Know How / Feed and nutrition AHDB resource Download the feed budget planner spreadsheet Download spreadsheet Case studiesSee all SHEEPHow a mixed farm trebled ewe flock on high-input systemA mixed farm has stuck to a high-input strategy after trebling its flock size and increasing arable ground. George Evans of Day House Farm, Stottesdon, Shropshire, is curious about lower… BEEFTips to help make beet and bale grazing work in a wet winterLast winter's heavy rains meant a Welsh family went in at the deep end when they trialled bale grazing for suckler cows to build soil health and cut the housing… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTBeetle-friendly parasite policy saves £8 a cowAn environmentally conscious dairy farmer has cut youngstock treatments by 70% thanks to a pioneering multi-pronged approach to parasite management including dung beetles. Spring block-calver Bruce Thompson at Camcloon Dairy,… PIGSHow separate paddocks can improve gilt performanceManaging gilts and mature sows in separate paddocks has increased piglets a sow a year from 25.4 to 27.46 for Farmer Focus contributor Rob McGregor. Gilts of a similar age… BEEFHow genetic switch grew margin £165 a cow on NI farmA decision to breed functional, easy-fleshing livestock was taken just in time to spare a high-output grassland farm from the full pressures of monetary inflation. Sam Chesney, who farms at… BEEFVideo: Robotic cattle feeder on track for five-year paybackLabour requirements and fixed costs have been cut by an automatic cattle feeding system that has also improved grower-stage performance by 100g a day on a beef finishing unit. James… Practical adviceSee all YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTTips on teat cleaning – for calf feeding equipmentFeeding milk to calves through a teat meets the calf’s biological need to suckle, but excellent standards of hygiene are needed to avoid digestive upsets and disease spread. Daily cleaning,… LIVESTOCKTips to prepare a contingency plan to beat another bad winterFarmers must put in place a contingency plan following this year’s wet spring and carry out a feed budget well in advance. Independent sheep and beef consultant Liz Genever advises… LIVESTOCKGuidance on analysing and targeting forage quality this yearBeef and sheep farmers should earmark bales according to which field or cut they came from, so the forage can be targeted at the most appropriate livestock class. A… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow to assess farm mineral status after high rainfallProlonged rainfall has led to concerns about mineral supplementation on farm, due to leaching from the soil. A mineral audit may be a better investment than reaching straight for boluses,… LIVESTOCKTips on improving silage quality in a wet seasonChasing high dry matter in clamp silages is costing livestock farmers money in terms of feed quality and sustainability. Rather than wilting this year’s bumper grass crops for 36-48 hours… DAIRY7 ways to prevent colostrum contaminationColostrum cleanliness should be given as much attention as immunoglobulin levels if farmers are to optimise calf health and performance. This is according to vets in a Glasgow University Veterinary… InsightsSee all YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTTrial compares performance of whey protein v whey powderUsing a whey protein-based milk replacer, over a whey powder-based alternative, could increase saleable milk yields by almost £500 a heifer. This is according to research presented by Volac’s global… BEEF16 ways to improve suckler herd profitabilityBritish beef farmers can check their management practices against a list of tried and tested ways to make their suckler herds more profitable and productive. A joint levy board initiative… FEED AND NUTRITIONBacterial inoculant boosts milk yield 1.9kg/day, study showsInoculating silage increases available dry matter, improves aerobic stability, and increases milk yields, according to the findings of a new trial. The independent trial was carried out at Reading University’s… FEED AND NUTRITIONExcess copper found to impair liver function in heifersFeeding excess copper to dairy heifer calves can compromise liver function, leading to poorer fertility and lower milk yields in first lactation. This is according to AHDB-funded research at Harper… LIVESTOCKAre milk fever and negative energy balance under control?Milk fever and negative energy balance are issues for many dairy herds, despite most dairy farmers recognising the importance of the dry period to cow health and productivity. According to… DAIRYHow early life calf nutrition affects long-term metabolismResearchers are discovering more about early life programming and how critical this is for adulthood, according to Trouw Nutrition’s Dr Leonel Leal. This starts with colostrum, but also includes feeding… LIVESTOCKWhy diverse forage mixtures could improve outwinteringFindings from a recent trial in Devon have concluded that outwintering cattle on a diverse mix of forages can help improve both animal and soil health, while also benefiting the… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow home-grown forages could make dairy protein more greenMaking better use of home-grown forages could help eliminate the overfeeding of costly dietary protein in dairy cow diets and, in turn, reduce associated emissions, according to Liam Sinclair, professor… LIVESTOCKHow multispecies swards can improve production efficiencyGrassland in the UK has traditionally been dominated by ryegrass. While ryegrass provides high yields of good-quality forage, it is dependent on applications of now-expensive nitrogen fertiliser and is susceptible… FEED AND NUTRITIONMaize-bean cropping tipped to see huge growth in GermanyMore German growers are companion-cropping maize with beans to address astronomical ammonium nitrate and protein costs, saying the dry matter and protein performance of the resulting silage outweighs the energy… LIVESTOCKHigh-yielding herds top efficiency stakesHigh-yielding dairy herds are more feed-efficient than low-yielding herds, but improvements must be made in cow fertility and longevity to lower methane emissions. A study of 21 farms across five… HEALTH AND WELFAREWhy keeping ewes in good condition can help save on wormersKeeping ewes at a good body condition score (BCS) in the weeks before and after lambing minimises worming requirements at a key point in the year, a new Welsh study… Advertiser contentSee all ARABLEHow hybrid rye could help decarbonise the food supply chainAs well as having significant advantages for growers and proven benefits in pig and poultry rations, hybrid rye could now play a key role in decarbonising the food supply chain.… CROP MANAGEMENTHow to choose the best sulphur source for your cropsWith many growers using the summer months to think about next year's fertiliser requirements, focusing on how to incorporate sulphur into crop nutrition plans is one of the most important… DAIRYLet’s take a closer look at dry cow managementIs drying off a well-defined and flawlessly executed management task on your dairy farm? There’s no point in cutting corners if you wish to improve your dairy farm’s sustainability. The… LIVESTOCKInnovative feed robot transforms dairy feed managementRoboPusher Nimbo is a revolutionary feed pusher robot that uses visual navigation technology; it can charge itself, push feed autonomously, and facilitate constant access to fresh and nutritious feed for… LIVESTOCKThe need to maximise milk from forage is a ‘no brainer’Although milk prices have dropped back recently, they are still well above previous pricing. But with high costs for certain inputs, producing milk cost-efficiently in 2023 will be key. Which… ARABLENutrient management – are we getting the basics right?On Thursday, September 8th, ICL UK’s agricultural conference entitled ‘Facing the Future’ highlighted some major challenges and opportunities facing farming today. The focus was on effective nutrient management planning to…
