News

I am sure the dry weather will return soon! Most certainly a topsy turvy year weather-wise. We continue to see tight supply chains with medicines; I wish I knew why! I have read that the EU are to blame but not sure if we can blame this on them! Forward planning enables us to try and smooth out the bumps in the road so the sooner you let us know you need a bulk load of...

Some rain has now arrived, I am not convinced it is enough (yet!) or in time. It looks as though forage stocks could be tight again this year, let’s hope that means better prices at the farm gate. We held a well-attended sheep worm meeting last week. I feel we are starting to see a concerted shift in thinking in the industry, for too long we have been following practices that...

The seasons this year have certainly presented their challenges. The forecast doesn’t show much rain arriving anytime soon. When the rain does arrive, I would expect to see a rise in worm challenge in grazing youngstock. We have recently invested in an Ovacyte machine which will give us more consistent and accurate results when performing worm and fluke counts. Please...

It was great to see so many of you at the North Somerset Show, the stand was busy all day! Winner of our quiz was Ian Ford of Sutton Farm, Butcombe. After a wet and cold spring for many, turnout is now well underway, with many herds now getting out to grass. This still includes many dry cows at grass, calving outside in calving paddocks. Whilst such systems can potentially...

Turnout has certainly been delayed by the wet weather but it feels as though we might have turned a corner, and spring is nearly with us. The Cull trade continues to be particularly strong, as many of the spring calves are hitting the ground it is a good time to be selecting cows that should be culled and not run back with the bull. A problem cow this year is likely to be a...

The recent cold snap has certainly slowed grass growth; a few cows have still been seen making the most of the dry weather. I fear winter could yet have a sting in the tail! The dry weather may well reduce the fluke infection rate this spring. To save wasting money on product that isn’t required (and contributing to flukicide resistance) it may well be worth checking for...

Despite the frosty mornings it is starting to feel very much like Spring. It would certainly be good for all of us with forage stocks tight for many. It is pleasing to see finished cattle and cull stock prices strengthening. Those that joined Liv’s lambing and calving meetings found them worthwhile, we plan to do these again as required so please register an interest if you...

Happy New Year to everyone, I hope this year offers you all prosperity, health and happiness. We are running another Red Tractor approved medicine course on 11th January for Beef & Sheep farmers. Please call to book your place. This course is mandatory for all Red Tractor assured Beef and Sheep farms. Please come along prior to your audit! We were pleased that our...