Fierce bidding at Taunton market
	Bidding was fierce and prices were high for the class winners at the Red Ruby Devon Autumn Show and Sale at Taunton Market last week. Postponed from its original October date due to Foot & Mouth and hampered by Bluetongue restrictions, the sale still attracted a large crowd and all but 1 of the 81 pedigree females and 8 out of 9 bulls were, sold.

Lamb plan suggested

THE Liberal Democrats have called for a welfare scheme to provide sheep farmers with income from the small lambs that cannot not be exported to the usual markets of southern European.

Hammer’s power clearly evident

THE power of the hammer was clearly evident at Taunton Livestock Centre where the first weekly sale of dairy cattle since the second foot and mouth scare got under way in front of a massive gathering of prospective buyers.

These cattle are best suited to UK conditions

RISING feed costs have squeezed what small margin there is to be gained from finishing cattle. Labour is in short supply and beef prices stubbornly refuse to rise, says Jonathan Moorhouse, chairman of the South West Hereford Association, whose cattle were South West Herd of the Year 2002.

Grass-fed beef back on menu?

SLOW-growing grass-fed beef could soon be back on menus and dinner tables across the South West, after the EU's food safety committee agreed to lift costly processing requirements on beef from older animals.

	Bluetongue yet another blow
	BLUETONGUE is a notifiable disease in the UK and suspected cases must be reported immediately to the local animal health office.

	Alternative for cross breeding
	A NEW semen company specialising in bulls for cross breeding has been launched.

Be alert for snags in culling

ENGLISH dairy and beef herds must plan the culling of all cattle born before August, 1996, on an individual basis over the final 16 months of the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS) if they are to avoid losing compensation, according to the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX).

	Increase in parasitic disease due to weather
	WET weather in the South West has brought a big upswing in parasitic diseases, especially in cattle, according to FarmDisease.co.uk - the disease monitoring website - and there is more to come.

	Choosing calves' sex saves waste
	COGENT Sexed Semen plays a significant roll in the management of the Sanders family Holstein herd at Higher Landazzard Farm, Liskeard, Cornwall.

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