the farm accident that changed his life when he lost his arm in a PTO shaft. He talks about the impact that had on him, and how he got through the dark times. He tells us how important the support he received from friends, family and young farmers was to him. He went on to do a Nuffield scholarship on farm safety and is now an ambassador for the Farm Safety Foundation.

Agri Culture – Stephanie Berkeley: Yellow Wellies

Stephanie Berkeley is Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, which you might know also as Yellow Wellies. The Farm Safety Foundation was established in 2014 with the aim of improving farm safety in the UK. The Foundation runs successful campaigns such as Farm Safety week and educates young farmers across the UK in colleges and young farmer clubs. Stephanie talks to us about the importance of the charity, and resources available to all farmers.

Body Condition Scoring Suckler Cows

What are the benefits of body condition scoring? Ensuring that cows are at the right body condition means: Efficient use of feed and supplemental feed is not given to cows that don’t need it. Reduced risk of calving difficulties associated with very lean or over-weight cows. Better calf vigour at birth and improved growth until weaning. Improved fertility, making it easier to get the cow pregnant again. How to body condition score Cows…