Organic farmer, Matt Ridley, has finished his lambs without concentrates for the past seven years achieving the top two grades on forage and grass alone. Ann Hardy reports.
Managing ewes correctly in the last few weeks before lambing is critical. If things go wrong at this stage, lamb birth weight could be low, lamb losses high, colostrum quantity and quality poor, and lamb growth below target.
With widespread high rainfall having hit many regions in recent weeks, those spring grazing livestock may be looking at alternative management options.
Using traditional breeds alongside the latest technology is a successful combination for Bruce Kenworthy’s sheep enterprise in West Yorkshire. Angela Calvert reports.
Pregnant ewes are a major source of worms on pasture during the grazing season, which is why farmers have traditionally wormed their pregnant stock.
Every beef system in Scotland can be seen as sustainable, as can every sheep system.
With the environmental impact of livestock farming under increased scrutiny, what can farmers do to be as sustainable as possible?
Nearly half a billion pounds worth of livestock was sold through Scotland’s auction marts in 2019.
A new record of 1,700 for a Dalesbred female was set at the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ Association show and sale held at Bentham for a two-shear ewe, shown by Colin and Alan Price, Longlands.
For sheep producers who want to mitigate the risk of a grass shortage and have a fresh high feed value forage to hand when finishing lambs there are plenty of options. Farmers Guardian reports.