As a placement student from Harper Adams, I am fortunate to go out on farm with specialists and disappear into the background despite my size!

With recent discussions around dry cow management gaining momentum, it’s important to address the ongoing unavailability of Kexxtone and how this impacts transition cow strategies on farm.

Trillions of microbes. One fragile peace. The battle for balance begins.

When the temperature climbs, it’s not just us feeling the heat laying hens can really struggle too. Hot weather knocks their feed intake, stresses them out, and often hits egg production. With summers getting hotter and heatwaves now a regular feature, it’s worth getting ahead of the game. Here are six straightforward ways to help your birds stay healthy and productive through the warmer spells.

Most dairy farmers know how hard it is to keep cows performing well while trying to cut emissions and manage costs. Feed efficiency, milk quality and sustainability all matter, but so does keeping things practical and workable on farm.

With Kexxtone™ boluses no longer available, transition cow management is facing renewed scrutiny. For many, particularly those managing high-risk or high-yielding herds, the question is: how do we continue to support energy balance and rumen function in the final weeks before calving without relying on monensin?

The CMC Question Time event in Exeter—an important and informative session. Among the many important discussions, the topic of recruitment and retaining farm staff particularly stood out, especially as it’s something I’ve been involved with for over a decade through my work in agricultural apprenticeships.

Farming in the UK has always been a blend of hard graft and tradition but always an early embracer of tech. These days, though, it seems like technology is joining the tractor as a staple on the farm.

Undoubtedly, Avian Influenza (AI) is the biggest challenge facing our industry, and due to its indiscriminate nature, it feels like a lottery as to where it will crop up next. I think everyone would agree that there is so much about AI and its transmission that we don’t understand, especially how it gets into units when we know biosecurity is strong. Whilst it would be impossible to eliminate the risk of AI, what can we do to reduce the risk?

Of all the trace minerals likely to spark interest at a dairy nutrition meeting, chromium probably wasn’t top of the list—until now.

Rumen Balance: The Key to Sustainable Production. Can yeasts, essential oils and buffers be part of this?

Keeping laying hens healthy and productive is crucial for ensuring good egg quality and maintaining profitable flocks. Among the most effective natural options for supporting bird health are prebiotics and probiotics. These feed additives play a key role in promoting gut health, boosting nutrient uptake, and improving overall performance, all without the need for antibiotics.

So, eight months into my first new job in 32 years, how’s it going? It’s a great question and one I’ve been asking myself as I reflect on 2025 so far.

It’s been a funny old summer for grass. The dry spell earlier on knocked growth back hard, and when the rain finally came, it brought plenty of leafy grass but not much substance to it.

Not long ago, dairy herd management relied mostly on stockmanship, a good eye, strong memory, and years of experience. That still counts, but technology is quietly transforming how decisions are made on farm.

Creep feeding lambs offers significant benefits, particularly for early finishing systems or where forage quality is suboptimal. However, its viability depends on a clear understanding of costs and potential returns.

The 3 weeks before and after calving are arguably the most important in the Dairy Cows calendar. Getting everything right is critical for the cow’s health, fertility, and milk yield. Often referred to as the “transition period” (−21 to +21 days around calving), poorly managed nutrition during this window can directly influence many aspects of cow's health and performance, impacting on future production and calf health.

For those who don’t follow our social media pages, or may have missed it, don’t forget you can listen to the CMC Podcast — where the Crediton Milling team chats all things farming, feed and livestock.

Applied nitrogen from fertiliser, slurry, FYM, biological fixation and purchased feed often exceeds what is actually utilised by crops. That gap, known as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), is the key to understanding both lost value and environmental impact.

As daylight hours shorten, lighting becomes one of the most powerful tools in flock management. When handled well, it keeps egg output steady, supports shell quality, and helps maintain calm, stable behaviour.