Midland Pig Producers welcomes RSPCA approval of ground-breaking pen
The 360° Freedom Farrower, created by Staffordshire-based Midland Pig Producers (MPP), is an innovative concept in farrowing pen design allowing the sow to move around freely while continuing to protect the piglets and the handlers. Traditional farrowing crates were banned by the RSPCA under their Freedom Food Farm Assurance Codes because they prevent the sow […]
Surveillance cameras reveal how frequently badgers enter farms
Surveillance cameras installed on 75 farms in the south west have captured footage of badgers visiting farms a part of the Farm Assessment Toolkit project by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) to help farmers take steps to ‘badger-proof’ farm buildings and reduce the risk of tb spreading from wildlife to their herds. […]
Review of Voluntary Code would draw out whether it could be improved
The Voluntary Code of Practice on Producer Contracts is a success and a stakeholder review would draw out whether or not it can be improved. This is the view of Dairy UK Director General Jim Begg twelve months on from the historic Heads of Agreement achieved at the Royal Welsh Show in 2012. “The Voluntary […]
A Leading French Research Institute Chooses BouMatic as “Dairy Sector” Partner
ARVALIS chose the solutions provided by their BouMatic dealer Proval, and in particular the investment in a 22/24-stall Xpedia™ 360IX internal rotary system for their dairy unit, and has achieved impressive results since they started using this milking system. In May, a BouMatic delegation, led by President Bob Luna, and 35 BouMatic dealers from Western […]
Hereford Bulls make their way across the English Channel!
Gerald Blandford based near Ledbury, sold Bosa 1 Jupiter to Mr Bastien and Bosa 1 Jack Frost to Mr Betis, following their visit to Herefordshire earlier in the year. The large Bosa herd has been much in evidence recently, following Gerald’s success in winning the prestigious National Herd of the Year 2012. More recently almost […]
12,000 cattle slaughtered in first four months of 2013 due to bovine TB
12,061 cattle were compulsorily slaughtered in Great Britain during January to April 2013 due to bovine TB, new figures published by Defra reveal. In England alone, 9,503 cattle were slaughtered due to the disease. Farming minister David Heath said: “Once again these figures show the very real need to stop TB from its relentless march […]
EU boost for English sheep sector
The NFU has worked closely with EBLEX to persuade EU policy makers to change the rules which prevented the European Union co-funding promotional campaigns for “generic” sheepmeat products. Previously, only products that had recognised quality labels, such as PGI or PDO could apply for promotional money. NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe, who also chairs […]
‘Sheep killed in snow’ boost for farmers
Defra made £250,000 available to help farmers in the worst hit areas with the costs of collecting fallen stock after the snowstorms of March this year. Just over 1,000 farmers are eligible for the scheme; all will receive funds by the end of this month. Farming Minister, David Heath said: “I met some of the […]
NPA calls for help keeping deadly disease out of Britain
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea virus has been present in this country in a mild form for over 40 years. But new strains which have spread from China to the United States are wiping out whole generations of newly-born pigs — and there is no effective treatment. It is essential the new strains are kept out of […]
