Written by Jim Breen

Monday, October 1, saw the latest monthly Cambridge Machinery Sales auction take place at Cheffins Auctioneers’ sale grounds in Sutton, Cambridge.

This report focuses on the relatively modern Massey Ferguson tractors present; we look at a segment of what was on offer.

Tim Scrivener was there for AgriLand to take these photographs and to note the key prices. All of the pictures in this report are from Monday’s auction.



All (hammer) prices are subject to a ‘buyer’s premium’ of 2%.

Prices are also subject to VAT at the local rate (i.e. VAT must be added to all of the hammer/sale prices in the captions below).

Any statement of recorded hours may simply be a reflection of what’s visible on the tractor’s odometer or, if that’s not available, what’s claimed in the auction catalogue.


Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to open up a full-size image; once opened you can scroll sideways to see the next picture. Refer to each caption to see details of each lot, including the hammer price....

Written by Jim Breen

Monday, October 1, saw the latest monthly Cambridge Machinery Sales auction take place at Cheffins Auctioneers’ sale grounds in Sutton, Cambridge.

This report focuses on the Ford / New Holland tractors present; we look at a segment of what was on offer.



Tim Scrivener was there for AgriLand to take these photographs and to note the key prices. All of the pictures in this report are from Monday’s auction.

All (hammer) prices are subject to a ‘buyer’s premium’ of 2%.

Prices are also subject to VAT at the local rate (i.e. VAT must be added to all of the hammer/sale prices in the captions below).

Any statement of recorded hours may simply be a reflection of what’s visible on the tractor’s odometer or, if that’s not available, what’s claimed in the auction catalogue.


Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to open up a full-size image; once opened you can scroll sideways to see the next picture. Refer to each caption to see details of each lot, including the hammer price....

Written by Breifne O'Brien

Brother and sister farming partners Daniel and Claire Howlett of Wicton Farm, Herefordshire, have been awarded the Organic Milk Suppliers’ Cooperative’s (OMSCo’s) Farm of the Year at their annual event.

Having supplied OMSCo for 18 years, the judges commended the family’s innovative approach and determination to establish a sustainable business that could accurately accommodate all the business partner requirements.

The judges were Miles Saunders and Nigel Davies from Promar and Mike Green, editor of British Dairying.

Saunders explained that the panel was thoroughly impressed with the Howlett’s attention to detail, organisation and communication.

“Claire and Daniel have an exceptional eye for detail and have built a profitable and successful business around this, scrutinising every component to allow for continual improvement.”

Farming 280ac near Bromyard in Herefordshire, the farm currently milks 110 cows on an autumn block calving system, producing 8,500L/cow annually.

Milk from forage is currently 3,846L/cow and margin over purchased feed sits at £2,516/cow – up there with some of the top performing farms.

The judges noted that they were particularly impressed by the constant determination to improve and be the absolute best they can be.

The pair implements their day-to-day management decisions based on a detailed...

Written by Agriland Team

Milking 700 cows just outside Ardstraw, Jason Mitchell is the fourth generation of his family to milk cows in Co. Tyrone. Operating a year-round calving and housed system, Jason’s operation is quite unique in that the farm is home to six DeLaval milking robots and a 50-unit rotary parlour.

A total of 1,300ac are farmed. 170ac of maize and 100ac of winter barley – for wholecrop – are grown on the farm each year. Next year, it’s planned to see the introduction of 100ac of barley for combining to provide the farm with grain and straw.

AgriLand recently made the trip up north to find out more and to see why Jason decided to install six DeLaval VMS milking robots earlier this year.

Jason explained: “The new unit has housing for 390 cows with six DeLaval robots, and that started in March.

“We run a 50-point rotary in our existing yard. At present, we’re milking stale cows and mid-lactation cows – approximately 300 cows – on the rotary twice a day.



“We used to milk three times a day here; but since we moved onto the robots, we’ve been able to drop it and get the higher-yielding cows on the robots.

“We are going to put in two...

Written by Breifne O'Brien

An updated resource from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Beef and Lamb, will help farmers find ways to extend straw bedding this winter.

According to AHDB, straw is the most commonly used bedding material and with this summer’s hot and dry weather conditions, the availability of straw has been scarce for many.

Summer 2018 is not the first time there have been concerns over bedding costs or availability, and it’s unlikely to be the last.

Farmers across the country have already been using alternatives and the bedding materials directory has been a valuable resource in understanding the pros and cons of different bedding materials.

AHDB senior knowledge transfer manager for Beef and Lamb, Katie Thorley, said: “This summer has been tough on farming with the prolonged periods of dry and hot weather.

“Farmers will have already started to prepare for the winter and this includes looking at their feed and bedding requirements and reserves.”

“For those concerned about shortfalls, the updated bedding materials directory will give farmers an opportunity to identify alternative bedding materials to straw.”

Bedding has a significant bearing on animal health and welfare. Livestock kept in badly managed housing with poor environmental conditions will not grow well and will be more susceptible to disease.
​

She...

