Publications

Take a closer look at cryptosporidiosis, the leading cause of diarrhoea in newborn and pre-weaned calves. We explore the disease, its symptoms and the key risk factors on farm, highlighting practical areas where management changes may help reduce the number of cases.

As drought conditions become more frequent and unpredictable across the UK, water security is rising up the agenda for farmers. Ensuring access to reliable water supplies is becoming increasingly important, not only for maintaining crop yields and livestock welfare, but also for safeguarding the long-term sustainability and resilience of agricultural businesses in the face of climate change.

This Dairy Insight publication explores the importance of analysing silage, when and how to take a sample, and how to interpret your analysis results.

This Dairy Insight focuses on the best practice use of boot dips for effective biosecurity for animal health and business resilience.

This dairy insight lifts the lid on the latest research from across the globe on colostrum feeding to help you reduce disease risk and get calves on track for good early-life growth.

Plants capable of causing poisoning in cattle are present on many farms and often go unnoticed until stock are affected. Identifying plant poisoning can be challenging, as clinical signs are frequently non?specific or not immediately obvious, and the plants responsible may no longer be visible by the time symptoms appear. Evidence of grazing on toxic plants is often hard to spot and easily overlooked, particularly along tracks, field margins, or in hedgerows. One notable exception is photosensitisation, a condition caused by ingestion of certain phototoxic plants; over 250 such species are recognised worldwide, with several found in the UK. In this Dairy Insight, we explore the plants toxic to cattle, focusing on how to identify them and reduce risk by removing them from grazing areas and farm tracks before incidents occur, because prevention is always better than cure.

This issue explores how factors such as nutrition, health, stress and housing can influence gene expression throughout a cow's life. It explains why early?life management has long?lasting effects on resilience, fertility and milk production, and how practical changes on farm can unlock more of each animal's genetic potential.

Pathogens causing disease in calves are ever-present in the environment, so while eradication is impossible, reducing exposure is essential. Ultimately, whether a calf thrives or succumbs to illness depends on the balance between immunity and challenge. The aim should be to boost a calf's immunity (ability to resist disease), whilst also lowering the disease challenge in the environment.

In a world of tight margins, optimising herd health and performance is crucial for profitability. While feeding a balanced diet is the cornerstone of any good nutritional plan, there are critical periods in a cow's life cycle when she can benefit from a targeted, injectable trace mineral top-up. This is where MultiminTM, a unique four-in-one trace mineral injection, comes in.

This Research Insight explores the roles of prebiotics and probiotics, explaining how they function and highlighting findings from scientific studies conducted around the world. It offers practical, evidence-based benefits that these supplements can bring to your livestock.

Lung Scanning is rapidly gaining recognition as an innovative and sustainable tool in calf health management, aiding early detection of respiratory issues, enhancing animal welfare and reducing long term veterinary costs for farmers rearing youngstock. This Dairy Insight explores the scientific principles behind lung scanning technology. Highlighting the benefits for livestock health and examining its evolving role in the future of farm management.

This Dairy Insight explores the increased threat of vector-borne diseases to cattle and farming operations. It outlines the potential impact of various diseases and emphasises the importance of implementing effective preventive measures.