News

Most in the sheep sector have heard of Whiteley Hey, best known for their annual production sale now impressively in its 22nd year. Here’s how they got there and what they are doing to stay at the top.

Everyone is facing the problem of key input costs rising therefore accurate use of feed, in quality and quantity, is essential to ensure the ewe is in good condition, the ewe produces milk once their lambs are born and that those lambs thrive when in the first days of their life. All of that comes down to the correct feed rationing and nutrition.

As 2022 draws to a close, Jimmy Goldie chief technical officer at Carr’s Billington, reviews the biggest issues which have caused challenges for farmers in the last year and suggests which challenges are likely to crop up again in 2023.

Excerpt: Jimmy Goldie, Chief Technical Officer for Carr’s Billington, reports on 2022 grass and silage trends and what to do now, for next year.

Maximising meat yield and optimal fat cover for finishing beef cattle is all about providing sufficient energy and starch. But this needs to be achieved without upsetting rumen stability. This means finishing rations must be balanced and fed correctly to prevent issues such as acidosis occurring.

Over the last decade, studies have increased our awareness and understanding of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome but there is still much to learn. We know there are two distinct diseases which affect different areas of the stomach: Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD). Whilst a recognised aetiology and recommended management regimes exist for ESGD, less is known about EGGD.

A national housing order will be introduced across England on Monday 7 November making it a legal requirement to house flocks

The Billington Group has completed the purchase of Carr’s Billington Agriculture Ltd (CBAL) from Carr’s Group PLC, now becoming the sole owner of the business.

Following an increase in the number of detections of avian influenza (bird flu) in wild birds and on commercial premises, the Chief Veterinary Officers from England, Scotland and Wales have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Great Britain to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and captive birds.

2022 is no exception to the rule that with grass silage, comes a huge variation in quality. This year we’re seeing a split between farmers who cut earlier in the season by maintaining fertiliser inputs along with their optimal cutting date, and farmers who have chosen to reduce fertiliser input and aim for fewer and bulker cuts.