Publications

Flooring in and around cattle housing, collecting yards and parlours needs to be durable, hygienic and cost effective. Providing ease of cleaning, good slip resistance, and encourage good locomotion. Concrete is the most common material, meaning that cows spend much of their time standing and walking on concrete surfaces. In this Dairy Insight we explore the issues with concrete flooring and take a closer look at the benefits of good concrete grooving to improve claw health and cow behaviour.

So, you want to educate young people about farming? Many farmers recognise the value of educating young people about where their food comes from, but taking it to the next level and actually working with school children can often be a daunting prospect. Yet, it doesn't need to be. There are a host of schemes available that don't necessarily involve physically having young people on farm. The key is to find what works for you and access the free advice and support available to ensure any involvement is well planned, safe, educational and fun. This Dairy Insight provides guidance on educating young people, explores available options, and highlights key considerations to help you make the most of your farm education efforts.

As our climate continues to change, the UK is experiencing more frequent and intense periods of warm weather, a trend that is increasing the risk of heat stress in dairy cows. Shifts in seasonal patterns, higher average temperatures, and prolonged dry spells are becoming a more frequent reality for British dairy farmers.In this Dairy Insight we take a closer look at what causes heat stress in cows, how it affects their health and productivity, and most importantly, what practical steps you can take on your farm to reduce the impact and protect your herd.

A shocking 50.2% of cows leaving the herd do so in their first 3 lactations! With most heifers only paying back their rearing costs in their second or third lactation, this represents a huge waste of money, potential and lost income. And that's without recognising the detrimental impact it has on the public's perception of the dairy industry. Poor longevity will also increase the need for more replacements to be kept in the pipeline, adding to the farm's carbon footprint by having a higher proportion of unproductive animals.

Agriculture is one of the deadliest sectors to work in – with farm workers more than 20 times more likely to be killed on the job than the average for all other industries. The latest HSE figures report 23 farm fatalities from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 – a stark reminder to prioritise safety on every farm. Let's work together to make yours as safe as possible.

Soil is the foundation of any farm and investing time in understanding how healthy your soil is will always pay dividends. This Dairy Insight explores the soil health checks that can be easily carried out on farm.

Regardless of system type or grazing aims, with the right mentality it is possible to graze cows whilst milking through robots. In doing so, farmers could realise the benefits of a high-tech system, lower costs by getting more from grazed grass, and benefit cow performance and welfare. The key is to put the right infrastructure in place and focus on grass quality to drive robot visits. This Dairy Insight explores the potential benefits of rethinking your perspective on robots. We discuss the steps involved in adapting your farming system to accommodate grazing alongside an automatic milking system (AMS), outline some possible grazing systems suitable for AMS, and highlight key considerations before initiating your transition to grazing with robots.

Changes to inheritance tax (IHT) from April 2026 have brought succession planning to the fore, underlining the importance of open family discussions and retirement planning. Failure to tackle these issues head on will bring far greater financial repercussions than ever before.

Each year, the UK generates 83 million tonnes of livestock waste, with cattle accounting for 80% of this total. Of that, 47% is slurry – meaning farmers must manage over 32 million tonnes of cattle slurry annually. It's important to recognise that slurry is not a naturally occurring product. At grazing, cattle produce separate manure and urine, and it is only when these mix, they contribute to significant environmental challenges, including methane, ammonia, and hydrogen sulphide emissions.

There are several vitamins which are essential for dairy cows. The requirements vary according to the stage of lactation and, because cattle do not synthesise these vitamins in sufficient quantities, we must ensure that the ration provides them; this often means that supplementation will be necessary.

Maize can be a very valuable and productive crop, however, are you creating unnecessary environmental risks at maize harvest or consistently not hitting yield targets? If so, it's time to make some changes. Take the time to review and improve your growing strategy or question whether alternative crops may be better suited to your farm.

Producing good quality forage is key to the profitability of livestock production systems. Preserving forage for later use is expensive and losses can occur at every stage, from field to the time that it is fed. Some are unavoidable, whist others can be reduced by good management. Minimising the losses in nutritional value through good silage making practice will not only save money and produce cheaper milk but also help to maintain the health of your livestock. This is the fifth publication in the 'Milk from Forage' Dairy Insight series, focusing on producing the highest quality grass silage.