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Livestock breeders have had to be creative to market their animals this year as the Covid-19 lockdown led to the cancellation of many sales and the entire summer showing season.

Tom Bruce, 27, lives in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Brought up on the family farm, he studied a masters in engineering and is now back working the land.

Despite guidelines highlighting the importance of colostrum management, too many calves are still failing to receive good quality, clean colostrum.

For the first time farmers are buying more sexed dairy semen than conventional semen, according to a recent AHDB survey of breeding companies.

The National Beef Association (NBA) has issued a fresh plea for transparency in the foodservice sector after wholesaler Booker was caught re-labelling Uruguayan beef.

It follows the granting of market access in March this year

Essential oils have been used for their medicinal and flavouring properties for hundreds of years, but a new market is emerging within the livestock sector in pursuit of a replacement for prophylactic antibiotic therapy.

Male animals that produce sperm carrying only the genetic traits of elite donor animals could hold the key to genetically improving livestock of the future.

A new Highland cattle breed record of 23,000gns was set at Stirling when the Mottistone fold was dispersed on behalf of Michael Poland, the Isle of Wight.

Beef and lamb prices have remained strong, resulting in some cautious optimism for producers, although in such a volatile market it would be foolish to rule out the prospect of clouds on the horizon.