rumen

With the warm temperatures we have had we have a flush of new clover will it have the same quality as early season bite or is it like foggy grass fill belly?

Im looking to try & get into a little bit of grass silage making for the cattle next season, Im thinking of getting a small forage wagon & doing clamp silage but the one Im looking at isn't equipped with knives to chop & got me wondering for what reason can it not be full length when clamped...

Are cattle now a numbers game with forklifts at 90k, tractors at 130k, contractor rates and repair costs now through the roof it strikes me that running a small herd or fattning number will struggle to pay for this let alone provide a profit, arent producers going to have to think bigger in...

With pressure mounting for many this year due to the rising input costs and difficult silage season, farmers are having to investigate different wintering strategies. For many, brassica fodder crops have provided low-cost options to supplement winter feed. Especially for those short on silage...

Rising costs mean outwintering of livestock is becoming a popular option. Given that so many costs associated with keeping livestock over the winter have increased substantially recently, most livestock farmers are looking for different ways to manage this challenge. Along with additional...

In the past we've always had our calves on straw and rearer nut. On the whole I've been pleased with the results. But I've got a stack of decent, stemmy first cut. Was going to start offering an arm full alongside the straw. I've had it in the past with hay where they get that horrible pot...

Written by Richard Halleron from Agriland Extensive forage analysis carried out by United Feeds is confirming that first-cut silage made in Northern Ireland this year has an average dry matter (DM) of just 24%. In a significant number of cases, the DM figure is below 20%. Across the board...

Dairy farmers are being encouraged to focus their attention on fibre when planning their feeding regimes this winter, due to its significant potential as an energy source. Mark McFarland, product manager at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, says taking the time to understand and maximise the...

Today’s FeedCast special is brought to you by James Hallett, KW South Sales Team Manager, Anna Sutcliffe, KW Nutritionist and Anna Dinsdale, AB Vista Nutritionist. This episode addresses potential winter feeding issues and products you can use to take advantage of the strong milk and beef...

Written by William Kellett from Agriland An overcast day in Co. Tyrone provided the backdrop for the return of the Northern Ireland Goat Club’s in-person events, with a farm visit to Brian and Linda Cowan’s renowned Owenskerry Herd. This 60ac farm is somewhat of a novelty, as one of the few...

Do many people finish cattle in the 100 day system. When do you decide the cattle are ready to finish do the big cattle finisher’s buy an animal at a set weight approximately then sell 100 days later. I appreciate there is many variables.

Can anyone help? We normally use feed company but would like to do it manually by myself. Did study a while ago now and I've forgotten. We grow all the fodder for the beefers ourself other than some straight protein. Rather do it myself than rely on someone who is desperate to sell overpriced...

Dr Tegan Darch from Rothamsted Research explains how livestock mineral supplements might one day be phased out by tailoring your sward choice. Being able to rear their livestock on lush, green pastures rather than intensive feed lot systems is something British farmers are rightly proud of, and...

Hi, I had one die and one is under treatment for suspected listeria or PEM. I did have old hay and silage in paddock but sheep been getting lucerne in machinery shed morning and night as it’s wet. They have been in a paddock which is very wet with gras and clover and walking it tonight I am...

I was asked recently if I wanted some digestate putting on grassland here. Problem is, like so many in the area, I am tight on winter grazing for sheep. How soon after application (assuming some rainfall) can you graze? In years gone by, I used to have a lot of treated liquid sewage and we...

Dairy and beef farmers across the UK are being urged to draw up plans to make the most of this year’s ‘mixed bag’ silage. Lientjie Colahan, technical sales support at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, is urging farmers to get their silage tested and plan winter diets accordingly following one of the...

Fibre – made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin – is a core component of forages and offers a key source of energy in ruminant diets, potentially providing energy levels similar to starch and sugar. But accessing this energy requires fibre digestion by rumen microbes, and as such, the...

The value of fibre extends beyond the cow and through into the manure – an increasingly valuable fertiliser, being cheaper to use and offering the potential to offset some purchased fertiliser usage. By specifically focusing on the breakdown of slurry and manure, it’s possible to increase its...

366: Successful dairy calf weaning Written by Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board A successful weaning programme reduces stress, disease, and ensures dairy calves maintain target growth rates so they will enter your herd at the optimum time. And since adult cows will spend half...