Livestock
Holstein Friesian Cattle: UK Dairy Breed Profile
Holstein Friesian cows explained: Holstein vs Friesian, history in the UK, size, breeding, bull calves, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy.
From the fields and beyond
The journal.
Stories, practical guides and a working farmer’s view.
Livestock
UK Cattle Breeds A to Z: Beef, Dairy and Rare Breeds
UK cattle breeds A to Z: native vs continental, the main beef and dairy breeds, dual-purpose and rare breeds, and 46 breeds you will meet on UK…
Livestock
Belted Galloway Cattle: Breed Guide to the Beltie
Belted Galloway cattle explained: origins, the belt rules, size, temperament, beef, conservation grazing, alpha mannosidosis testing and buying tips.
Livestock
Belgian Blue Cattle: The Double-Muscled Breed and the British Blue Cross
Belgian Blue cattle explained: double muscling and the myostatin gene, size and colours, calving and caesareans, and why the British Blue is used so widely on.
Livestock
Texel Sheep: Breed Guide to the UK’s Leading Terminal Sire
Texel sheep explained: Dutch origin, UK imports from 1970, muscling and carcass, Texel rams as terminal sires, lambing ease and what to check when buying.
Livestock
Fattening Pigs: A UK Guide from Weaner to Finisher
Fattening pigs in the UK: weaner to finisher growth, pork and bacon weights, feeding rules, space, ear tags, eAML2 movements and getting pigs to slaughter.
Livestock
Cattle Diseases in the UK: Signs, What You Must Report and When to Call
How to spot the notifiable cattle diseases, who to call if you suspect one, and the signs of BVD, IBR, Johne's, mastitis, calf scours and pneumonia.
Grants
FETF 2026 Grant List: What the 287 Items Paid, by Group
What the 287 FETF 2026 items paid, by group, plus the 20 January 2027 claim deadline and the evidence RPA wants. Checked against GOV.UK on 7 October…
Livestock
Hay, Straw, Haylage and Silage: Bale Weights Table, Bales per Acre, Making and Storage
Hay, haylage and silage explained: dry matter, how each is made, hay bale and round bale weights, stacking, fire risk and silage storage rules.
Livestock
Cattle Breeding Guide: Heifers, Heat Detection, AI and Bulls
A practical UK guide to breeding cattle: bulling heifer targets, heat detection, AI or the bull, bull fertility tests, calving interval and sexed semen.
Livestock
Worming Treatment for Sheep and Cattle: Wormer Groups and Resistance
Worming sheep and cattle: the main worms and fluke, the five wormer groups, faecal egg counts, resistance, quarantine treatment and dosing correctly.
Grants
CAHL2 Winter Bird Food: SFI26 Payment, Rules and Seed Mixes
CAHL2 winter bird food in SFI26: £648/ha a year, the 6-crop seed mix rule, banned crops, sowing deadlines, the 25% limit and the AHW2 supplement.
