Dry spring leaves livestock farmers in UK with feed shortages

Livestock farmers in Gloucestershire are facing increased costs and difficult decisions following one of the driest springs in the UK in half a century, with insufficient grass growth forcing some to feed animals from winter reserves.

According to the Met Office, spring 2025 was the driest in 50 years. While the warm and dry conditions have benefited some horticultural producers, they have placed considerable strain on livestock operations.

Helen Griffiths, who raises cattle and sheep in Ashleworth, Gloucestershire, said the conditions have disrupted her usual grazing cycle. “The grass growth generally keeps up with the cattle grazing until mid to late July,” she said. “This year, once they’d eaten off the grass that was there, that was it — the grass just hasn’t grown.”

As a result, Griffiths has been forced to use forage — including hay and haylage — typically reserved for winter months. She now anticipates spending up to £1,000 more per month to purchase additional feed. “I was quoted £30 per round hay bale delivered to the farm, which is quite high compared to previous years,” she noted.

She also raised concerns about straw supplies, saying that reduced grain growth may lead to a bedding shortage this winter. One of her flood-prone fields barely saw any inundation in the past year, a development she believes has further affected pasture conditions.

“The weather seems to be increasingly extreme on different ends of the scale, and as farmers that’s something we have to battle on the frontline,” Griffiths said.

Asked about possible consequences for consumers, Griffiths said pricing is largely controlled by larger supply chain players. “We don’t necessarily dictate the prices,” she said. “It’s very much down to big supermarkets and the big buyers.”

While livestock farmers are under pressure, growers of sun-reliant crops have seen some benefits. Paul Keene, who operates a pick-your-own fruit farm, said the sunny conditions have been favourable for strawberries. “It really drives the flavour and we get the best crop ever,” he said.

However, Keene noted that recently planted pumpkins are under stress from the continued lack of rainfall. “We have just irrigated them furiously and a drop of rain would be most welcome,” he said, adding that his on-site reservoir remains adequate for the time being — provided it is replenished over the winter.

Source: BBC