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Meat South West

The Meat South West Essential Guide to Quality Meat Production

Sources of Technical Advice

CATTLE

Introduction

There is an enormous amount of useful information available to help farmers improve the technical and financial performance of their livestock enterprises, but where is it, and how do we get hold of it? We hope you find this booklet useful. We have had to be selective, and there are many information sources that have not been included. If you have any comments on how to improve the guide, or on sources of information that should be included we would like to hear from you. A fax back form is included. The guide is also available via email. 
Fax no: 01208 881040 
 
Clare Parnell, Manager, Meat South West

Feeding and Nutrition

Feed values & feed planning for beef cattle

This fact sheet provides relative feed values of winter rations based on grass silage to maximise productivity. 
Source: Agri Knowledge Transfer 
Price: Free 
www.kt.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/order.htm

Reducing the cost of beef production by increasing silage intake

Silage is an integral part of most cattle production, especially when they are housed indoors. This technical note looks at the opportunity for decreasing costs 
Source: Irish Agricultural and Food Development Authority 
Price: Free 
www.teagasc.ie/research/reports/index.htm

Silage rationing program

The program uses chemical composition of the silage to predict the silage intake for types of animals which vary according to live weight, breed, sexual status and body condition. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Making good silage and interpreting analysis

To ensure that a sufficient quantity of high quality silage is made always use tested approved varieties of grass to maximise output. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/nutrition/index.htm

Basic facts of good silage making

Extra 2 kg meal costing 30p/day may be required to achieve the same finishing stock performance on average, compared to good quality silage. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/nutrition/index.htm

Winter feeding the suckler herd

Careful control of cow liveweight & condition is a valuable to achieving economic suckler production. 
Source: IGER 
Price: Free 
www.kt.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/order.htm

Winter fodder - quantity and quality

Impact of silage quality and quantity on cattle feeding management, during the overwintering period. 
Source: Rural NI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/

Pasture grazing versus continuous housing of bulls for beef

Experiments have been carried out to compare systems in which bulls were either at pasture from 5.5 to 11 months of age or were continuously housed throughout their lives. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/

Concentrate supplements for beef and store cattle

All cattle require energy, protein, minerals and vitamins for maintenance and growth. This technical note looks at getting the balance right for growth and for cost. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/

Correct winter forage supplementation vital

With variable silage quality and low finishing profitability, correct forage analysis and supplementation is essential for all silage beef producers. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Concentrate feeding

All cattle require energy, protein, minerals and vitamins for maintenance and growth. Energy is the major cost component of the diet. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/

Concentrates at grass

Economic benefits of feeding grazing cattle with concentrates. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/nutrition/index.htm

Concentrate supplements for weaning and finishing steers

Because of the need to retain finishing cattle until after specific dates to comply with retention periods for the draw-down of premia, feeding strategies must be flexible.  
Source: Irish Agricultural and Food Development Authority 
Price: Free  
www.teagasc.ie/research/reports/index.htm 
 

Value of straights

The calculation of a relative feed value is a simple technique used to determine whether a particular feed is value for money relative to reference feeds - barley and soya.  
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/nutrition/index.htm

Forage legumes for animal production

Technical note on increasing profits with forage legumes. 
Source: IGER 
Price: Free 
http://www.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/default.asp

Colostrum: things you should know

Brief fact sheet on colostrums requirements for calves of different weights. 
Source: SAC 
Price: Free 
www.sac.ac.uk/

Rearing

Two year calving boosts suckler performance

Suckler margins could be improved by as much as 20p/kg of weaned calf produced by calving heifers at two years of age rather than three. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Suckled calf performance restricted by poor cow feeding

Inaccurate cow feeding is almost certainly restricting calf output and increasing costs in many UK suckler herds.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Less than 20% of dairy bull calves unsuitable for beef

Less than 20% of purebred dairy bull calves are unsuited to beef production for the modern manufacturing market, yet more than 50% are being disposed of. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk

Rearing heifer replacements from the suckler herd

During the past decade there has been a dramatic decline in the conformation of beef cattle mainly due to the influence of Holstein genes, by sourcing from the dairy herd.  
Source: Rural NI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/breeding/replacements.htm

