Simple solution to alleviate temptation to substitute beef for horsemeat
The most recent results of horsemeat substitution tests in beef products confirm that inattentive retailers have allowed both consumers and beef farmers to be the victims of a giant, cross-EU, food fraud that has dented the confidence of the former – and forfeit the latter untold millions of pounds in lost income. And the National […]
DEFRA to meet the cost of removing sheep killed in snow
This is the latest move in a programme of support to help farmers affected by recent snow. Defra has already permitted farmers to bury or burn livestock onsite if snow makes it difficult to get them to a collection vehicle, and has relaxed rules on driver hours to allow extra time for essential deliveries of […]
Study identifies “chink in the armour” of Schmallenberg virus
The disease, which causes birth defects and stillbirths in sheep, goats and cattle, was first discovered in Germany in late 2011 and has already spread to more than 5,000 farms across Europe, and 1,500 farms in the UK alone. There is currently no way of treating infected animals, but a study published in Nucleic Acids […]
McDonald’s to become first high street restaurant chain to serve 100% Freedom Food pork from RSPCA monitored British farms
McDonald’s is to switch to using 100% Freedom Food pork from British farms that meet strict RSPCA animal welfare standards across its entire UK menu, it was announced today. The move is McDonald’s latest step to provide consumers with locally- and responsibly-sourced food on the high street, and to continue supporting British and Irish farmers. […]
Challenging year for dairy farmers reflected in DairyCo Farmer Intentions Survey
Confidence levels have also dropped, although to a lesser degree than may have been expected. “The events of last year, particularly the weather, meant confidence levels were lower than in the previous survey,” says AHDB DairyCo senior analyst Patty Clayton. “In rating their confidence over the next 12 months, 43% of farmers returned a score […]
More farmers battle TB as new figures show 3,000 cows are culled in one month
In the latest up-to-date figures released by Defra today 3,215 cattle were slaughtered across Great Britain in January, meaning a 24.2 per cent increase on the same time last year, and the month-on-month figures also show a jump. And in Wales the picture has worsened considerably despite a vaccination programme for badgers which had its […]
NSA reiterates the need for sustained action on Fallen Stock
It is now weeks since the snow fell, but the National Sheep Association (NSA) is urging all the devolved nations to sustain support for the sheep farmers who were hit so hard by the unseasonable weather. Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “The snow may have all but gone now, but the impact is still […]
CLA calls for extension to derogation for burying livestock
The Association has written to Farming Minister David Heath saying it was particularly important for farmers in the Uplands to be given extra time to bury their fallen stock after recent bad weather, and reported that CLA members in Cumbria alone have lost up to half of their breeding stock. CLA President Harry Cotterell said: […]
Milk production figures released
The United Kingdom wholesale milk deliveries totaled 1,107.5 million litres in March bringing the cumulative total for the year to 13,046 million litres. The wholesale delivery figures have not been adjusted for butterfat content and all figures are provisional. RPA relies on individual purchasers to provide the data, which is supplied ‘subject to confirmation’ and […]
