Articles | Page 110 of 144 | Helping farmers in Scotland

Post Purchase Bull Management

Many of you may have purchased a new stock bull from the various pedigree bull sales recently. Here are a few pointers for looking after and managing your new investment.

Beware of Nitrate Poisoning Risk

In normal conditions, plants do not absorb so much nitrate as to cause problems in stock. However, warm overcast weather after a long dry spell, can lead to an increase of nitrogen absorption, particularly on leafy forage brassicas.

Culling Within The Dairy Herd

Over this past year, farmers’ have experienced extreme weather conditions which have led to grass and fodder shortages rolling over into the coming winter in many parts of the country.…

Potential Risk from High Potassium Straw

The drought conditions of summer 2018 has led to some unusually pink tinged straw at harvest, as a result of high potassium contained within the plant. This has been particularly evident in the south east of England but has also been reported in the Scottish Borders.

Cheaper Straw?

Currently straw prices have eased by with weather conditions deteriorating are likely to increase in the next few months. Would it be sensible to purchase straw if possible now to have sufficient to dilute limited silage stocks to keep cows full or even to winter some store animals on a straw and concentrate diet rather than sell them at lower prices than last year?

Big Bale Kale

In addition to grazing or cut-and-cart (being a more traditional method), kale can make an effective silage crop, both in clamps but more frequently into big bales. Despite its low dry matter, providing a reasonable wilt, big bale kale silage is an adequate conservation method.

Finishing Lambs On Kale Silage

Ensiled kale can be used as a home-grown protein supplement for finishing housed cattle and sheep. By ensiling kale this can increase the utilisation of the crop compared to grazing in situ, in addition to improving the cleanliness of the stock, which may be comprised by weather conditions.