Bull beef

The benefit of bull beef is the increased daily liveweight gain & improved feed conversion efficiency over steers. 
Source: Agri Knowledge Transfer 
Price: Free 
www.kt.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/order.htm

Profitable continental bull beef

Management protocols for profitable continental bull beef. 
Source: Rural NI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/publications/information_booklets/

Tips to improve the profitability of beef production

This is a short list of topics or suggestions to enable beef producers to improve the profitability of their beef systems 
Source: SAC 
Price: Free 
www.sac.ac.uk/

Organic beef production

Basic introduction to organic beef production in question and answer format. 
Source: Soil Association 
Price: £2.50 non members 
www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/Library?OpenForm

Unrivalled opportunity for dairy bulls

There are 350,000 dairy bull calves per year still being lost to the beef market through slaughter at an early age, a lost opportunity according to MLC costings. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk

Intensive dairy calf-to-beef system & grassland management

Over the years, beef production systems have been intensified and de-intensified, a target was set to produce 1000kg of beef carcass per ha in a dairy calf-to-beef system.  
Source: Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority 
Price: Free  
www.teagasc.ie/research/reports/index.htm

Farm management pocketbook 2003 - John N

Up to date data on gross margins together with overhead cost analysis. 
Source: Imperial College Wye 
Price: £14.50 incl. p&p 
www.thepocketbook.co.uk

Farm management handbook 2002/03 - SAC

Over 500 pages of information detailing gross margins and whole farm financial data. 
Source: SAC 
Price: £16 incl. p&p 
www.sac.ac.uk/

Organic farm management handbook 2002 - Lampkin & Measures

Marketing, certification, conversion, production and gross margins for all enterprises, as well as fixed costs, whole farm performance and environmental management. 
Source: Organic Centre Wales 
Price: £12 plus p&p 
www.organic.aber.ac.uk/

Finishing

New efficiency measure offers better beef value

Daily deadweight gains offer a better way of assessing beef finishing performance than traditional liveweight gain efficiency measures  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk

Profitable bull beef production

The 3 Stage Feeding Programme. Management and rearing of the Holstein bull calf to 3 months, health/veterinary issues - birth to finish for profitable production. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk

Profit from better beef breeding - when finishing cattle

Producing what the market requires as efficiently as possible is commercial reality for all beef producers, with the quality of the bull used on the farm one of the major factors. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk

Beef finishing benchmarks point the way ahead

Top performing beef finishers earned margins up to nearly double those of the average on animals sold in spring 2002. MLC's latest annual production benchmarks.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Boost margins with wheat feeding this winter

Beef producers can take advantage of especially attractive cereal prices this winter to boost their margin-earning. Wheat, in particular, offers the greatest potential.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk 
 

Boost annual beef margins 40% by faster finishing

Move from a 30-month to a 24-month beef system and annual margins could be improved on an average performing 90 steer enterprise by £3600/year.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk

Beef production systems to enable cattle to be finished by 30 months of age

Advise to producers on how to finish their cattle before 30 months of age. 
Source: DEFRA 
Price: Free 
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/publications/pubcat/index.htm

Finishing the weaned suckler calf

Suckled calf production is the only viable option in the hills & uplands. So whichever system is selected the winter is an expensive period, accounting for 70% of variable costs 
Source: Agri Knowledge Transfer 
Price: free 
www.kt.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/order.htm

Make more of heifer finishing opportunity

Beef producers could generate much better margins for themselves and help to address the growing national shortfall of home-produced beef by better finishing of heifers.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk 

Heifer finishing

Heifer beef production through the right system will produce beef to market requirements. Over the last 5 years heifer beef has accounted for 30% of the GB slaughter. 
Source: Agri Knowledge Transfer 
Price: free 
www.kt.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/order.htm

Heifer beef production

Collates recent work on heifer finishing. Number of experiments that use heifers far smaller than those using steers or bulls. Scientific literature is best described as slim.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk 
 

Making the most of your forage feed for finishing cattle

Bench marking forage-fed cattle performance for maximum profit. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk 
 

Beef eating quality

The effect of liveweight gain in the finishing period and beef eating quality. 
Source: SAC 
Price: Free 
www.sac.ac.uk/

