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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

With longer dry spells becoming a regular feature of the UK climate, (watch it rain now and not stop) we are having to rethink how to grow, manage and conserve forage.

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?

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.

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.