Veterinary officials in the United Kingdom have declared a bird flu prevention zone across England in a bid to prevent the virus spreading. The U.K.’s chief vet, Nigel Gibbens, at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced the measure following the detection of 13 dead wild birds in Warwickshire that tested positive for […] Read more
Stories by Chris McCullough
World’s first bacon without nitrites developed
A Belfast professor welcomes the ability to produce bacon naturally in a process that doesn’t include chemicals
A meat processor in Northern Ireland has developed what he calls the world’s first bacon free of nitrites. Branded as Naked Bacon, the product has been developed by Finnebrogue Artisan from Downpatrick. The company says it has worked with Spanish chemists who have managed to produce bacon that does not include nitrites from vegetables or […] Read more
British pig farm receives record semen order
The farm in Northern Ireland will send frozen boar semen to China and also train Chinese staff in artificial insemination
The United Kingdom’s largest ever order for boar semen is being processed by a Northern Ireland pig farm. Deerpark Pedigree Pigs in Bellaghy, County Londonderry, has secured the order from China, for shipment this month. It is expected more orders will follow. The deal includes frozen boar semen and involves training Chinese staff in artificial […] Read more
Sheep produces five lambs as storm rages
The multiple birth, which is a record for this British farm, occurred during a vicious storm that battered much of Europe
Storm Eleanor may have come and gone, but Jan. 3 will certainly be a memorable occasion for one British farmer. During the early hours of last Wednesday, as a deadly storm raged across Western Europe, Alastair Kerr from Ballymena, Northern Ireland, was out of bed watching over one of his ewes give birth to a […] Read more
Qatar builds a dairy farm in the desert
Dairy business sets up its cow operation after trade disputes with neighbouring countries blocked imports
One farm’s ambition to supply all of the dairy for Qatar’s 2.6 million people is becoming a reality. Baladna Farm, located about 55 kilometres from Qatar’s capital city Doha, has put together a rapid expansion plan to fill the entire country’s demand for milk products by April. While experienced with sheep and goat enterprises, Baladna […] Read more
Farmer develops early warning infection system
A Canadian goat producer designed the scanning system to help detect abnormalities in udders to allow early treatment
Missed udder infections and subsequent missed treatments are costing global dairy farmers a massive $10 billion a year. It is, however, the smaller family dairy farms that are being hit the hardest with the financial burden as udder infection detection rates in these situations can be low. A Canadian company hopes to address the issue […] Read more
Animal welfare, consumer attitudes go hand in hand
Animal welfare must be taken seriously to protect the reputation of the dairy industry. That was the message delegates at the World Dairy Summit held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, were told. At the summit, dairy industry welfare and Brexit were among the major talking points. Animal welfare can be affected by a number of factors […] Read more
Dairy consumers care about themselves, not welfare: vet
An American veterinarian says attitudes by many ‘all-about-me’ consumers only care about getting their food cheap
Dairy farmers and the industry overall were told recently that consumers care more about themselves than animal welfare. Delegates at the World Dairy Summit in Belfast were told Nov. 1 that most consumers couldn’t care less about the condition of the cow that produces their fresh milk, or the conditions in which the animals are […] Read moreWorld dairy markets still volatile but expected to rebound
World dairy markets are not likely to ever change their volatile nature, but signs of recovery and growth are starting to appear. That’s the message Veronique Pilet, head of economics at the French dairy inter-branch organization CNIEL, told those attending the World Dairy Summit in Belfast, Northern Ireland. “Historical lows are giving way to a […] Read more
China reverses ban on ‘mouldy’ cheese imports
Complaints from consumers unable to buy their favourite cheese forced Chinese officials to lift restrictions
Soft cheese consumers in China will once again be able to buy their favourite type after the country’s government decided to reverse a ban that it implemented two months ago. These so-called “mouldy” cheeses were banned because of the techniques used in their production. Even though these techniques have been used for centuries, the Chinese […] Read more