Beef eating quality - effect of store period

Effect of rate of liveweight gain during a winter store period on eventual eating quality of grass finished cattle 
Source: SAC 
Price: Free 
www.sac.ac.uk/ 
 

Boost beef retail quality with vitamin E feeding

For no more than £1.50/animal colour of beef finished over winter can be enhanced and shelf-life extended by as much as five days by increased Vitamin E supplementation.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk 
 

Beef producers lose out by poor sales timing

Large numbers of British beef producers are throwing money down the drain by failing to sell their stock at the right time.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Subsidy distortions compromise British beef quality

The timing of the second Beef Special Premium (BSP) payment is seriously distorting the marketing of British beef and compromising its quality and value. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk

Condition scoring of beef suckler cows and heifers

Shows how the simple technique of body condition scoring can contribute significantly to the good husbandry, welfare, management and profitability of livestock. 
Source: DEFRA 
Price: Free 
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/publications/pubcat/index.htm 
 

Clean Beef Cattle for slaughter - a guide for farmers

Guide to clean beef cattle and the benefits of clean beef cattle for slaughter. 
Source: Food Standards Agency 
Price: Free 
www.adas.co.uk/cleanlivestock/

Breeding & Genetics

Profit from better beef breeding - introduction

This article is the first in a series examining how modern breeding technology allows beef producers to select and breed efficient and profitable animals 
Source: Rural NI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/breeding/prointro.htm

Profit from better beef breeding - at calving time

Difficult calvings and dead calves? Information is now available which allows you to base your bull selection on facts. 
Source: Rural NI 
Price: Free  
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/breeding/calving.htm

Quality and care pay with herd sires

Better quality beef bulls looked after with greater care can easily generate an additional £8000 of income over their suckler herd life.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk 

Selecting and managing a stock bull

Advise for suckled calf producers who may be considering purchasing a stock bull for use on spring calving herds.  
Source: Rural NI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk

The young bull promotion scheme

To promote rapid genetic improvement via reduced generation intervals and improved selection differentials  
Source: MLC Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk 

High vigour cows give 20% suckler herd output boost

Latest MLC calculations show that making the most of hybrid vigour in suckler herd replacements can boost weaned calf output more than 20% compared with pure breed. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Genetic improvement of beef cattle

To a commercial breeder and finisher the difference between using an average bull and a bull from the top 1% of the breed is worth around £30 per calf finished at current prices.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Suckler cow fertility

A cow loses £1 every day she is not in calf. Monitoring breeding activity in June is essential for the spring calving suckler herd.  
Source: Rural NI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk

Developing effective suckler cow replacement strategies

BLUP genetic evaluations, selection indexes, which combine BLUP, estimated breeding values (EBVs) for individual traits  
Source: SAC 
Price: Free 
www.sac.ac.uk/

Shortening the interval to resumption of ovarian cycles in postpartum beef cows

The interval between calving to first ovulation is affected by nutrition and calf suckling. 
Source: Irish Agricultural and Food Development Authority 
Price: Free 
www.teagasc.ie/research/reports/index.htm

Beef breeding

Better bulls leave bigger margins for the breeder and feeder. For better and more informed decision making 'BLUP' has been developed. 
Source: Agri Knowledge Transfer 
Price: Free 
www.kt.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/order.htm

Breeding programme

Techniques used to obtain extra genetic progress also give extra inbreeding. For example, the use of BLUP to obtain estimated breeding values, and the use of MOET. 
Source: SAC 
Price: Free  
www.sac.ac.uk/

AI

Take the opportunity to AI cows when they are still housed. Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) figure should be used to select the best bulls for your cows. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk

The use of synchronisation and artificial insemination in beef cows

Many farmers keep cows in remote locations/have off farm employment. Synchronisation enables groups of cows to be prepared for breeding at a time selected in advance 
Source: Rural NI 
Price: Free  
www.ruralni.gov.uk

Variations in the bovine double muscling gene and their effect on growth, conformation and calving

Variations in the myostatin gene in leading breeds in the UK. Deletion of the myostatin gene have been reported as the cause of double muscling in cattle.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Sustained sire progress boosts suckler value

