First generation sheep farmer, Felix Johnson-Gibbs, has embraced trial and error to accomplish a seamless system. Having tried out a number of different sheep lick buckets to find the best performer, Crystalyx comes out on top as his firm favourite. Felix Johnson-Gibbs started his farming journey aged only thirteen, with only passion and determination to […]
Author Archives: Rebecca Kirk
18
Feb
Feb
Cow nutrition in the run-up to calving is an absolute priority for dairy farmer — Jim Corby. With this in focus, Jim has encountered very low levels of milk fever, retained placentas, and calf mortality. Jim milks 120 pedigree British Friesian cows, along with his wife Elaine, at Ballynagrana in County Tipperary. Fully registered with […]
10
Feb
Feb
Keep sheep in good condition – even in challenging conditions – from just 4 pence per ewe per day! AHDB conducted a study into neonatal survival and confirmed that poor long-term protein status and poor energy balance in late pregnancy (particularly in twins) are linked to elevated lamb losses and poor growth rate. Relying solely […]
06
Feb
Feb
Having built up a flock of 2,700 sheep from scratch, farming prolific ewes on a lot of poor pasture doesn’t seem to be a problem for Alan Collett. Feeding ewes pre lambing to maintaining condition has kept any hurdles to growth down. Crystalyx Extra High Energy continues to play a key part throughout winter. Alan […]
30
Jan
Jan
Turning stock out to grass in spring comes as a relief to many farmers. However, animal performance and health suffer when livestock do not maintain a nutritionally balanced diet. Fast-growing and lush grass in early season is often low in minerals and lacking magnesium. When cattle are turned out to graze, they risk developing grass […]
19
Dec
Dec
As ewes near lambing, glucose demands increase. At the same time, however, appetite decreases. This is a perfect storm for the dreaded twin lamb disease. This is one of the most compelling times of the year to supplement with a mineral lick for sheep. Twin lamb disease not only impacts on ewe health, but also […]
18
Dec
Dec
Before Simone Dawson perfected her pre calver management strategy, she was on the verge of significantly cutting down cow numbers to a more manageable level. However, her calving issues swiftly resolved after she introduced a simple yet effective tool: a humble yellow feed bucket. With almost half a million followers on TikTok alone, you might […]
18
Dec
Dec
According to AHDB, every case of pneumonia is estimated to cost farmers in the region of £30 to £80. A startling figure that rises to £500 in fatal cases. In total, pneumonia in calves costs the UK cattle industry more than 50 million pounds every year. And the warmer and wet winters we’re now experiencing […]
16
Dec
Dec
With forage reported to be (variably) reduced in quality and quantity this winter feeding season, neither grass or silage can be relied on. This makes feeding pre calver minerals to bolster nutrition even more critical, especially in the calving transition. Fully meeting the nutritional needs of pre-calving suckler and dairy cows in the six weeks […]
12
Dec
Dec
The average livestock grazing system targeted to produce and consume as much as 10 tonnes of dry matter per hectare (4 tonnes per acre). However, 50 – 80% of forage-producing fields are currently underutilised. The right livestock mineral block can make all the difference. Whether grazed all-year-round or housed in the winter, ruminant animals hold […]
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