The fly season is in full swing and with it comes the very real threat of breeding heifers and dry cows succumbing to Summer Mastitis. All it takes is a single incursion by an infected fly into the teat canal of a cow or heifer to create the problem. The end result is the severe […]
Author Archives: Graeme Warnock
11
Feb
Feb
With so many different feed blocks and mineral buckets on the market, it is often difficult to determine which product offers the best value in terms of product cost and livestock performance. The cost differential between blocks on the face of it can be quite significant; however, if you scratch the surface and look beyond […]
03
Apr
Apr
How to Improve Cattle Performance at Grass With Research Proven Crystalyx Crystalyx Cattle Booster, feeding youngstock at grass. Grass is still the cheapest available feed for cattle and is capable of sustaining good levels of animal performance. However grass alone provides an inconsistent source of nutrients and without a balanced nutrient intake, feed digestion and […]
16
Jan
Jan
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 […]
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 […]
