Strong winter grass growth followed by a wet start to the year has made it tricky to get dairy herds out for grazing.



AHDB Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager Jamie McCoy explores ways to make the most of the conditions by heading to a farm in Wales as well as catching up with pasture to profit consultant Piers Badnell.



Useful links

Benefits of on/off grazing cows in autumn | AHDB

Forage for Knowledge end of year review – 2023 | AHDB

Content related to the topic: grassland-management | AHDB



Feedback

We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 

429: AHDB Dairy: Managing an early turnout in a wet spring

Our Food & Farming podcast is for levy payers and those in the food supply chain – bringing together key players in the agriculture industry to talk about the things which really matter.

You’ll hear from farmers, special guests and AHDB specialists sharing their experiences and opinions. Join our conversations about technical information, data, market intelligence, exports and updates on our multimillion consumer marketing campaigns and of course, the latest news on farming issues that impact your business.

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Lifting the lid on the world of dairy genomics is AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager Alan McFadzean.



Alan's joined by strategic dairy farmer John Bailey and veterinary surgeon Dr Neil Eastham to find out what they have achieved by embracing tools like the Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI).



Useful links

Dairy breeding and genetics | AHDB

Breeding indexes and traits | AHDB

Profitable Lifetime Index £PLI | AHDB



Feedback

We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 

435: Using genomics to improve dairy herds

Using genetics, rather than selecting animals purely on their visual characteristics, is likely to lead to a more productive and profitable suckler herd. So why do so few beef farmers use them?



AHDB's Beef and Lamb team caught up with our Lead Animal Genetics Expert, Harriet Bunning, and suckler farmer James Dixon to discuss what factors should be considered when choosing your best breeding animals.



Useful links

Maternal Matters: Using EBVs and Indexes for selection in the suckler herd | AHDB

Choosing bulls for Better Returns | AHDB

National beef evaluations | AHDB



Feedback

We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 

434: Genetics: The suckler industry's missed opportunity

Using clover can give your farm an environmental boost, but where do you start? 



AHDB's Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager, Stephen West, has been to see dairy farmer Wil Armitage who uses clover as part of his organic system at Keythorpe Lakes Farm in Leicestershire.



Useful links

Curious about clover? | AHDB

Establishing and growing clover | AHDB

AHDB Food & Farming / Cultivating clover: Practical farming advice (audioboom.com)



Feedback

We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 

433: Clover and emissions: Learnings from the organic sector

Work to find a vaccine for the BTV-3 strain of bluetongue continues after cases were confirmed in cows and sheep in England.



Veterinary vaccine consultant Professor Andy Peters, Dr Carrie Batten from The Pirbright Institute, and AHDB's Head of Animal Health and Welfare, Dr Mandy Nevel, join host John Bates to discuss how much progress has been made.



Useful links

Bluetongue virus | AHDB

Bluetongue virus technical webinars | AHDB

The Pirbright Institute | Preventing and controlling viral diseases



Feedback

We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 








432: Bluetongue: When will a BTV-3 vaccine be found?

It's one thing to talk about improving ecosystems while maintaining productivity on farm, but how can you actually achieve it?



As part of AHDB's Roots to Resilience programme, our Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager for Beef and Lamb, Amy Hughes, caught up with three farmers who have already put the theory into practice.



Useful links

Ian's journey: https://youtu.be/FD4MNYt29-Y

Silas' journey: https://youtu.be/KN3KFGPE1Dg

 Emily's journey: https://youtu.be/nQHCY_Xd6Rk 

AHDB Food & Farming / Food production and the ecosystem (audioboom.com)

Roots to Resilience | AHDB



Feedback

We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 

429: AHDB Dairy: Managing an early turnout in a wet spring

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