Breeding is at the heart of any beef production system. Breeding programmes need to be devised to meet the specific requirements of a herd or a market. This manual explores some of the issues to address when choosing a sire for the herd – either for AI purposes or buying a bull

Understanding how animals react and what stimulates them helps producers improve handling facilities, making cattle handling safer and more efficient. This manual aims to improve producers' understanding of animal behaviour, helping them refine their skills and improve their facilities

Improving returns from a suckler herd depends on increasing the number of calves weaned. Feeding makes an important contribution to fertility, calving ease and calf performance and is a major cost of keeping a suckler cow. This manual takes a look at feeding at all stages of suckled calf production

Driving feed efficiency is crucial in all beef growing and finishing systems. This manual explains the different feed requirements of the growing and finishing stages of an animal’s life, providing valuable guidance on rationing for these separate phases

Internal parasites pose a significant threat to animal health and performance, however chemical treatments can lead to resistance developing in worm populations. The guidelines in this manual enable producers to maintain good worm control, while preserving the activity of wormers for future use

With careful management, surplus pure dairy-bred male calves can be a useful option for beef farmers looking to source additional animals to rear and finish. This manual gives an overview of how to produce good quality beef from surplus male dairy calves

Replacement heifers contribute to the new genetic make-up, cost structure and productivity of the suckler herd. This manual provides advice on sourcing, selecting and managing replacement heifers so they can become productive members of the breeding herd

The condition of soil on livestock farms directly influences the yield and quality of grass and forage crops, animal performance and profitability. This manual offers advice to improve management of farmland soil, in order to safeguard this basic resource to produce healthy crops and livestock

White and red clovers provide a good source of protein in ruminant diets, both when grazed or conserved, and have high intake characteristics.This manual outlines the advantages of including clovers in the farming system and the management needed to optimise their contribution to the farm business

Nutrient management is often forgotten on beef and sheep farms, yet there is considerable scope to reduce costs and improve output through effective use of nutrients. This manual presents recommendations from the AHDB Nutrient Management Guide in an accessible format for producers

Medicines improve the health and welfare of livestock and contribute to the provision of safe and sustainable food. However, using medicines incorrectly can contribute to antibiotic and anthelmintic resistance. This manual gives producers advice on how to use medicines correctly and responsibly

Managing ewes correctly throughout the year is vital for generating the highest possible output from any sheep enterprise. This manual gives an overview of the techniques and tools required to manage ewes effectively, such as body condition scoring, managing replacements and good record-keeping

There are two main challenges for the lamb sector; the first is to maintain the production of high-quality meat and the second is to ensure sheep farming is financially viable. This manual outlines the factors to consider to achieve these aims at every stage of production, from weaning to selection

Lameness presents a serious cost to the sheep industry. It may not be possible to eradicate lameness entirely, but producers who understand the condition can reduce the impact of lame animals. This manual describes the different diseases that cause lameness and outlines a plan to tackle them

Many external parasites that infest UK sheep flocks can hardly be seen with the naked eye, yet their effects on animal health, welfare and profit can be significant. This manual aims to help farmers to identify sheep parasites and provides information on how to implement effective control strategies

Ewe fertility is one of the main drivers underlying the output of a sheep flock. Optimising fertility increases the number of lambs scanned and born, which in turn drives flock profitability. Following the advice in this manual can help sheep producers set and achieve flock targets

Good ewe nutrition is vital for successful flock performance. The feed requirements of ewes vary significantly depending on their stage of production and feeding regimes must take account of this. This manual looks at all the elements of ewe feeding and incorporates the latest thinking on this topic

On all farms sheep have to be moved and handled several times during the year, which can compromise performance if managed badly. This manual gives an insight into a range of sheep behaviours and explains how a system can be designed and operated to handle sheep calmly, safely and efficiently

Improving lamb performance and reducing losses is key to profitable sheep farming. Producers are often surprised to find out how many lambs they do lose. This manual equips producers with the tools to discover when and why losses occur, and helps them maximise their lamb output

Optimising fertility is critical to the success of any suckler herd, with nutrition, health and genetics all playing a part. This manual explains how produces can use the available tools to increase cow output, and how appropriate feeding, breeding and health management can all contribute