News - Livestock (60 articles)
This section combines information for livestock producers, including those rearing beef, pigs and sheep. Information includes research results, news, policy, marketing and standards updates. Further information can be obtained from external sites. The Organic Livestock Marketing Co-operative and Graig Producers offer markets for organic livestock producers. Visit the Soil Association for livestock price data and their technical guides on beef, sheep and pigs. The Red Meat Industry Forum provides research and statistics and has recently released a publication on The UK Market for Organic Beef. Further research, advice and prices may be available from Meat and Livestock Commission and its beef and lamb (EBLEX) and pig (BPEX) executive committees.
ORC OPEN DAYS
Added: 25th June 2010
Celebrating 30 years of the Organic Research Centre
The Organic Research Centre is holding two open days on the 16th & 17th of July as part of our 30th Anniversary programme.
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Communicating the organic message
Added: 19th May 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer conference
OF&G initiatives – a certifier’s perspective
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Animal health and welfare planning for livestock producers
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
The session was organised by the UK Partners of ANIPLAN (CORE Organic project 1903, funded in the UK be Defra) Stephen Roderick (Duchy College) and Pip Nicholas (IBERS). ANIPLAN has developed principles of animal health planning that hat should be an ongoing process of dialogue between the farmer and external experts. Pictures illustrated how natural dairy cow behaviour can be hindered by the structure of equipment. By reducing productivity animal health problems also have environmental implications. The importance of the human-animal relationship was highlighted. The discussion highlighted the potential contribution of farmer groups to improve health, such as the Danish "Stable School" approach currently piloted in on organic farms in Devon.
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Feeding livestock from the farm, on-farm feed processing
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
Three presentations and two important messages: At present, the UK is very dependant on imported feedstuffs but it doesn’t have to be this way! Work done at two research sites in UK has demonstrated that it is possible to increase the proportion of home grown protein and that monogastrics can perform well on greater amounts of feed from the farm
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Agroforestry: Integrating trees with crops and livestock
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
Agroforestry: Integrating trees with crops and livestock A lively discussion followed three informative and engaging presentations to a packed audience. Jo Smith (The Organic Research Centre) presented an overview of previous research in this area and Mike Townsend (The Woodland Trust) explained the many and wide-ranging benefits that agroforestry offers. These two presentations were put into context by Stephen Briggs (Abacus Organic and Bluebell Farm), who has recently converted 125 acres of his Cambridgeshire farm into an agroforestry system incorporating 4500 apple trees with combinable crops. This raised questions of the practicalities of tree and fruit management, combinable cropping and policy.
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Sustainable Food Security
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
The discussion on “Sustainable Food Security” was lead by presentations by Niels Halberg who presented a paper titled “Is Organic Farming an unjustified luxury in a world with too many hungry people?” and Lawrence Woodward with a paper titled “Organic Farming and Food Security – A UK Perspective”. Halberg spoke of how an increasing world population and climate change will be a challenge to food security but there is a need for a new production paradigm to integrate natural resource management with food and nutritional security. He suggested that organic (both certified and non-certified) can significantly contribute to this new approach. Woodward raised the questions of why UK governments and policy makers do not see organic farming as being part of the solution and conclude that it was probably due to the focus on yields rather than total productivity. He concluded that organic farming does have a role to play in food security but that the real challenge is shifting the policy debate from more food at any cost. We need to embrace food sovereignty and this will allow us to call for and make fundamental change.
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ORC Producer Conference 2010 proceedings now available online
Added: 1st April 2010
Session summaries & presentations from this years conference
We are pleased to be able to offer content from the 2010 Organic Research Centre's Producer Conference online.
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2010 ORGANIC PRODUCERS’ CONFERENCE
Added: 24th September 2009
CALL FOR PAPERS AND WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS AND WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
7th and 8th January 2010 Harper Adams University, Shropshire, TF10 8NB
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€18 Million EU research confirms organic claims
Added: 8th June 2009
QLIF shows benefits but more work needed
The five-year, €18 million research programme, part-funded by the EU, on the quality of organic and low input foods has come to a close with a conference in Turkey in April 2009 and the publication of summaries of the main results. A huge number of projects completed over 5 years have confirmed much of what organic supporters have been saying about organic food and farming systems but has not been able to supply the definitive answer on health claims that many had hoped for. Some new insights have been gained however and interesting perspectives on how the organic system might be further developed have emerged.
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How can organic grass be greener?
Added: 28th May 2009
Industry debates the future for organic grass seed.
It hasn’t hit the headlines much recently but the issues about the possibility of producing organic grass seed are still rolling on with differing views strongly held. Defra has reiterated that the Regulation requiring 100% organic seed will not be dropped and whilst current derogations allow 35% conventional seed in a grass mixture, progress must continue to be made towards full compliance. There are different views about the desirability and feasibility of this.
