Articles
Weeds in winter cereals, April 2019
Grass weeds are a priority if they escaped autumn treatment, although bromes and black-grass are less easy to control in the spring. There are no herbicide options in oats and…
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Slugs, April 2019
The recent warm spell followed by the rain (and snow falling at the time of writing) will have given slugs a boost in activity, with consequent damage to crops in…
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Forestry Grant Scheme update – Spring 2019
Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) secured until the end of 2020. The deadline for guaranteed FGS contract payments has been extended to the end of December 2020, regardless of the outcome…
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Magnesium Supplementation For Cows
Magnesium is not stored and a daily dietary intake is required and if output exceeds intake then cows are at risk of staggers.
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Straw Diets for Suckler Cows – check your ration!
There have been recent reports of a number of rumen impaction cases related to beef sucklers fed on straw-based rations. These cases have been particularly prevalent in areas where there is a shortage of alternative higher quality forages such as silage or hay.
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Listeriosis Alert
Feed the best quality silage you can to the most sensitive stock particularly pregnant sheep and cattle. Discard and do not feed silage that is visibly mouldy. Dilute high risk forages with good forage, if this is not possible seek advice on alternative options for feeds.
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Correcting BOHB Levels
A useful check for diet adequacy is a blood sample for the concentration of the ketone β- hydroxyl butyrate (BOHB). This is produced when the reserves of the ewe are…
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Detecting Ewe Under Nutrition In Late Pregnancy
70% of foetal growth occurs in the last 6 weeks of gestation making it crucial to avoid ewe undernutrition during this time. BOHB is found in high levels in the…
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Are You Prepared For Calving?
With calving looming or already started for some this is the time to make sure that you’re prepared for what can be the busiest and most stressful part of the year. With the first calf often arriving quicker than planned it’s a good idea to have checked that your calving equipment and essentials are ready.
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Nutritional Influencers of Lamb Birthweight
Mid- and late-pregnancy management does influence lamb birth weight; mid-pregnancy due to placenta development and late-pregnancy due to foetal growth.
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