The real performance improvement being achieved by the main terminal beef sire breeds in the UK today is two to three times that of just 10 years ago.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Breeding replacement heifers

Both suckled calf producers and beef finishers have found the influence of the Holstein in the dairy sector has led to: 
Source: Rural NI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk

Animal Health

Biosecurity for beef and sheep

Guidance notes on keeping farm units secure from introduction of new diseases and minimising disease spread 
Source: Agri Knowledge Transfer 
Price: Free

Consider health status when you buy a bull

A bull is expected to arrive in a herd and cope immediately with groups of 35 to 50 cows, every year and sometimes over more than one mating season in the year 
Source: SAC 
Price: Free 
www.sac.ac.uk/

Beef parasites

The control of parasites in cattle is complex & there are many different drugs & control strategies to maximise performance. 
Source: Agri Knowledge Transfer 
Price: Free 
www.kt.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/order.htm

A review of anthelmintic resistance

The most serious problem in parasite control is anthelmintic resistance. Benchmarking forage fed cattle performance 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk 
 

TB in Cattle: Reducing the Risk

Suggests disease control measures that farmers can take to reduce the chances that their animals will go down with TB. 
Source: DEFRA 
Price: Free 
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/publications/pubcat/index.htm

TB in Cattle

A series of fact sheets concerning research into TB, government strategy, vaccine development and badger culling trials. 
Source: DEFRA 
Price: Free 
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/publications/pubcat/index.htm

Digital dermatitis

NADIS data shows number of cases of digital dermatitis fall during the summer, but begin to increase again in September, followed by a much larger increase in October.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Acetonaemia

NADIS data show that the number of cases of acetonaemia (or ketosis) increase significantly during the winter, and the number of cases continue to increase until turnout.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Displaced abomasum in cattle

NADIS data show that last year there was a very much higher incidence of Displaced Abomasum than in previous years, especially in the period from January to April.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Silage eye in cattle

NADIS data show that the number of cows with bovine iritis (more commonly known as silage eye) increases rapidly from December onwards and reaches a peak in March 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Liverfluke

How it affects cattle reducing productivity and control of the infection lifecycle. 
Source: National Beef Association 
Price: Free 
www.nationalbeefassociation.co.uk

Johnes disease

Critical information for farmers 
Source: National Beef Association 
Price: Free 
www.nationalbeefassociation.co.uk

Bovine viral diarrhoea and mucosal disease

Describes the symptoms, effects and what action can be taken 
Source: National Beef Association 
Price: Free 
www.nationalbeefassociation.co.uk

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE): Advisory notes for farmers

Notes to remind cattle farmers what to do if they think they have a BSE suspect animal. 
Source: DEFRA 
Price: Free 
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/publications/pubcat/index.htm

Animal welfare guidelines for beef farms

There is a significant body of national and EU legislation enacted relating to animal welfare.  
Source: Irish Agriculture & Food Development Authority 
Price: Free 
www.teagasc.ie/publications/2003/animalwelfareguidelines.htm

Health, welfare and veterinary medicine

Full listing covering many health, welfare publications and regulations. 
Source: DEFRA 
Price: Free 
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/publications/pubcat/anh.htm

Cattle health

Fluke & worm controls, pneumonia, scours and grass tetany 
Source: Rural 
NI Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk/livestock/beef/mgmt/health_and_hygiene/health.htm

Animal health & disease reports & publications

An in-depth A-Z by disease/disease agent and project programme 
Source: IAH 
Price: Free 
www.iah.bbsrc.ac.uk/publications.htm

Meat Production & Carcase Classification

Selling beef cattle and lambs deadweight

A step by step guide to deadweight selling. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk

Fat class and conformation for beef and sheep

A means of describing beef carcasses in terms of the suitability & value of carcass for a particular end usage. 
Source: Agri Knowledg Transfer 
Price: Free 
www.kt.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/order.htm

Beef carcase authentication service leaflet

Beef carcase authentication service leaflet

The MLC Beef Carcase Authentication Service leaflet has been updated to reflect the changes to the MLC Standard Conditions dressing specification. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlcclassification.co.uk