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Lead poisoning in livestock
Added: 29th April 2009
Food Standards Agency highlights on-farm problem.
The Food Standards Agency has produced a leaflet as a part of its strategic aim to reduce food safety incidents.
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Are Factory Farms Breeding Grounds of Swine Flu ?
Added: 28th April 2009
Mexican pig producers deny being source of deadly flu.
Producers say all their animals are healthy, and that it is scientifically "not possible" for hogs to infect people with the illness.
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Eye on the market: Livestock, dairy and eggs
Added: 15th April 2009
Latest prices from the Soil Association - Feb/March 2009
Prices serve as a guide only - actual prices will depend on volume, availability, quality and supply.
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No change on organic animal feed.
Added: 24th March 2009
Soil Association Standards Board
Soil Association decides against change in current economic climate.
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Action on antibiotic use in farming
Added: 24th March 2009
Soil Association has repeated its call to Government
The Soil Association urges the Government to step in and take action to reduce the use of antibiotics in UK farming.
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Organic Beef Production in Scotland Increases
Added: 27th February 2009
Production of organic beef & grain increase
Scottish production of finished organic beef and organic grain increased during 2008-09 but the production of prime organic lamb is static.
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Organic Livestock Products
Added: 11th February 2009
Market for organic livestock products better than expected?
New analysis shows that organics sales could be holding up better than thought.
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Update on Bluetongue
Added: 26th January 2009
Leave it to market forces?
Defra decides on free market approach to vaccination.
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The Organic Research Centre Producer Conference
Added: 22nd January 2009
Proceedings, slides and notes from the January conference
Conference Proceedings
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New cash for threatened English bees
Added: 22nd January 2009
Boost for National Bee Unit
Defra pledges over £2m for research into bee health.
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New Organic Health and Welfare Site
Added: 21st January 2009
A new version of the Compendium of Animal Health and Welfare
Latest update available now.
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Suckling systems improve natural living
Added: 19th January 2009
Organic farmers achieve higher weaning weights
Organic farmers who successfully implemented suckling systems in calf rearing achieved higher weaning weights and more natural behaviour of calves.
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Herbs moderate roundworm infections in pigs
Added: 19th January 2009
Diet of herbs found to reduce roundworm
A mixture of Thyme, Melissa and Purple Coneflower, all at 1 percent, in the diet reduces the number of roundworms in growing and finishing pigs.
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Organic Movement or Market?
Added: 16th January 2009
Organic farmers and producers in hot debate
Lively discussions at the recent Organic Research Centre Producer Conference.
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Let them eat organic
Added: 8th December 2008
Organic livestock should be reared on proper organic food
Recent dioxin scare in Irish pig rations highlights dangers of diluting organic feed standards.
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Facing the future
Added: 5th November 2008
Report from the Welsh Organic Producer’s conference
Thursday 23 October 2008, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells
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An end to organic bacon?
Added: 3rd October 2008
Unified response needed on nitrate and nitrite use
OF & G calls for the organic sector to respond to proposals which could end organic pork sales.
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Welsh organic gathering
Added: 3rd October 2008
Welsh Organic Prod Conference Oct 2008
This year's Organic Centre Wales conference is entitled 'Preparing for a challenging future'
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Zero greenhouse gas farming
Added: 3rd October 2008
New alliance works to trim emissions.
Route to zero greenhouse gas emissions being pursued.
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Call to Defra to save bees
Added: 1st October 2008
Ban dangerous insecticides now says Soil Association
Organic sector body calls for ban.
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Compulsory Bluetongue jabs for Scotland
Added: 17th September 2008
November start date for Scottish cattle and sheep protection
Winter launch of vaccination for cattle and sheep protection north of the border
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Animal Health Plans
Added: 5th September 2008
A series of case studies on animal health plans
Information on animal health plans from Organic Centre Wales.
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Ups and downs of UK organic market
Added: 1st September 2008
Retail analysts say UK organic market down by 20 per cent
Soil Association disagrees.
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New organic livestock marketing scheme
Added: 21st July 2008
A new scheme in northern England to improve livestock market
The scheme aims to bring increased stability and minimise the number of organically-reared animals sold at conventional prices.
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Bluetongue – an update
Added: 15th July 2008
Defra extends the protection zone for Bluetongue
Protection zone will cover England as far north as North Yorkshire and west to the west Midlands and Staffordshire.
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Vaccination route for TB control
Added: 8th July 2008
Defra opts for TB vaccination over badger culling
Vaccination the preferred option.
