A review of the year…
The beef and lamb industry has seen prices reach highs, not seen for many years. The second half of 2020 has proved how finally balanced the agricultural commodity markets can be. In early May the GB...
View ArticleFeeding the Ewe in Late Pregnancy
Feeding the Ewe in Late Pregnancy The fourth and fifth months of pregnancy are most important to the ewe and developing lambs and influence both lamb survival and birth weight as well as placing a huge...
View ArticleWheat & Barley Varieties to consider this Autumn.
After two difficult sowing seasons and wet winters, Autumn 2021 looks as though it could be an early drilling season with a lot of break crops drilled in the spring, potentially there could be a large...
View ArticleMilking Cows at grazing showing signs of PICA (licking stones, eating soil etc)?
PICA can be a caused by a primary Phosphorus deficiency, but currently a more likely cause could be a lack of dietary fibre, so providing access to straw/haylage in the paddock, raceway or close to the...
View ArticleLife as a New Zealand Vet
For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Anna Cornforth. I used to be a mixed practice vet in Otley before coming across to NZ in August 2019. I currently work in South Canterbury as a farm vet....
View ArticlePointers for Pneumonia Prevention…
Calf pneumonia or Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is a complex, multi-factorial disease usually seen in young, housed calves. BRD causes inflammation and damage to the lungs and airways which is often...
View ArticleUsing differed grazing this winter
The term “deferred grazing” refers to grass which has been left to grow and fed later in the year. Removing stock in the early autumn allows covers to build forming a “wedge” which can be grazed during...
View ArticleMaximising DMI can be split into three areas:
FORMULATION – Diets with a high dry matter content will have a reduced intake especially if they are over 50% DM. The dryer the diet then the more the cow must chew, and she has to produce more saliva...
View ArticleToxocara Vitulorum in Cattle
I am passionate about the importance of linking improved production to animal health, feeding the animal for growth and not to fight off disease or infection. As such I thought I would mention one of...
View ArticleFeeding cows effectively this winter will help improve animal performance and...
Winter rations are presenting a challenge as many farmers are having to base diets on higher fibre grass silages or incorporate straw feeding, due to low forage stocks, into their winter rationing...
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