Agriculture news

Last summer’s difficult grass silage-making season has resulted in many silages having lower energy values compared with the previous year, in many cases over 0.5MJ/kg DM lower. Assuming an intake of 10kg of silage dry matter, this is an energy deficit of 5MJ per cow per day, broadly equivalent to 1 litre of milk. Read more...

Whether you are rearing beef or dairy calves, you’ll want them to remain healthy and content, and to maximise their potential performance. Mortality is highest during the first six months of life; approximately one in seven dairy bred calves and one in 13 beef bred calves die in the rearing phase, according to Defra. Read more...

Farmers and contractors can make significant cost savings to bale wrapping this season by investing in the first pre-stretched film available in the UK and Ireland that can be used on a conventional wrapper without changes to gears or settings. This film is stretched during manufacture as well as on the wrapper, which means it clings even more tightly to the bale and gives an even better seal. Read more...

Conception rates to first service continue to decline and currently average around 40%. In fact, more than a quarter of producers responding to a survey carried out by Volac earlier this season said fertility was a real issue within their herd. Read more...

Approximately 0.5 million ha of UK grass silage are scheduled to be wrapped into 33 million big round bales this year, requiring 30,000m tonne of film, and between 70% and 80% of the work will be carried out by contractors, explains Volac’s Jeannie Everington. Read more...

It’s winter and we wrap up and eat more food to keep warm and fend off the seasonal bugs; but what about your calves? Are they getting enough milk for the extra energy requirement needed in winter? Read more...

Adopting a few simple measures and an easy to follow farm health plan this coming season can help farmers stem neonatal lamb losses, which continue at the 15% mark, and subsequently improve income by £3,000 for the average sized 250 ewe commercial lowland flock. Read more...

Triplets are a fact of life that require time and effort just when your lambing team is already pushed to the limits. However introducing a few golden rules, coupled with an organised rearing system, can produce quality lambs that will pay dividends later on. Read more...

If you have an early lambing flock, then you’ll be on countdown; it’s those final six weeks of pregnancy that are crucial in preparing for a trouble free lambing and ensuring ewes have sufficient high quality colostrum and milk to get lambs off to the best start, says Volac’s ruminant nutritionist, Dr Richard Kirkland Read more...

With the on-going quest for greater economies of scale and a substantial shortfall in British milk production this year, it’s hardly surprising that more than 50% of dairy farmers responding to a survey conducted by Volac at the recent Dairy Event and Livestock Show indicated they planned to increase milk yield this winter. Read more...