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Organic pigs breed more bad bugs says US study
Added: 25th June 2008
Study shows organic pigs likely have traces of infection.
New US study says that organic and outdoor reared pigs are more likely to contain traces of infection than those raised conventionally.
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BSE risk for UK downgraded
Added: 18th June 2008
The World Organisation for Animal Health re-classifies UK
The UK can be classified “Controlled risk” for BSE.
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Taking the pulse of organic animal health
Added: 10th June 2008
What is the organic way forward on TB in cattle?
Is vaccination an acceptable organic tool? What is positive health?
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Making more use of research
Added: 2nd June 2008
Research information more accessible for farmers & growers
Mark Measures, Director of the Institute of Organic Training and Advice summarises the improved access to research information for farmers and advisers.
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The costs of organic production
Added: 7th May 2008
Welsh organic farmers get similar returns to conventionals
Organic farmers in Wales are achieving similar returns for their milk, lamb and beef despite lower yields than conventional farmers.
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Welsh organic sector growth
Added: 2nd May 2008
Growth of organically managed land in Wales set to continue
Results from a producer survey by Organic Centre Wales.
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OCIS: free advice for organic conversion
Added: 2nd May 2008
Service HELPLINE number 0800 980 0048
Free advice for farmers and growers thinking of converting to organic production.
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Defra announces release of Bluetongue vaccine
Added: 30th April 2008
The first batch of Bluetongue vaccine, ordered from Intervet
The first batch of vaccine is ready for distribution to the Protection Zones in England.
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UK combinable protein crop production
Added: 14th April 2008
PACARes research review
The Review summarises knowledge and observational experience of combinable protein crop production in organic farming systems.
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UK Bluetongue Vaccination Strategy published
Added: 4th April 2008
Defra has released plans for BTV-8 vaccine delivery
Defra has released details of its plans for the delivery of the Bluetongue BTV-8 vaccine to livestock farmers across England.
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Free organic conversion advice launched
Added: 26th March 2008
Defra launches free information and advice service
The new Defra service will provide free information and advice for English farmers considering organic conversion.
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Foot and Mouth Disease 2007, Review
Added: 12th March 2008
A review of the handling of Surrey foot and mouth outbreak
A review into the Government’s handling of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in Surrey last year was published 11th March.
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Producer Groups
Added: 10th March 2008
Newsletter asks why farmers need organic producer groups
The Northern Organic Newsletter asks why farmers should bother with organic producer groups.
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Machinery rings
Added: 10th March 2008
Newsletter outlines the benefits of machinery rings
The latest edition of the Northern Organic Newsletter highlights the work of the Machinery ring Association of England and Wales.
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UK Bluetongue vaccination plan published
Added: 20th February 2008
Bluetongue vaccination plan developed
A vaccination plan has been developed, but the vaccine cost and continued risk of imported infected stock are still concerns for farmers.
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Badgers at the centre of the TB debate
Added: 19th February 2008
Report that infected badgers cause bovine TB raises debate
Following the release of a report concluding that infected badgers are the main cause of bovine TB, the debate over badger culls is raised again.
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Doing it right, Doing it better - proceedings
Added: 8th February 2008
The Organic Research Centre's 2nd Producer Conference
Proceedings from the conference, hosted in collaboration with Organic Inform, are now available online.
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Irony of UN statistics
Added: 31st January 2008
UN's 18% figure for livestock sector emissions
Using the accepted figure of 18% as the amount of emissions produced by the livestock sector may lead to more industrialised farming.
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Shortages jeopardise organic sector
Added: 25th January 2008
Report from Mintel on demand for organic food
Marketing analysts Mintel suggests that the increased popularity of organic food be its downfall.
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Organic Inform Newsletter
Added: 25th January 2008
Monthly Organic Inform newsletter with latest news & events
Each month, Organic Inform puts together a newsletter with the latest news and events. Register to ensure you receive your copy.
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Meat sector to develop male dairy calf market
Added: 25th January 2008
Outlets for male dairy calves encouraged
The development of economically viable outlets for the domestic rearing and finishing of male dairy calves is to be encouraged by market stakeholders.
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Bluetongue: Commission to co-fund vaccination
Added: 16th January 2008
Experts met to discuss bluetongue issues
At a conference hosted by the European Commission in Brussels today, over 350 experts met to discuss the best ways of tackling bluetongue.
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Viability of UK organic beef production
Added: 7th January 2008
Soil Assoc report shows danger to organic beef development
The report shows why the security and development of organic beef production is being endangered.
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Welsh Organic Meat Market Review
Added: 13th August 2007
Organic Centre Wales’ review of the Welsh Organic Meat Secto
Organic Centre Wales’ review of the Welsh Organic Meat Sector is released
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