Sian Davies, the NFU’s chief dairy adviser, reports on the initial work of a new cross-industry group to address volatility in the dairy sector. Acknowledging that the current situation has left dairy farmers across the UK struggling to see a future in the industry, a number of organisations are working together on initiatives to alleviate risk.

Laura Trott today (Sunday 24 May) claimed victory in this year’s elite women’s Milk Race whilst Kristian House claimed the 1st prize in the elite men’s race. 

Livestock farmers will be able to find out more about robotics by visiting two live demonstrations staged at the Livestock Event, at The NEC, Birmingham on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 July. The award winning live robotic milking and feeding demonstration is returning with 40 cows milked through a Lely Astronaut A4 robotic milking system, whilst the Lely Vector automatic feeding system will ensure they have continual access to a mixed ration in the feed passage.

All farmers will be able to learn how to make more from forage and subsequently cut costs by visiting Livestock Event, at The NEC, Birmingham on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 July. 

A working group of farming organisations has met to assess the current state of the dairy sector and to review areas where they can work collaboratively.

Six dairy units have made it into the final of this year’s NMR/RABDF Gold Cup competition and will be judged by a panel who will visit each of the herds ahead of the winner announcement at the Livestock Event in July.

Mary Mead has been presented with the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers’ Princess Royal Award by Her Royal Highness at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 30 April. The honour was made for her outstanding services to the UK dairy industry.

The Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) is delighted to publish its first ever Guidelines on the Responsible Use of Antimicrobials in Dry Cow Management.