Maize silage and other alternatives
NEW PRODUCTS
Able semen offer
HIGH reliability and over 900kg of milk is offered by two bulls, Windcrest Cubby Jalapeno (above) and Ked Brass Jubal, says breeding company ABS Progen.
Cubby son, Jalapeno, offers 925kg of milk with a PIN of £100, ITEM of £104, with 79% reliability, and type merit of +1.92, following the addition of second crop daughters to his proof.
Jubal is the son of a novel outcross bull Schutzs Brass Bull. He has a UK converted proof with +927kg of milk, £85 PIN and £91 ITEM, with 74% reliability and type merit of 2.53.
Japapeno costs £15 a straw, and Jubal is £18 a straw (01703-286000, fax 01703-286019).
Grass renewal in profitable pages
PRACTICAL advice on successfully managing a profitable grass-based enterprise is on offer in a new book, Renewed Grass for Improved Milk and Meat Production, says industry body GRAS.
The book examines why reseeding is important, options for establishing swards, how to assess grass productivity, advises on how to choose the right grass seed mixture and why pastures deteriorate.
Produced by GRAS, IGER, ADAS, Monsanto and Terra Nitrogen, it is available free (01865-883308).
Electric fencing wire in all strengths
PICK the electric fencing wire that suits your needs from a new quality range which is competitively priced, says supplier Bramley and Wellesley.
Products in the Live-strand range are suitable for cattle, sheep and pigs with Supercharge 9 topping the range with its extra conductivity, says the company.
The Live-rope range has a higher breaking strain, so can be used for short, medium and long, temporary and semi-permanent fences, it adds. Live-tape is also said to be suitable for all stock classes, but in medium and short runs, a wide version, Wavetape, is also available which has improved conductivity and is stronger, so it can be used for longer fences.
Prices for Live-strand start at £5.30 for 200m, with Supercharge 9 costing £12 for 250m, Live-rope costs from £29 for 200m and Live-tape costs from £15/200m length with Wavetape at £22/200m length (01452-300450, fax 01452-308776).
Maize silage and other alternatives
READ up on Producing and Feeding Maize Silage, and Alternative Forages for Ruminants to ensure they are used grown and used effectively, says Chalcombe Publications.
Producing and Feeding Maize Silage by J M Wilkinson, D M Allen and G Newman provides a practical guide to growing, harvesting, ensiling and feeding maize to dairy cows, beef cattle and herd replacements, according to the publisher. Price is £9.95 including UK postage and packing.
Alternative Forages includes chapters on lucerne, white clover, red clover, sainfoin, maize and whole-crop, big bale kale and economics of using forage crops. It is edited by G P F Lane and J M Wilkinson (£13.50 inc UK p&p).
Details from 01673-863023, fax 01673-863108.