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A Welsh beef farm is achieving carbon emissions that are 17% lower than average. The reason the dairy beef enterprise was higher is because benchmark farms are all indoor intensive dairy bull beef units while Cae Haidd is the only grass-based dairy beef rearing unit, explains Simon Travis, of SAC Consulting. [Extracted from the article]

We are already pedantic about cleaning the combine between crops, we spray out fence lines and field margins and control grassweeds right throughout the rotation. There is no way we could expect a baler to be cleaned to the standard of our combine cleanouts, no matter how conscientious the contractor may be. So we have purchased a 4x3 Massey Ferguson baler, and I have had my first three lessons on just how hard a baler is to clean completely. [Extracted from the article]

Each pen has a feeding station supplied with calf milk replacer mixed in a Holm and Laue computerised calf feeder. Each calf pen has a station for dispensing starter concentrate nuts ad lib; the aim is to have calves eating 2kg at weaning. A calf health scoring system developed at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine is used to evaluate calf health. [Extracted from the article]

Forage-based dairy-beef systems are profitable even in extreme weather conditions, a two-year study at Harper Adams University has concluded. Researchers compared the performance of 35 Hereford cross Holstein-Friesian and 35 pure Holstein-Friesian autumn 2016-born steer calves to see how native-bred cattle compared with pure dairy animals on the same system. Overall, 85% of the Holstein-Friesians and all of the autumn-born Hereford crosses sold off grass, albeit with supplementation required at specific times to counter poor grass growth and weight gains due to the drought. At a standard base price of £3.65/kg (+15p premium for native beef) and £3.50kg for Holstein-Friesians, the total value (after applying the pricing grid) was £1,129.63 for Hereford crosses and £957.61 for Holstein-Friesians. [Extracted from the article]

Edryd and Glenda Davies are making more from marginal mountain ground by mob and rotational grazing to improve grassland so they can operate a low-cost forage-based system and finish lambs off grass. 570 breeding ewes - 320 pure Welsh ewes for replacement purposes and 250 Aberfield-cross ewes, mated to meat sires "Since they're lasting for an average five crops, we don't require as many replacements, and that, in turn, is enabling us to continue to reduce the pure Welsh ewe flock and minimise the number of lightweight weather lambs", adds Mr Davies. [Extracted from the article]

All three finalists were focusing on growing quality grass and forage to reduce their reliance on bought-in feed and were shining examples of how farms can be productive while enhancing the environment by protecting watercourses and creating wildlife habitats. After lambing, ewes and lambs are rotationally grazed. Ewes and lambs are rotationally grazed and complete three 24-day rotations up to weaning in early August with lambs achieving daily liveweight gains of 250-275g. Store lambs are sent to a local organic farmer for finishing on red clover grown as breakcrop, and they winter graze ewe lambs at another organic unit. [Extracted from the article]

A Welsh hill farm is experimenting with incorporating Timothy in grass seed mixes at inclusion rates of up to 40% to try to improve the persistency and quality of grazing leys on marginal land for fattening lambs. As Timothy seed is far smaller than ryegrass, shallow sowing is crucial - Mr Duller recommends planting seed no deeper than 1cm. Any deeper and the chances are you will reduce establishment and risk weed grasses filling in the gaps. [Extracted from the article]

All three finalists were focusing on growing quality grass and forage to reduce their reliance on bought-in feed and were shining examples of how farms can be productive while enhancing the environment by protecting watercourses and creating wildlife habitats. After lambing, ewes and lambs are rotationally grazed. Ewes and lambs are rotationally grazed and complete three 24-day rotations up to weaning in early August with lambs achieving daily liveweight gains of 250-275g. Store lambs are sent to a local organic farmer for finishing on red clover grown as breakcrop, and they winter graze ewe lambs at another organic unit. [Extracted from the article]

Whether farms are measuring grass or not, all rotational grazing systems should be moving cows to new paddocks at least every 48 hours. Ms Jowsey said the best way to manage grass well into the winter and ensure good grass covers in the spring was to increase rotation length and overall farm covers. Start the last grazing round at an AFC of 2,500-2,600kg DM/ha and end the grazing season at a minimum AFC of 2,100kg DM/ha. [Extracted from the article]

Environmental campaigner Ben Goldsmith has prompted an angry response from farmers after blaming their actions for the North Yorkshire floods. In March, Mr Goldsmith was appointed by the then-Defra secretary Michael Gove as a non-executive member of Defra's departmental board. [Extracted from the article]

I have heard just about every excuse why the beef price is in the doldrums; vegans, vegetarians, Brexit, too much dairy beef and Irish imports. Michael Shannon finishes 150 head of mostly Angus beef stores each year and runs 280 Scotch Mules on a 100ha forage-only enterprise, as well as free-range turkeys for Christmas, near Biggar, Lanarkshire. [Extracted from the article]

I have heard just about every excuse why the beef price is in the doldrums; vegans, vegetarians, Brexit, too much dairy beef and Irish imports. Michael Shannon finishes 150 head of mostly Angus beef stores each year and runs 280 Scotch Mules on a 100ha forage-only enterprise, as well as free-range turkeys for Christmas, near Biggar, Lanarkshire. [Extracted from the article]

