Smallholder news, Smallholder for smallholders, keeping animals, poultry, buying a smallholding

Grass land farmers and smallholders asked to return stocks of aminopryalid

8:50am Tuesday 9th February 2010

While aminopyralid has regained authorisation for use on grassland, any old stocks remaining on farm cannot be used as product labels do not reflect the newly approved use instructions. Instead, they should be returned to Dow AgroSciences.

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Levy on game bird breeding abandoned

4:50pm Monday 8th February 2010

Proposals which could have seen a financial levy placed on gamebirds have been shelved after BASC called for them to be abandoned. The tax was designed to help cover the costs of a new body to fight major disease outbreaks such as avian flu. Defra has now published a draft Animal Health Bill which will establish a new Animal Health Organisation to take over policy and delivery in England from Defra, but initial plans to include a tax on each reared gamebird have been dropped.

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Navicular disease under the spot light

12:47pm Monday 8th February 2010

Many horse owning smallholders will be interested to know that CEVA Animal Health have produced a leaflet to help horse owners understand the diagnosis and treatment of navicular disease, which can be a complex and sometimes confusing condition because of its multiple causes Navicular disease can be difficult to diagnose and management of the condition can be a challenge for both vets and horse owners. The new leaflet helps owners get to grips with all aspects of the disease from the clinical signs to the procedures used to obtain a formal diagnosis. It then covers the various treatment options available including corrective farriery, analgesia, bisphosphonates and surgery. Diagrams and photographs help to ensure that the information is clear, concise and easy to follow.

Farm incomes remain resilient say NFU

8:20am Monday 8th February 2010

Farm incomes have remained resilient over the past 12 months according to new figures published by Defra today.

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Advice for poultry owners and gamekeepers

1:30pm Sunday 7th February 2010

poultry owners and gamekeepers should ensure they know how to protect their birds against Gapeworm – a parasite that could be on the increase in free range poultry as well as game birds. To find out more, speak to the experts from Janssen Animal Health and visit their stand at the British Shooting and Countryman Show at Newark this February.

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Saddle up your turkeys

12:30pm Sunday 7th February 2010

It's time to protect your hen turkeys from mating damage says Janice Houghton-Wallace

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Nature awards open to smallholders as well

9:20am Sunday 7th February 2010

The search is for Britain’s most wildlife friendly farmer. There’s one month to go to get nominations in for this year’s Nature of Farming Award.

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A natural grass diet for geese

12:40pm Saturday 6th February 2010

Grass is the basic diet for both wild and domesticated geese. The wild birds have greater choice of plant species, and can migrate to follow the growing season for the best bite, but their farm cousins are confined to the same patch. So it is essential, for the health of the domesticated birds, that their pasture is well managed and they have supplementary food.

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Pygmy goats and perfect poultry at the RWAS festival

8:30am Saturday 6th February 2010

Pygmy Goats at the Smallholder and Garden Festival 2010 As in past years, there will be a full range of classes both in the breed and the pet section included in the show to be held on Saturday, May 15.

BASC hosts Lancashire Gundog Training Day.

1:00pm Friday 5th February 2010

A course aimed at people new to gundog training or just starting to train a new working dog will be hosted by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) in Lancashire.

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