Pre-Calving Nutritional Advice The key to successful calving is cow condition. Cows should be fit – not fat – when they calve down, ideally a condition score in the range 2.5-3 at calving. Overfatness comes from over feeding in late lactation or the early dry period. Cows should be at the target calving condition when […]
13
Aug
Aug
Respiratory problems in young cattle are, unfortunately, all too common. Calves, like children, are particularly prone to respiratory problems as their immune system is not fully developed. The severity of the problems can vary from a mild nasal discharge and coughing in a group of calves, to severe pneumonia with some deaths. Respiratory problems are […]
07
Aug
Aug
MAKE BEST USE OF GRASS. MAXIMISE PERFORMANCE AND FERTILITY– WITH CRYSTALYX! It’s certainly been a great season for grass growth, oodles of the stuff all across the country. As we have passed the longest day in grass terms the peak has passed and we are on the way down the growth curve. In quality terms from […]
06
Jul
Jul
Keep biting insects away from livestock with Crystalyx Garlyx The ‘fly season’ is in full swing and with it comes the enhanced risk of pre calving cows and in-calf heifers becoming predisposed to Summer Mastitis. However, the good news is that Crystalyx Garlyx represents a natural way of protecting cattle – and sheep- from biting insects. The […]
19
May
May
When grass is plentiful, the feeding of extra energy as concentrates to late lactation cows may be uneconomic – especially with prices the way they are right now. Grass dry matter intakes can be depressed and replaced with the concentrates such that any increase in total energy intake will be relatively small. What is needed […]
25
Mar
Mar
Will, Stephen and Alan Vose farm with their father Bill at Blundell House Farm near Ormskirk where the main enterprises are arable crops including maincrop potatoes and a 1000 ewe flock, split into January and March lambing groups. The Suffolk x Mule ewes are put to Hampshire tups and average 1.65 lambs sold per ewe […]
03
Jan
Jan
A developing ovine foetus does nearly 70% of its growth in the final 6 weeks of gestation. As the unborn lamb grows, so does the energy demand placed on the heavily pregnant ewe. The more lambs she carries, the greater her daily energy requirement. Twin lamb disease (pregnancy toxaemia) results from an inadequate dietary energy […]
21
Oct
Oct
Forage is still one of the cheapest available feeds for cattle and is capable of sustaining good levels of animal performance even in the autumn and winter. But forage provides an inconsistent source of nutrients and without a balanced nutrient intake, feed digestion and animal performance will suffer. Growing youngstock, including bulling and in-calf heifers […]
18
Aug
Aug
FLUSHING & TUPPING WITH CRYSTALYX EXTRA HIGH ENERGY Nutrition during the weeks before mating should ensure all ewes are in the correct body condition score by the time they join the ram. Why bother? Because over fat or thin ewes never perform well: They take longer to come on heat when rams are turned in […]
NEW APPROACH OFFERS RESPITE FROM TAIL-BITING Tail biting continues to present a drain on pig producer margins but a new nutritional supplement is helping reduce the extent of tail biting behaviour which could have big benefits. There is no single factor that causes pigs to begin tail biting, but once they start it can become […]