A £2m project benefiting farmers and the environment is being heralded as a blueprint for similar land management schemes after the UK leaves the European Union. Mr Smart says: "The project itself will offer a reliable supply of fresh water, especially in times of drought or flood, supporting and protecting freshwater species and wet grazing practices and, ultimately, allowing the marshes to adapt to climate change in the future". [Extracted from the article]

Measuring and recording grass growth and weighing livestock more frequently has opened up cost-saving opportunities on an upland grazing farm. The herd is mainly based around Limousin suckler cows and Shorthorn/Limousin-cross cows, with pure Limousin cows also bred to a Parthenaise bull to produce fast-growing calves. Calves fed silage and creep feed, backs are clipped, all cattle are weighed and cows, heifers and bulls are drafted separately. [Extracted from the article]

UK flocks have already worked hard to reduce lameness to less than 5% by 2016, but the next target set by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) is to reduce it to less than 2% by 2021. Some farmers perceive the cost of vets to outweigh the cost of lameness and therefore are not engaging with their vet to help tackle lameness. Sheep farmer David Barber uses EID to record ewes that have been treated for lameness. [Extracted from the article]

The Parthenaise breed is one of the oldest in France and has been refined over the past 50 years to produce high-quality beef. The farm has three Parthenaise stock bulls and one Parthenaise bull out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow, which is used on the 20 breeding females, and 80 cross-bred cows comprising Longhorn cross Parthenaise. [Extracted from the article]

The drive to create a dairy system that can cope with fluctuations in the milk price, improve profitability and provide a better work-life balance has seen a Yorkshire farm transition to autumn block calving and at the same time improve grass use. At the time the farm was milking 100 cows all year round through robots, and yielding 11,000 litres from more than 3t a cow of concentrates. [Extracted from the article]

Farmers looking to improve flock profitability should assess six key areas to reduce bought-in inputs and labour requirements to enable them to farm without subsidy. You will be able to budget adult ewes on summer--grown forage and lambs will be off the farm, allowing you to get your eye in. Produce one good silage bale for every four to five ewes for late-gestation feed. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses livestock farmer Rhun Williams who has adopted a rotational grazing system to fatten lambs has finished more to market specification and increased liveweight per lamb in Great Britain. It mentions about importance of rotational grazing in increasing income from lamb sales and improved cash flow as it prolonged the income period.

The article reports that Gwyn and Delyth Parry, an organic livestock farm in Wales, Scotland, has adapted rotational grazing that results to the expansion of their suckler herd. Topics include the benefits of the rotational grazing system based on the Farming Connect trial, the growth rate of cattle finished on grass, and the effect of poor weather to the turnout of farm production.

The offers tips to the farmers of Great Britain for grazing management. Topics include the use of the winter-stored pasture to get milk from the pregnant cows, instruction to improve the quality of grass by rotational grazing method, and offering of high quality grass to the cows to increase the milk yield from the cows.

The article reports that Matt House, farm manager at Bowden Farms', adoption of a technique for refurbishing the beef system. Topics discussed include increasing livestock numbers by investing in fencing and water infrastructure, selecting rotational grazing and providing water for paddocks in the field, and the importance of soil fertility.

The article offers step-by-step instructions for a spring rotation planner for the management of grazing.

The article offers information on setting up rotational grazing on beef farm using a plate meter.

The article discusses the difficulties of growing grass and the impact of surplus silage on stock grazing.

The article talks about a lamb breed developed at Cambridge University, in Black Bourton, Oxfordshire. Topics discussed include its aim to have a cross-bred ewe; issues associated with lambing; and focuses on rotational grazing and rotating cattle. Also discusses the need for clostridial diseases and pasteurella vaccination.

The article talks about an organic beef farm which has captured an additional daily live weight gain (DLWG) from yearling cattle at grass. Discusses on setting up of a paddock system including electric fencing, a water system and an energizer and receive management advice from James Daniel. It also presents views of dairy farmer Phil Cowcher, on huge gains in cattle and grass performance.

The article offers tips for monitoring the twin-bearing cows, using a long-acting bolus before calving and rigorous fluid therapy containing energy and calcium after calving; also suggests eprinomectin and rotational grazing for best practice.

The article presents the author's insights on the need for another enterprises to help control the grass in an organic farm for livestock production. Topics discussed include the challenge associated with maintaining the quality of feed, the negative effect of rotational grazing, and the potential purchase of another bull.

The article reports on Somerset, England-based Bowden Farms using rotational grazing to grow more grass and to be flexible in its approach to managing grass shortages and surpluses. Matt House joined the beef farm in 2016 as a manager and overhauled the arable and set-stocked beef system with support from an Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board's (ADHB's) Beef from Grass Project.

