The final six weeks prepartum represent a significant opportunity to influence flock performance. Nutrition itself is a key driver of lamb birthweight, vigour, and survivability, with 70% of foetal growth occurring during this critical stage. Whilst the ewes feed requirement almost doubles to meet these mounting demands, her appetite can be depleted by as much as 30%. Therefore, appropriate feeding and management is paramount.
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Grazed or zero grazed grass potentially offers you a high protein, high energy feed source at a lower cost than silage and concentrates. However, to utilise grass effectively the guess work must be removed, by measuring grass cover, calculating requirements and basing grass management decisions around this.
This article aims to offer you practical guidance on grassland management which will help you maximise feed efficiency this summer.
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On many sheep farms preparation should be well underway for a busy lambing season. It is essential to review lambing performance from last year, focus on areas that need to improve, and set out a clear management and nutritional plan for the coming season.
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Produce More Beef from the same Feed!
Chestnutt's Beef rations contain YEA-SACC Live Yeast, which is proven to increase daily liveweight gain, and improve overall feed efficiency! Follow the link to read more about it!
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Benefits to Feeding a Specific Calf Starter Feed!
The first weeks of a calf’s life represent a huge opportunity to improve the overall performance of the dairy herd. Improved growth rate as a calf will equate to increased milk yield as a cow. Chestnutt Calf Starter Pellets are specifically formulated to give calves the best possible start.
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For many ‘high performing’ ruminant diets, providing enough effective fibre to balance high starch levels, without depressing intakes is an all too common challenge. With many facing such predicaments, Chestnutt Feeds conducted a month-long trial of Nutritionally Improved Straw (NIS) Pellets on the farm of a County Antrim dairy customer.
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This January saw Chestnutt Feeds play host to a very successful sheep workshop, held in the local community centre. The event placed particular focus on flock management during the final trimester, with the evening featuring guest speakers Stephen Kelly (Trouw Nutrition) and Christa McMordie (Veterinary Surgeon).
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Physiological factors such as genetic make-up, sex and age will influence the growth potential and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) of an animal. However, it is often the environmental factors such as nutrition, housing and health that have the greatest impact on performance and profitability.
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The dry period is not a rest, but a crucial stage of development in preparation for the subsequent lactation. Thinking about a cow’s nutrition after she has calved, is like starting to dig a well when you’re thirsty!
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Silage quality is fundamental in maximising cow performance and minimising feed costs, irrespective of the production system. With a rain washed spring, followed by a record breaking drought, grass management has proven a significant challenge this year; with the greatest effect likely to be felt this winter.
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The Grain & Feed Trade Association have organised a charity cycle around the UK’s Mills & Ports.
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Acid Buf is a unique, highly efficient rumen buffer made from calcareous marine algae.
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The inclusion of Actisaf in cow rations has enabled one family farming partnership in Annan, Scotland, to maintain high milk yields without having to worry about the negative impact of acidosis on cow health and performance.
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Next month’s AFBI (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute) roadshows ‘Dairy Innovation in Practice’ will be held on three farms throughout Northern Ireland
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