Articles

Recommended condition score targets for spring calving suckler cows are for a score of 3 at housing and 2.5 at calving.  These targets have been settled upon as the best…

Some practical tips on minimising the risk from pneumonia when animals are housed.

Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced through growth of certain fungal species on grain and other materials in the environment.  The can adversely affect animal and human health if eaten in sufficient quantity.

Where straw is in short supply it is important to take all possible measures to save wastage.

Some practical tips on how to save scarce straw supplies this winter.

Liver Fluke – Take dung samples to check Pneumonia – Many producers are reluctant to bring cows and calves in due to the mild weather.  Had they routinely vaccinated against…

In areas suffering from the very wet autumn many livestock producers are desperately short of forage to feed their stock through the coming winter.  For arable producers the problem is how to harvest their remaining fields of cereals and get the next crops successfully planted. 

There are many advantages of away wintering to both the livestock and arable producers.

With mature grass still to cut another option is deferred grazing.  Leaving the crop in the field now negates the cost of harvesting and the risk of soil damage. 

Some areas on the west coast have been so wet producers have been struggling to make silage or hay recently.  The obvious consequence is a severe shortage of forage to overwinter stock but, equally important, is the impact this has had on the performance of animals this summer.