Making the market work for you

Produce what the market wants, not market what you can produce, has to be the motto for livestock farmers to ensure future profit. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk 

Farm assurance schemes

The recent series of food scares has heightened consumer awareness of food and its production from animals.  
Source: BSAS 
Price: Free 
www.bsas.org.uk/

Antibiotic use in farmed livestock

The emergence of antibiotic resistance as a serious problem in human medicine has prompted concerns about the public health implications of antibiotic use in agriculture 
Source: BSAS 
Price: Free 
www.bsas.org.uk/

Eating quality of young bull beef

The efficiency of meat production from young bulls has advantages over that from steers in terms of growth rate, feed efficiency and leanness. 
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk 
 

Enhancing the content of beneficial fatty acids in beef and improving meat quality to consumer

Research project on interaction between nutrition and fatty acid content of beef 
Source: IGER 
Price: Free 
www.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk

Producers cannot afford to miss modern weight specs

Carcase weight is critical for the modern beef market alongside conformation and fat cover.  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free 
www.mlc.org.uk 

Quarterly carcase quality improvement signs

The quality of British beef carcases shows clear signs of year-on-year improvement for the first time since the onset of Foot & Mouth  
Source: MLC 
Price: Free  
www.mlc.org.uk 

Building and Equipment

Are silage stores adequate?

Silage store calculation advice. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk

Silage clamps and effluent tanks

Advice on site suitability, specifications, construction, repairs and maintenance. 
Source: ADAS 
Price: Free 

Housing

Calf houses and calving pens should be cleaned immediately once stock are turned out to minimise future health problems. 
Source: RuralNI 
Price: Free 
www.ruralni.gov.uk 
 

Organising contracts for farm waste structures

Organising contracts for farm waste structures

Advice on the planning system, environment agency, health and safety and contract documentation. 
Source: ADAS 
Price: Free 
www.farmbuildings.co.uk

Farm and rural building articles

Countryside building magazine articles, some articles available on line 
Source: Rural Design and Building Association 
Price: Subscription, some articles free 
www.rdba.org.uk

Farm building design

Range of articles on design details produced to aid farmers 
Source: GFA-RACE Partners Ltd 
Price: Free 
 

Contacts

Sources of livestock publications and literature together with contact details 
 
Ratings Key: Poor * Average ** Good *** 

ADAS - Farm Buildings

Tel: 01626 892636  
www.farmbuildings.co.uk 
Email: Building.Design@adas.co.uk  
Information available:** 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: *** 
Website: *** 
Farm buildings advisory leaflets free to download 
 
 

British Grassland Society

c/o Department of Agriculture, PO Box 237, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR 
Tel: 01189 318189 
Fax: 01189 666941 
www.britishgrassland.com 
Email: bgs@patrol.i-way.co.uk 
 
Information available:*** 
Availability to download on line: None 
Free & to buy 
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: *** 
Website: * 
Grassland and meat production from grassland. List of books and reports available on-line, full list by phone.

British Society of Animal Science - BSAS

PO Box 3, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0RZ  
Tel: 0131 445 4508 
Fax: 0131 535 3120 
www.bsas.org.uk/ 
Email: BSAS@ed.sac.ac.uk 
 
Information available:** 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free & to buy 
Ease of obtaining: * 
Tel: directed to web 
Website: ** 
Technical animal science, nutrition papers & articles. Available on line, some in abstract only for non members. 

DEFRA

Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR  
Tel: 020 7238 6000 (Free publications Tel: 08459 556000) 
Fax: 020 7238 6591 
www.defra.gov.uk 
Email: defra@iforce.com 
 
Information available:*** 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: *** 
Website: ** 
Wide range of livestock information, policies, health & welfare, economics & statistics, etc. Full list on website, some available to download, order code available for others. 
 
www.defra.gov.uk defra@iforce.com

Elm Farm Research Centre - EFRC

Hampstead Marshall, Newbury, RG20 OHR  
Tel: 01488 658298 (Publications Tel:01488 608336) 
Fax: 01488 658503  
www.efrc.com 
Email: elmfarm@efrc.com 
 
Information available:** 
Availability to download on line: Limited 
Free & to buy 
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: *** 
Website: ** 
Organic publications, research reports, projects and articles. Publication list available on line or phone for advise.