Written by Rachel Martin

A Co. Tyrone family who lost their father in a slurry accident two years ago are preparing to host the second memorial tractor run in aid of charity tomorrow (Saturday, October 20)

52-year-old dairy farmer Alistair Sloss was killed in a slurry accident one day before the closed period was set to begin.

Alistair was overcome by fumes while mixing slurry and fell into a tank at his farm in Coagh.


Alistair Sloss pictured with his wife Roberta and his two eldest daughters

Following the incident, his daughter Rebekah has spoken out about farm safety in a bid to stop other families facing the same.

Alistair’s widow Roberta and the couple’s five children – Jonathan, Rebekah, Sarah, David and Naomi – held the event for the first time last year to mark the first anniversary of Alistair’s death.

The event was well supported with almost 70 tractors turning out. The event raised a total of...

Written by Rachel Martin

World-leading livestock scientists will next month deliver a ‘crash course’ in the latest animal breeding technologies at SRUC.

Delivered by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in collaboration with Agrimetrics, the course, which has been dubbed ‘Vetnomics’, is designed for practising vets, their clients, interested farmers, retailers, genomic services providers and breeding companies.

Dr. Steph Smith, the course organiser, explained that Vetnomics is designed to bring attendees up to speed on the application of genomics by taking them away from their day jobs for as short a time as possible.


The two-day course aims to include:

• A refresher in basic genetics;
• The latest developments in genotyping and sequencing;
• The importance of phenotyping; and
• The best assessment and management of animals based on their genetic merit.

She added: “Vetnomics provides a comprehensive but condensed introduction to genetics and genomics in animal breeding and their use in practice in just two days.”

The course will also feature a practical demonstration by Neogen, a company which offers genomics services worldwide.

Professor Mike Coffey, one of the SRUC livestock experts delivering Vetnomics, said: “The practical application of science is playing an increasingly important role in modern farming.

Genomic technologies can help...​

Written by Rachel Martin

The Aberdeenshire farmer behind the herd where BSE was detected yesterday has spoken of his heartbreak following news the disease was confirmed in a cow on his farm.

Local reports suggest the disease was detected in a five-year-old pedigree Angus cow. However, this is yet to be confirmed by officials.

The case has gathered widespread attention as it marks the first time the disease has been confirmed in Scotland in more than a decade. It also means the country will lose its Negligible Risk status for the BSE.

The owner of the animal said he had been running a closed herd and took “great pride” in keeping high standards on the farm.

In a statement made through NFU Scotland, Thomas Jackson said: “This has been a very difficult time for myself and my wife and we have found the situation personally devastating.

We have built up our closed herd over many years and have always taken great pride in doing all the correct things. To find through the surveillance system in place that one of our cows has BSE has been heartbreaking.
​

“Since this has happened we have been fully cooperating with all the parties involved and will continue to do so as we like everyone want to move forward and clear up this matter.

“The cohorts and offspring of the cow have now been identified and as a purely precautionary measure they will be slaughtered and...

Written by Rachel Martin

British Veterinary Association (BVA) president Simon Doherty has warned of the significant risks a ‘no-deal’ Brexit could bring to the UK’s farming sectors.

Doherty warned crashing out of the EU without a deal would exacerbate current shortages in the veterinary profession and create significant risks for trade; animal health and welfare; and food safety.

The 17,000-strong organisation highlighted the central role of vets in ensuring standards are upheld in animal health and welfare, food safety and public health.

Brexit has raised concerns that there will not be the veterinary capacity to carry out many of these roles – especially with regards to export certification.

In a recent survey of the profession, nearly two-thirds (64%) of vets felt that Brexit was more of a threat than an opportunity for the profession. Nearly nine out of 10 (88%) were concerned about the potential lack of veterinary capacity to undertake certification post-Brexit.

Informed by the technical notices released by the UK Government, the briefing outlines the impacts of the UK leaving the EU on March 29 without a withdrawal agreement in place.

Vet shortages


The veterinary profession is already experiencing labour shortages with recent figures from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) showing that 32% of non-UK EU veterinary...

Written by Rachel Martin

BVD data from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland collated for the first time shows the stark contrast in the disease in Northern Ireland compared to south of the border.

The colour-coded dot map shows that many northern farmers are still choosing to hold on to cattle Persistently Infected with Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD).

Dr. Sam Strain, programme manager of Animal Health and Welfare NI, said staff were “baffled” as to why farmers were choosing to retain infected animals.



He told AgriLand there were typically as many as 950 PI animals in the province at any one time.

“That includes a mixture of recently disclosed PIs and ones which have been retained,” he said.

“Animals which have been kept for more than 35 days after the disease has been disclosed are considered to have been retained.”

Dr. Strain estimated that the retention rate was currently around 60% despite the lack of options for these animals.

“Some farmers seem to think that the abattoir ban will be lifted but the meat processors have all been very supportive and that will not happen any time soon,” he said.

The options are extremely limited for PI cattle in Northern...