The article reports on efforts to improve farm productivity after settling on a hybrid combination of genetics to produce easy-calving and docile cattle. It mentions improved calf mortality and barren rates at Upper House Farm, Knighton in Wales wherein John Bright and Donald Bright started combining easy-calving Salers dam lines with Hereford bulls in 2014. It also mentions introduction of ploughing and reseeding with high-sugar leys with a rotational grazing system.

The article offers information on a study by Harper Adams University regarding the feasibility of a low-cost dairy beef production method. Particular focus is given to the use of a rotational grazing system and outwintering dairy cattle on fodder beet. Comments from lecturer Simon Marsh and Adas consultant Marc Jones are also provided.

The article presents the author's views regarding relevance of integrated farm management for agricultural productivity. Topics discussed include significance of leguminous crops and livestock use within an extended arable rotation, its relevance for resilience building within farming businesses for dealing with variability in prices and less government support and use of red clover as an another form of legume to be used by sheep.

The article reports that shifting to rotational grazing from a set-stocking system has enabled Alwyn Hughes to increase his stocking rate by twenty five percent. Hughes increased ewe numbers from 400 to 500 after he started using cell grazing. The sale of finished lambs will restrict the stocking rate to five ewes per acre by November 2016.

The article informs that Powys farmers John and Sarah Yeomans have explored rotational grazing in 2014 and in the passed two years they have halved feed costs by boosting liveweight production from grass. They tell that their production a hectare has lifted significantly with rotational grazing and they are even considering mixed grazing to improve pasture use, with lambs shifted more often and cows or ewes mopping up grass pastures behind them.

The article recommends paddock grazing to farmers based on the statement of beef farmer Graham Parks from Great Britain. Parks discusses the benefits of using paddock grazing which include grass quality and cattle growth improvement, the importance of planning and the cost effectiveness despite the initial expense for fencing and water trough outlay. English Beef and Lamb Executive Ltd. (EBLEX) beef and sheep specialist Liz Genever explains how rotational grazing drives performance.

The article informs that Blythburgh Estate, close to Southwold, is predominantly ring-fenced and includes more than 1,000 acres of arable land, 500 acres of grazing and about 300 acres of woodland. It is noted that about 480 acres forms part of the largest continuous stand of reedbeds in England and Wales, with the remaining balance being made up of areas such as grass marsh, tracks and residential.

The article reports on how rotational grazing has helped Irish beef farmer Kieron Noonan boost income from heavier stock sales, reduce age at first calving and raise profits. It mentions that by splitting paddocks and adopting a rotational grazing system, he has witnessed an increase in grass quality, which has allowed the farm to raise stocking rates by 24 percent.

The article focuses on the importance of a spring rotation planner (SRP) in helping dairy grazers manage pasture quality and reduce costs. Topics covered include the process by which an SRP can help maximise grass quality according to Pasture to Profit consultant Piers Badnell, the need for cows to get around the grazing block by balance date and the importance of not deviating from the SRP.

The article focuses on the importance of a spring rotation planner (SRP) in helping dairy grazers manage pasture quality and reduce costs. Topics covered include the process by which an SRP can help maximise grass quality according to Pasture to Profit consultant Piers Badnell, the need for cows to get around the grazing block by balance date and the importance of not deviating from the SRP.

The article focuses on the adjustments made at Gelli Aur Farm in Carmarthenshire, Wales to stand firm on its spring grazing rotation. Topics covered include the goal of farm manager John Own in preserving the cost-saving potential of grazed grass, the expected lower residual levels of nitrogen in the soil and the advantages of subdividing the fields with electric fences.

The article presents the views of farmer, Alex Brewster, who produces cattle, sheep and eggs at Rotmell Farm, Dunkeld, Perthshire, on how benchmarking can help to improve a business. He discussed the introduction of 4,000 organic free-range layers, his interest in improving grassland management for cattle and sheep and rotational grazing system.

The article focuses on the views of Simon Bainbridge, owner of an organic farm in Northumberland, England, on livestock management strategies. Topics discussed include scanning of heifers based on their fertility, management of under sown wholecrop, rotational grazing of lambs with red clover fogs and inspection of lambs' feet for foot rot.

The article focuses on health management of housing cattle in Northumberland, England. Topics discussed include calves, growing cattle and heifers to be vaccinated against lungworm, use of a FECPAK worm egg testing kit to conduct the Faecal Egg Counting (FEC) test for lambs, and improving quality and quantity of grass by offering rotational grazing to cattle.

The article discusses farming strategies of farmer Jim Beary in Great Britain, who contract -rears calves, as of September 2015. It states challenges faced by the Glen Farm, owned by Beary like unfavorable winter and lower lamb prices, and mentions that the growth of grass on ranches. It mentions the benefits of adopting rotational grazing and anaerobic digestion strategies and highlights returns obtained from low-cost sheep systems in comparison to dairy or beef farms.

The article discusses the significance of the Low-cost grass-based system developed by Stafford, Staffordshire-based farmer Jim Beary to produce premium-grade lambs. Topics discussed include drought tolerance and mineral content of permanent pasture, benefits of rotational grazing of ewes and lambs to improve grass yields, growth and quality, and implementation of a dairy-style grazing management package.