Publications

The ability to see short and long-term cash flow challenges and plan for them, whilst also establishing the financial impact of any potential management changes, makes farm budgeting an essential tool. Add to that, the recent gargantuan swings in milk price and input costs, and business budgeting has arguably never been more important. This Dairy Insight explores many of the budgeting tools available to you, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.

Cattle health schemes are designed to help farms monitor and eliminate the six most important endemic diseases, which are prevalent in the UK and are costing many thousands of pounds on individual farms. There are several licensed schemes available, and these are regulated and overseen by the Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS). This Dairy Insight explores the benefits of health schemes to monitor and eliminate diseases on your farm.

Have you ever considered the impact of forage quality or compound feed on the overall carbon footprint per kg FPCM (Fat and Protein Corrected Milk)? It may be larger than you first thought and the effects on footprint can be almost immediate, so this is one area to review straight away in order to quickly decrease your carbon footprint per kg FPCM. This Dairy Insight explores how you might achieve this.

Get the ambient environment right in a calf building and you'll be rewarded with healthy, well-grown animals. Get it wrong, and you could be facing an uphill battle. That's why it's essential that all buildings – new or existing – are set up to provide calves with a dry, clean environment with plenty of fresh air, but no draughts. This Dairy Insight explores the ambient environment of calf buildings and how you'll be rewarded with healthy, well-grown animals, setting them up for their life in the dairy herd.

In the UK, agriculture is responsible for an estimated 11% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, 58% of which comes from methane. Enteric fermentation from ruminant livestock is the most significant source of these methane emissions. The use of methane inhibitors in the ration can also have a significant impact on methane production. This Research Insight explores a field study conducted by Mootral in collaboration with Kingshay, to explore the impact of feeding Mootral Ruminant on commercial dairy farms.

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) has been recognised for over 50 years as a pathogen in cattle. It is associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and joint ill in calves, and mastitis and arthritis in adult cattle. The costs to the UK dairy industry are unknown, however farms costs can be significant in the form of reduced growth rates, reduced milk production, cattle deaths and veterinary costs. Recently the disease has become more widely diagnosed. This insight publication explores the M. bovis bacteria, modes of transmission as well as treatment and prevention.

Soils are arguably the most valuable resource on farm – but often taken for granted. Without healthy soils farming is neither profitable nor sustainable. Healthy soils combined with sound forage/crop management are essential in all livestock production systems. By prioritising soil health and implementing appropriate soil management practices, dairy farmers can ensure the long-term productivity and sustainability of their operations while safeguarding the environment.

Dung beetles could be saving the UK cattle industry around £367 million per year and protecting them on your farm could save you another £4.36 per cow. This insight explores why dung beetles are in decline, how to survey for them and how to increase dung beetles on your grassland.

(Pronounced "yo-knees" or in some regions of the UK – John's) Johne's disease or JD is a chronic enteritis of cattle (and sheep) caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis or MAP. The bacteria infect the lining of the intestines and reduce its capacity to absorb fluid and nutrients. The main clinical signs of JD are progressive weight loss and chronic green bubbly diarrhoea. Due to regular screening and culling of MAP infected cattle, clinical Johne's disease is rarely seen on farm. This Insight publication looks at the spread of Johne's on farm and what measures can be introduced to reduce or eliminate the risks.

According to data released by the UK government in April 2023, 48% of bird species have shown a decline in the five years between 2015 and 2020. Currently the 2021 index is running at 12% below its 1970 value. Farmers can play a crucial role in helping to improve species loss by implementing various practices […]

Johne's disease costs farmers up to 50% of their annual net profits and the estimated 10-year average annual losses totalling £25.5 million in the UK and 364.31 million euros across losses in the EU. Johne's disease is also the disease which causes the highest GHG emissions in cattle. This Research Insight explores how microRNA Biomarkers […]

Slurries and farm yard manures represent a hugely valuable and often under utilised resource on many dairy farms. Understanding their nutrient values could help reduce reliance on bought in fertiliser and save money.