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With widespread high rainfall having hit many regions in recent weeks, those spring grazing livestock may be looking at alternative management options.

In a bid to improve animal welfare, leading vets have told farmers that tail docking and castration should be considered as a ‘last, rather than first resort’ resort.

With an eye on the long-term business viability, the farming operation at Beckside Farm, near Millom, Cumbria, has invested heavily in a new 350-cow capacity housing facility and 54-point rotary milking parlour.

Irthingelt Dairy Shorthorns added the breed championship at last year’s Dairy Expo to a respectable line-up of showring titles to date, but they make up only one arm of the farming business.

Charolais bulls topped at 25,000gns twice, with a clearance rate of 79 per cent and averages up 571 on the year at 6,633.

A call of 18,000gns led the Simmental section which averaged 5,039, up 64 on the year, with a clearance rate of 67 per cent.

Salers sold to a high of 8,000gns, to an average of 4,935, up 1,406 on the year, and finished with a clearance rate of 73 per cent for the 16 bulls sold.

Ways to maximise live suckler calves on-farm with a view to upping profits were discussed at a recent SAC and Moredun organised calf health event.

A fresh look at breeding policy has seen Longhorn genetics introduced to the dairy enterprise at Newcastle University Farms, after recent restructuring prompted a change in direction

The reserve senior champion led the Limousin trade at 13,500gns, which finished with an average up 130 on the year at 4,730.34 for 59 animals sold, and a clearance rate of 81 per cent.