Livestock

“Thanks to my new knowledge and skills and by implementing some of the new systems we’ve learned about through Farming Connect, we now feed the stock far more efficient-ly. This has significantly reduced our inputs while enhancing stock performance and productivity and we’ve also reduced lameness levels.”

“Using a wide range of services through Farming Connect has helped me gain a better understanding of the challenges on my farm. This has enabled me to make better informed management decisions that can help improve animal performance and the productivity of the business.”

“The calf management, health and housing training course was very beneficial. It included information on how to ensure calves have a good start in life, how to reduce antibiotic use and minimise rearing costs.”

“It’s been a steep learning curve to manage and provide top quality care for a flock of 16,000 laying hens, but Farming Connect helped me every step of the way.”

"I found the Animal Health & Welfare workshops I went to very well presented and informative. I felt that I learned something new each time and if it was only a different way of doing something practical it was worth the time. I now do a few things differently, particularly at lambing, and have also learned about new diseases to look out for."

'The financial advantages of rotational grazing 500-ewe flock is significant – we have halved our concentrate use since splitting fields into paddocks and moving sheep around, we are growing a third more grass in a year. I would encourage any farmer looking to the future to attend the Prosper from Pasture programme'

"Learning how to take care of the feet of cattle will benefit the stock massively. The trainer explained everything very thoroughly and we all learned a lot."

“We had our own ideas but our mentor had previously tried some of these in his own system and they hadn’t worked for him so thanks to his advice we didn’t have to make the same mistakes"

“Working out financial details such as profit per hour worked or profit per hectare (ha) has given me a better understanding of what makes a profitable sheep and beef farm. This allows us to compare our performance to similar businesses, with the aim of identifying areas to improve.’’

“After completing my first e-learning course on seasonal reproduction in ewes in well under an hour, which included a short quiz to assess what I’d learned, I was hooked. I found it such an easy way to acquire more knowledge, always pitched at just the right level and letting me learn at my own pace.”