Articles

Housing ewes has positives and negatives.  With the largest positive being that it prevents damage to the grass sward through poaching during the winter, this is especially relevant this year. 

It is no surprise to find that, given the weather and our recent fluke forecasts, a significant proportion of our sheep PM cases in our lab in early November have produced a diagnosis of acute fluke infection. 

Now cows have been in for a while set aside a day to check for lame animals. 

It is likely that slurry storage tanks will become full, quicker than normal this year.

There are alternatives to straw if your supply is short this year, although it must be remembered alternatives will be sought after and securing your bedding material soon is recommended.

With the pressure on harvesting and clearing fields, a lot of straw is being baled damp.

Damp straw quickly becomes mouldy.  Some of the potential consequences are – A much higher risk of farmers lung. All staff should have high quality face masks which should always…

If cereal grains make up a large proportion of the ration it’s important to be aware of the difference in nutritive value.

Sheep are ruminants meaning they eat forage, and ferment it in the rumen. 

A shorn animal eats 10-15% more than an unshorn animal resulting in a quicker finishing period.