FABBL

PO Box 165, Winterhill House, Milton Keynes, MK6 1PB 
Tel: 01908 231642 
Fax: 01908 844355 
www.fabbl.co.uk/home.asp 
Email: info@fabbl.co.uk 
 
Information available:* 
Availability to download on line: *** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: *** 
Website: *** 
Standards and protocols for FABBL farm assurance scheme available on line or phone for advise.

Farm Animal Welfare Council

5th Floor, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ 
Tel: 0207 904 6534 
www.fawc.co.uk 
 
Information available:** 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: ** 
Website: ** 
Guidance on animal welfare and production systems, latest reports available to download on-line.

Freedom Foods

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex. RH13 9RS 
Tel: 0870 3335 999 
Fax: 0870 7530 284 
www.freedomfood.co.uk 
 
Information available: * 
Availability to download on line: *** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: ** 
Website: ** 
RSPCA welfare standards for livestock and Freedom Food information, available on-line or phone for advise.

Food Standards Agency

Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London, WC23 6NH 
Tel: 020 7276 8000 (Publications Tel: 020 7276 8829) 
www.foodstandards.gov.uk 
Email: helpline@foodstandards.qsi.gov.uk 
 
Information available:** 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: ** 
 
Website: ** 
Food and labelling guidance notes and food industry articles available on line, phone for further advise.

Imperial College Wye - Farm Business Unit

Wye, Ashford, Kent. TN25 5AH 
Tel: 020 758 95111  
(Publications Tel: 020 7594 6701)  
www.ic.ac.uk/wyecampus/research/aebm/themes/fbm/ 
 
NB Farm Management Pocket Book, The 
pocket book, Old Bell House, 2 Nottingham 
Street, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE13 1NW 
Tel: 01664 56450 
www.thepocketbook.co.uk 
 
Information available:** 
Availability to download on line: * 
Free & to buy 
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: *** 
Website: ** 
Research and agricultural farm business publications. Pocket book available to order on-line. 
 

Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research - IGER

Aberystwyth Research Station, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth. SY23 3EB 
Tel: 01970 823000 (Publications Tel: 01970 823052) 
Fax: 01970 828357 
www.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk 
 
Information available:** 
Availability to download on line: *** 
Free 
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: directed to web 
Website: *** 
Grassland related technical reviews, booklets, information sheets and leaflets available to download on-line. 
 

Irish Agriculture & Food Development Authority - TEAGASC

19 Sandymount Avenue, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4  
Tel: 00 353 1 6688188 
Fax: 00 353 1 6688023 
www.teagasc.ie/ 
 
Information available:*** 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free & to buy 
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: *** 
Website: *** 
Wide range of livestock fact sheets and research, priced and unpriced. Some available to download on-line. 
 

Agri Knowledge Transfer

DEFRA initiative operated by ADAS, IGER and University of Bristol 
 
KT IGER, Plas Gogerdann, Aberystwyth. SY23 3EB 
Tel: 01970 823028 
Fax: 01970 828357 
 
Information available:*** 
Availability to download on line: *** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: * 
Website: *** 
Comprehensive list of livestock and grassland fact sheets. Download order form available on-line or order direct on internet at www.kt.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk 
 

Milk Development Council - MDC

Stroud Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. GL7 6JN 
Tel: 01285 646500 
Fax: 01285 646501  
www.mdc.org.uk and www.mlcclassification.co.uk 
Email: info@mdc.org.uk  
 
Information available:** 
Availability to download on line: *** 
Free 
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: *** 
Website: *** 
Grassland management, grazing and forage information leaflets-emphasis on dairy cattle. Order form available on-line

Meat and Livestock Commission - MLC

PO Box 44, Winterhill House, Snowdon Drive, Milton Keynes. MK6 1AX  
Tel: 01908 677577 (Publications Tel: 01908 844271) 
Fax: 01908 609221  
www.mlc.org.uk 
Email: contactus@mlc.org.uk 
 
Information available:*** 
Availability to download on line: *** 
Free 
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: ** 
Website: ** 
Livestock technical, economic, statistical and marketing information. Download on website or telephone enquiries are directed to separate departments.

