Respiratory problems – such as pneumonia in calves – are most prevalent when temperatures are low and humidity is high. Poor ventilation and direct draughts can also cause calves and sheep to develop respiratory problems. According to AHDB, pneumonia in calves costs the UK cattle industry around £50 million every year. The cost of […]
18
Sep
Sep
Many cases of milk fever can be prevented, by ensuring normal blood magnesium levels are maintained in the dry period. This is particularly true of summer and autumn calving cows which spend their entire dry period at grass, often eating forages with a low available magnesium content. Milk fever (parturient hypocalcaemia) means a lowering of […]
11
Aug
Aug
New research from Aberystwyth University has again confirmed that feeding Crystalyx Extra High Energy to ewes at grass increases the number of lambs born next spring compared to ewes on grass alone. At scanning the Crystalyx fed ewes, in the Aberystwyth University study, had an EXTRA 20% lamb numbers inside them compared to the control […]
22
Jul
Jul
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 […]
01
May
May
Impact of Covid-19 on the dairy industry: With the effective disappearance of the hospitality sector as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, it’s inevitable we’ve seen huge pressure on the milk supply chain, both in terms of liquid and dairy products. The UK food service sector usually needs around 10 million litres of milk per […]
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 […]
23
Oct
Oct
Nutrition in mid-pregnancy should be sufficient to optimise placental growth. Foetuses undergo very little growth in mid-pregnancy but growth of the placenta continues and is completed by the end of the third month of gestation. The placenta provides all the nutrients for the unborn lambs in late pregnancy and poor placental development will result in […]
22
Oct
Oct
Respiratory problems are most frequent in autumn and winter, when calves and sheep can develop respiratory problems shortly after housing. Damp, foggy days during the winter and a persistent damp atmosphere in the shed, supports a much higher level of infectious agents than dry air. The problem is partly created by the sharing of respiratory […]
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 […]
