Farming Monthly National August 2016 | Page 36

| Livestock JFC “Dumpy – Tip-over Drinker” awarded for technical innovation JFC Agri “Dumpy – Tip-over Drinker” – DBL9 won a Certificate of Commendation at this year’s Royal Highland Show. he award was granted by the The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) under its Technical Innovation Award scheme for 2016, Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture & Design. T Farmers are aware of the importance of having fresh drinking water available for their animals and their daily chores include cleaning their drinkers, particularly when cows are housed indoors. JFC‘s “Dumpy – Tip-over Drinker” is an all-new 3.5 litre rotating drink bowl, that allows the farmer to empty the bowl by the press of a button. It operates by gravity, simply using the weight of the water to swing 180 degrees, while dumping the entire contents of the drinker on to the ground/slats. This innovative drinker also swings back to a working position all within the same movement. JFC’s “Dumpy – Tip-over Drinker” improves animal welfare by providing cleaner drinking water. An independently fitted ball cock is secured to an integrated protection bracket, ensuring no movement and minimum valve adjustment required. The JFC “Dumpy – Tip-over Drinker” is innovatively designed, to allow easy service access to the ball cock from its open position. The “Dumpy – Tip-over Drinker” from JFC offers an innovative solution to the problem of high SCC (somatic cell count) on farms. High SCC can be attributed to many factors and is often related to primary management practices, including milking equipment/technique, housing, cleanliness of the environment, quality of water, feed, preventive health measures and stress. Poor quality of drinking water can be major contributor to high SCC, farmers are aware of the importance of having fresh drinking water available for their animals and their daily chores include cleaning their drinkers, particularly when cows are housed indoors. This is usually an unpleasant task which may have to be conducted several times a day. Until now there was no drinker on the market that made this job simple, effective and easy! FUW welcomes proposal for relaxed US import restrictions on UK lamb and beef The proposal for consultation to relax import restrictions on Welsh and British lamb and beef into the United States of America, which could generate an extra £35 million for the UK economy, has been welcomed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales. arming Minister George Eustice today confirmed that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published the proposals, which is a significant step forward. “This could mean that Welsh and British lamb and beef may well be available for US consumers by early 2017 and with that opens an export market to 300 million consumers for our first class quality produce,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts. A 1,000-page dossier was submitted to the USDA detailing the safety and quality of British beef and lamb ahead of April’s trade talks with US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Washington. “We have met with both George Eustice and with USDA F representatives Stan Phillips, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs and Steve Knight, Agricultural Specialist last week at the Royal Welsh Show to discuss #FarmingMatters and as part of those meetings we also highlighted the importance of trade deals for our economy in a post-Brexit world. “Now more than ever we need to explore other markets, and the US market is one we are keen to develop much stronger relationships with, so this comes as most welcome news. It will also help us in trade negotiations with our allies in the Commonwealth and other countries around the world.” Defra is now co-ordinating UK farming industry comment for the 60-day consultation and liaising with relevant US trade associations to gain support for proposals. 36 | Farming Monthly | August 2016 www.farmingmonthly.co.uk