Nettex

Nettex has been developing innovative and technological solutions for nutrition and animal husbandry since 1983, when the business was founded in the UK.

Nettex’s dedicated team of account business managers have over 30 years of experience from within the UK agricultural sector. This, teamed with the technical support provided by Nia Williams in her role as the technical marketing manager, ensures every solution is developed with the needs of the UK livestock farmer in mind.

Today we research, manufacture and formulate a comprehensive range of solutions at the state-of-the-art facility at Rochester in the UK, supplying a wide range of markets that includes ruminant livestock, equestrian, poultry, and domestic pets.

 

[Ellie@Rumenco]

Colostrum is a complex biological liquid formed in the ewe’s udder prior to lambing. It contains a large number of essential ingredients that are important for getting lambs off to a good start. Important elements naturally found in colostrum are globulin protein, colostrum fat, nutrients, growth factors and growth hormones.

If the ewe is unable to provide sufficient quality colostrum then a colostrum supplement must be considered. A colostrum supplement should deliver globulin protein to the lamb while still maintaining naturally high levels of colostral fat, growth factors, hormones, vitamins and minerals critical to lamb survival.

Nettex Colostrums contains whole natural colostrum and colostral fat collected from Scottish farms. Nettex Colostrums therefore benefits from natural colostral fat which other colostrum supplements do not. Nettex welcomes the opportunity to support the fledgling British colostrum industry and British farmers.

While the main function of colostrum from the ewe is to provide globulin protein to her lambs, the other major function is to provide energy. The most important nutrient that enables this is colostral fat, which provides a unique source of energy that allows new-borns to maintain their body temperature.

At birth approximately 5% of the lamb’s body fat is “brown fat”. Brown fat metabolises colostral fat to produce energy in the form of heat. New-born lambs especially those that have had a difficult birth and those exposed to cold, wet, or windy weather, are at risk of suffering from hypothermia, and colostral fat is their best source of energy. The ingestion of colostral fat has long term benefits as it initiates fat metabolism pathways in the liver that are important for long term growth. Colostral fat also carries the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

Ensuring lambs have rapid access to a quality source of colostrum at birth is vital for their survival.

Lastly, don't forget the 4Q rule of colostrum!