Lorenzo tops latest AHDB dairy list

There is a new entrant at the top of the Holstein young bull rankings published by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

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Denovo 22750 Lorenzo is predicted to transmit good daughter fertility and functional traits, which combine into an exceptional daughter lifespan index and a Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) of £874.

The next six positions are also new entrants since the last release in December 2025, with the second placed Peak AltaRotation having excellent protein figures and an overall PLI of £867. In the proven Holstein sire list, first place is taken by Peak Powerhouse with a PLI of £768, followed by the long-standing top performer, Genosource Caption with a PLI of £726. The complete list of available bulls can be viewed on the AHDB website.

UGS spring visit to Co Down dairy farm

The Ulster Grassland Society (UGS) spring farm walk is to take place from 11am on Tuesday 21 April at the Banbridge farm of Gordon and Lynda Mitchell.

The farm extends to 140 acres and supports a herd of 90 Holstein Friesian cows, with the business focused on improving lifetime yield while maximising the use of home-grown forage.

To book a place, contact UGS secretary Andrew Morrison on 07979 703657 or email secretary@ulstergrassland.co.uk. Cost is £5 for members and £10 for non-members.

UFU concerned about ‘Good Jobs’

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has written to Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald outlining significant concerns around the practical impact of the proposed ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill coming from her department.

A public consultation on the proposals was undertaken in 2024, with a draft bill expected to be put before MLAs this spring. It is to include plans to reform zero hours contracts by giving workers the right to apply for a banded hours contract on completion of a qualifying period (likely to be 26 weeks).

These banded contracts effectively guarantee an employee a minimum number of weekly hours.

However, the UFU maintain these measures risk locking farm businesses into fixed working patterns and do not reflect the seasonable nature of agriculture.

“The proposed restrictions on flexible working arrangements risk leaving farmers tied into costs they simply cannot sustain, particularly outside seasonal periods,” said UFU President William Irvine.

AgriSearch webinar on mycotoxins

A webinar hosted by AgriSearch at 12.30pm on Tuesday 14 April 2026 will focus on mycotoxins in forages and feeds.

Speakers include Dr Sinclair Mayne, who will present an overview of a mycotoxin study undertaken by AgriSearch, as well as international experts, Professor Rudi Krska and Dr Nick Birse.

The final speaker is Dr Keith Agnew, the CEO of Food Fortress who will focus on monitoring and mitigation of mycotoxins in purchased feeds. The webinar will conclude with a panel discussion.

To register for the webinar, go to the AgriSearch website (www.agrisearch.org).