National Beef Association

The Firs Blackmore Park Road, Malvern, Worcestershire. WR13 6PH 
Tel: 01684 565442 
Fax: 01684 573118 
www.nationalbeefassociation.co.uk 
Email: Diane@natbeef.demon.co.uk 
 
Information available:* 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: * 
Website: ** 
Small collection of beef animal health and industry consultation papers. Download on-line. 

National Farmers Union - NFU

Agricultural House, 164 Shaftesbury Avenue, London. WC2H 8HL  
Tel: 020 7331 7200 
Fax: 020 7331 7313  
www.nfu.co.uk 
Email: nfu@nfuonline.com 
 
Information available:*** 
Availability to download on line: *** 
Members only 
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: *** 
Website: *** 
Policy guidance leaflets, call centre direct - legal, technical & policy advise. Easy phone and internet access for members

National Animal Disease Information Service - NADIS

www.ukvet.co.uk 
 
Information available:* 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free & to buy 
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: ** 
Website: *** 
onthly report, UK disease profile, parasite forecast and farm report available on-line

Organic Centre Wales

Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. SY23 3AL  
Tel: 01970 622248 
Fax: 01970 622238 
www.organic.aber.ac.uk/ 
Email: organic@aber.ac.uk 
 
Information available:** 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free & to buy 
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: ** 
Website: ** 
Organic technical publications, standards & regulations, statistics, online library/order form and free e bulletin 
 

Rural Design and Buildings Association - RDBA

ATSS House, Station Road East, Stowmarket, Suffolk. IP14 1RQ  
Tel: 01449 676049 
Fax: 01449 770028 
www.rdba.org.uk 
Email: secretary@rdba.org.uk 
 
Information available:* 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free or magazine subscription 
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: *** 
Website: ** 
Short list of articles on countryside buildings from quarterly countryside buildings magazine, available on-line

Rural NI

Greenmount College, Antrim 
Tel: 028 94426699  
www.ruralni.gov.uk 
 
Information available: *** 
Availability to download on line: *** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: available on web 
Website: *** 
Information booklets, technical and management notes all available to download on-line.

RSPB

The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL 
Tel: 01767 680551 
www.rspb.org.uk 
Information available:* 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free  
Ease of obtaining: ** 
Tel: * 
Website: ** 
News and advise for farmers on managing habitats for birds, free on-line or phone for advise

Scottish Agricultural College - SAC

Corporate Information Officer, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG  
Tel: 0131 535 4185 (Publications Tel: 0131 5354196) 
Fax: 0131 535 4332 
www.sac.ac.uk/ 
Email: information@ed.sac.ac.uk 
 
Information available:*** 
Availability to download on line: *** 
Free & to buy 
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: ** 
Website: *** 
Technical notes, publications, policy papers and research reports and guides available to download or order on-line

Soil Association

Bristol House, 40-56 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6BY 
Tel: 0117 929 0661 (Publications Tel: 01179 142446) 
Fax: 0117 925 2504 
www.soilassociation.org.uk 
Email: info@soilassociation.org.uk 
 
Information available: *** 
Availability to download on line: ** 
Free & to buy 
Ease of obtaining: *** 
Tel: ** 
Website: *** 
Large selection of organic farming technical guides, books, statistics. On-line library and ordering.

Meat South West Members List

Additional Meat South West Members

Meat South West is a new trade organisation for the whole South West red meat industry with a membership covering abattoirs, processors, producers and associated companies and organisations. 
Its first aim is to improve the way the supply chain works and to take cost out of the system by improving communication and understanding between the sectors within it. Its second aim is to promote the South West as a region, renowned for producing good quality meat reared to high standards of health and welfare. Let's get more people asking for Westcountry meat! 
 
Clare Purnell 
Meat South West 
PO Box 69 
Bodmin 
Cornwall PL29 3XJ 
Tel/Fax: 01208 881 040 
Email: meatsouthwest@eclipse.co.uk 
 
Supported by Defra, South West Food & Drink and Eblex 
 
Compiled by GFA-RACE Partners 
Consultants to the Food, Agricultural and Rural Industries