Livestock
Bovine TB: What Happens When Your Herd Goes Down
When a herd has a bovine TB breakdown, it is put under movement restrictions and loses its officially TB free (OTF) status. Reactors are isolated, valued and…
From the fields and beyond
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Stories, practical guides and a working farmer’s view.
Livestock
Liver Fluke in Sheep and Cattle: Autumn–Winter 2026 Risk, Signs and Treatment
Published 17 October 2026 · Updated 17 October 2026 · By Tim Harfield Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) is a parasitic flatworm that sheep and cattle pick up…
Livestock
Valais Blacknose Sheep: UK Breed Guide, Lambs, Fleece and Care
Valais Blacknose sheep explained: Swiss origin, UK imports since 2014, markings, twice-yearly shearing, lambing and what to check when buying lambs.
Livestock
Dexter Cattle: Breed Guide to Britain’s Smallest Cow
Dexter cattle explained: Irish origins, size, short-legged and non-short types, beef and milk, the bulldog gene and what to check before you buy.
Livestock
Herdwick Sheep: Breed Guide to the Lake District’s Fell Sheep
Herdwick sheep explained: Lake District origins, hefting, fleece that greys with age, Beatrix Potter, Lakeland Herdwick PDO meat and 2001 foot and mouth.
Livestock
UK Sheep Breeds: A to Z Guide to British Sheep and How They Fit Together
UK sheep breeds explained: hill, crossing and terminal sire breeds, how the stratified system produces the Mule, which breeds are most common, rare breeds.
Livestock
Limousin Cattle: UK Breed Profile for Beef Farmers
Limousin cattle explained: French origins, arrival in the UK in 1971, size and colour, carcase and calving traits, temperament, pros, cons and buying tips.
Livestock
Aberdeen Angus Cattle: UK Breed Profile and Buying Guide
Aberdeen Angus cattle explained: Scottish origins, polled black and red cattle, maternal traits, beef-on-dairy role, Sire Verification and buying tips.
Livestock
Jersey Cattle: Breed Guide to the UK’s Rich-Milk Dairy Cow
Jersey cattle explained: where the breed comes from, size, milk yield and butterfat, the pros and cons of Jersey cows, and what to watch at calving.
Livestock
Highland Cattle: Breed Guide to the UK’s Shaggy Hill Cow
Highland cattle explained: where the breed comes from, size, coat and horns, why a herd is called a fold, calving, beef and what to know before you…
Industry
Straw Prices 2026: Wheat Straw £74/t as Bedding Gets Cheaper
Wheat straw is averaging £74/t ex-farm, £7 down on last year, after English wheat straw production rose 24% to 3.2m tonnes. What it means for buyers and…
Livestock
Tamworth Pigs: Breed Guide to Britain’s Ginger Rare Breed
Tamworth pigs explained: Midlands origin, ginger coat, RBST priority status, woodland rearing, pork and bacon, and the rules before you buy piglets.
