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TheDairySite Latest News: United Kingdom

05 February 2021

Changes to cleaning practices could improve calve health on GB dairy farms, according to new research
A new study looking at colostrum hygiene on British dairy farms has shown that by making a few simple changes to cleaning protocols, farmers could significantly minimise the risk of disease in calves....

04 February 2021

Ruminant Health & Welfare responds to Defra consultation on animal transport
Any regulatory changes introduced as a result of Defra’s consultation on the welfare of live animals in transport must be evidence-based and rooted in science....

UK unveils new code of conduct for its dairy supply chain
UK Ministers have announced plans for a fairer dairy supply chain after public consultation. ...

03 February 2021

Dairy farm survey highlights deficiency in antioxidants linked to fertility
Dry and early lactation cows fed maize and wholecrop-based diets could benefit from greater supplementation with the antioxidants vitamin E and beta carotene, according to new UK farm survey results, which identified widespread deficiency....

02 February 2021

Research suggests that lower-protein diets and forage legumes can reduce the environmental impact of milk production
Research from Harper Adams University has found that dairy farmers can reduce their nitrogen emissions and become more sustainable by switching cows to lower-protein diets. ...

What's on the horizon for UK agriculture?
The latest Agri-Market Outlook from the AHDB explores the UK farm sector's prospects for 2021. ...

01 February 2021

New reports shows UK shoppers backing British farmers
A new report from the AHDB finds that consumer attitudes towards UK farmers have grown more positive amid a challenging year and significant upheavals in the agriculture sector. ...

29 January 2021

UK vets stress that there is "room for improvement" on animal welfare at slaughter
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed England's review of Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing regulations and offers proposals to better safeguard animal welfare. ...

28 January 2021

UK NFU and BVA respond to government's future bovine TB eradication strategy
Defra has announced a consultation on future TB eradication strategy, which proposes to no longer license badger culls post-2022; NFU and BVA both call for new proposals to be evidence-based. ...

27 January 2021

NFU UK calls for updates to water infrastructure to safeguard against future floods
Urgent action is needed to safeguard the UK's agricultural land in the face of extreme weather events....

Paddock grazing helps utilise grass growth during drought
Since introducing paddock grazing to their organic unit at Oakwood Mill near Selkirk in 2010, Giles and Alison Henry have, as a result, increased stock numbers and grazing potential by 30% across 110 hectares (ha)....

22 January 2021

UK dairy farmers reminded to print travel passes for employees
Farmers across the UK are being reminded to print off free key worker travel passes for employees amid tighter COVID-19 restrictions....

Student scoops the UK's National Dairy Award
A final year student from Harper Adams University has beat off six other finalists and one of the highest number of entries to scoop this year’s RABDF Dairy Student of the Year Award, sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers....

21 January 2021

Queens University announces new project to tackle AMR and bovine mastitis
A new research project from Queens University Belfast hopes to tackle mastitis and reduce the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in diary cattle, potentially curbing the overuse of antibiotics that contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance...

20 January 2021

CLA hits back at misleading advertising from Oatly
The UK's Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has sharply criticised new adverts from oat milk producer Oatly, saying that their campaign is "peddling misinformation"....

19 January 2021

UK's meat industry sounds the alarm as border delays from Brexit stall exports
The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) is receiving more calls from meat companies highlighting the problems they've been experiencing at the borders and warns that these problems are causing a serious and sustained loss of trade with the UK's...

18 January 2021

UK farmgate prices remain strong despite border concerns stemming from Brexit
Despite the Brexit trade agreement between the UK and EU, UK cattle producers must still contend with the new non-tariff conditions and biosecurity checks for exports. ...

17 January 2021

Take 15 minutes to complete the UK's Big Farming Survey
RABI has launched the largest ever survey of its kind in England and Wales, with a target of achieving 26,000 responses from farming people....

15 January 2021

What happens after the UK government cuts Direct Payments under the new Transition Plan?
Property consultancy Bidwells explores the impact that the UK's Agricultural Transition Plan (ATP) could have on sustainable farming. ...

New report stresses the need for a UK farm animal health and welfare body
A new report published as part of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust and AHDB highlights the need for a veterinary-led farm animal health and welfare body for the UK. ...

14 January 2021

How to understand the carbon footprint of rations
Mole Valley Farmers is helping producers to reduce the environmental impact of their rations by calculating the carbon footprint of every feed ingredient delivered to their mills....

13 January 2021

NFU UK voices agreement with The Times opinion piece on sustainable meat
National Farmers Union (NFU) Deputy President Stuart Roberts has written to The Times about eating sustainably and why going meat-free for January may not bring the expected climate benefits....

12 January 2021

UK’s Gove warns that trade issues in Northern Ireland will get worse
Difficulties in moving goods between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom will get worse before they get better, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said on 8 January....

UK's Rural Payments Agency fulfilled 98 percent of BPS claims despite pandemic challenges
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has delivered its best ever December payment performance, paying 98 percent of claims filed under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). ...

11 January 2021

ORFC Global 2021 conference boasts more than 5,000 delegates from around the world
The Oxford Real Farming Conference 2021 is bringing 500 speakers together to explore regenerative agriculture and solutions to climate change....

08 January 2021

BMPA warns that the UK risks food shortages if food factory workers are not prioritised for COVID-19 vaccine
The British Meat Processors Association warns that the UK Government's failure to prioritise food processing workers for the coronavirus vaccine puts the country's food supply at risk. ...

07 January 2021

UK sets up consultation for gene editing crops and livestock
Plans to consult on gene editing – which could unlock substantial benefits to nature, the environment and help farmers with crops resistant to pests, disease or extreme weather and to produce healthier, more nutritious food – will be set out today...

05 January 2021

Red Tractor UK wants farmers to take the lead in shaping future standards
Farm assurance body, Red Tractor, is urging farmers across the UK to participate in a consultation on how its farm standards should evolve beyond 2021. ...