Maximising your Maize Harvest
Harvesting maize at the optimal time is crucial for maximising quality, yield and animal performance on UK farms. The main target for harvest is the crop’s dry matter (DM) content, which should ideally be between 30–35%. This is because, at this stage, starch development in the grain is at its peak this should ideally be […]
Measuring Dung for Digestive Clues
Digestive clues of ruminant animals are ever present in the form of fresh dung. Typically using dung scoring, where dung is judged on its appearance and thickness, we can measure rumen function of the herd. The use of a manure sieve goes one step further to uncover important clues about fibre digestion, feed efficiency and […]
The 42-Day Window That Drives Success
The transition period – defined as the 21 days before and after calving- is a critical 42-day window that can make or break the success of a dairy cow’s entire lactation. As milk yields continue to increase across dairy herds, the importance of optimising this period only grows. The demands on the cow’s metabolism are […]
Stop Lameness Before It Stops Your Flock
Statistics show that almost 3 million sheep in the UK are lame at any one time. This number of lame sheep is costly, with an estimated cost to the UK sheep industry of £24 million per year. Lame sheep have poor fertility and lambs finish fattening later than they should. This means that lameness is […]
Feeding the Young Calf – Looking at Calf Milk Replacer
Calf rearing is one of the most important areas on the farm as calves are the future of the herd. Attention to detail in calf rearing is critical to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of farms. The aim is to have healthy, hassle-free calves that grow into healthy cows for a profitable, trouble-free herd. The […]
The Benefits of Using Cover Crops in Your Rotation
Cover crops are gaining momentum amongst arable farmers as a practical and sustainable tool to improve soil health, protect the environment and potentially fix nitrogen. Integrating cover crops into crop rotations delivers a multitude of benefits. Soil Health and Structure The primary benefit is the improvement of soil structure. Cover crops, especially multi-species mixes, develop extensive […]
Lungworm in Northern Ireland: The Costly Impact of “Husk” on Cattle Health and Farm Profits
Lungworm, otherwise known as “Husk” is very common in Northern Ireland. It is caused by the parasite Dictyocaulus viviparus and can lead to serious lung disease. It is estimated that the losses associated with lungworm in growing cattle can be up to £50-£100 per head. In adult lactating cattle the condition can lead to losses […]
Preparation for Dry Off: Managing Late Lactation Cows at Grass
The building blocks of a productive lactation begins with good foundations laid in the dry period. More and more is expected of modern dairy cow and in order to ensure an effective transition from the dry-cow period, we need to assess late lactation cows and plan accordingly. While much emphasis is placed upon the importance […]
Photosensitization in Cattle
Over the last few weeks, there have been numerous reports from farmers all across Northern Ireland of cattle showing signs of severe skin irritation and what appears to be ‘sunburn.’ Cattle can experience photosensitization, commonly known as sunburn. This a skin condition caused by a reaction of certain substances in the body with sunlight, leading […]
Optimising Fertility in Grazing Herds: Challenges and Solutions
Fertility remains a key performance indicator for grazing cow herds, particularly in spring-calving systems where compact calving blocks are essential. One of the major challenges in maintaining high fertility levels is ensuring cows, especially high-yielding, early lactation animals, achieve adequate energy intakes at grass. These cows have high nutritional demands and failure to meet these […]