Despite the fact that 2025 has been a good grass growing year in many parts of the country, grazing quality will take its usual drop as the shorter days of late autumn and winter beckon. Metabolisable Energy (ME) values below 10.5 MJ/kg DM are already being widely reported for many grass swards with protein values […]
Author Archives: Rachel Titterington
29
Sep
Sep
The return of the rain and cooler autumn temperatures may well predispose suckler cows with calves at foot. This is specifically so on farms where the plan is to get as much performance from grazed grass for as long into the autumn as possible. Preventing tetany requires cows to have access to supplementary magnesium. Making […]
16
Jul
Jul
Martin Tumility and his father Charlie farm close to Katesbridge in Co Down. A focal point of their business is the procurement of elite quality, springing beef breeding heifers and subsequently selling them at point of calving. Martin explained: ” We use a selection of top quality Continental sexed semen, with the objective of having […]
18
Jun
Jun
Farmers love to talk about the weather! When we dig into why, it’s because the weather can make or break things and directly impacts grass growth and grazing conditions for livestock, things farmers need to control every day. The question is how do we control the uncontrollable and stop weather conditions playing havoc with livestock […]
16
May
May
Herbal leys – are they for you? We weigh up the pros, the cons and the must-do’s when it comes to growing and feeding sheep and cattle herbal ley. As Single Farm Payment is phased out and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) somewhat takes its place, farming herbal leys has become increasingly popular in the […]
17
Apr
Apr
FULL-TIME WAREHOUSE OPERATIVE Caltech a division of Carr’s Group PLC, are a leading manufacturer of molasses-based animal feed licks for the ruminant and equine market. We currently have a vacancy for a full-time Warehouse Operative. Duties will involve managing resources to aid the manufacture of cost-effective quality products whilst also ensuring the warehouse is kept […]
21
Mar
Mar
While some sheep feed lick brands on the market are cheaper to buy, they may actually cost more if they are overeaten. This is something that Duncan Hawley discovered after taking delivery of Crystalyx by accident… Duncan Hawley, who farms in Warwickshire in partnership with his parents and wife, currently lambs 400 Suffolk-cross and mule […]
07
Mar
Mar
With cattle prices persistently strong this year, here’s how you can increase cattle live weight gain without spending tonnes on feed. Right now, prices are more than a pound per kilo higher than they were this time last year. Price for finished cattle went over £6 per kilo at abattoirs in early February, and there’s […]
27
Feb
Feb
Spring turnout…it’s a highlight in the calendar for most livestock farmers. After months of gruelling work keeping livestock housed throughout the winter, we look forward to fairer weather, more daylight hours, and seeing livestock enjoying some fresh spring grass. It can be tempting at this stage to down tools and let nature work its magic. […]
13
Feb
Feb
There was a tremendous turnout of farmers for a recent ‘lambing information’ evening, hosted by Fane Valley at the company’s Ballycastle store in North Co Antrim. Courtesy of his presentation, Crystalyx Ireland’s David Morgan highlighted the role of high quality forages in the diets offered to ewes in late pregnancy prior to lambing. He also […]