Maximising daily live weight gain from forage

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“Research carried out by the Scottish Agricultural College showed that daily liveweight gain increases of up to 0.82 kilos will be achieved by feeding good quality silage with an ME of 12 as opposed to offering poor quality forages at ME of 9.6, cut approx. 3 weeks apart” Provita’s Tommy Armstrong explained.

Detailed analysis carried out by Provita, using mini-silo tests and AFBI prediction equations, has confirmed the added benefit of using the company’s new Advance+ inoculant in growing cattle.

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Only one calf lost to scours on Antrim dairy and pedigree beef farm in two years

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The McCammond family milk 160 cows on the outskirts of Antrim. The dairy business is run in conjunction with a burgeoning pedigree Simmental enterprise: the Maghereagh herd is fast becoming recognised as a source of high quality bulls and breeding females. Last year the McCammonds secured first place in a Simmental heifer class at Ballymena Show. This was followed up by an excellent day out at Clogher Valley.

The family is keen to invest in the best possible genetics across both herds. A case in point is the successful use of sexed semen on dairy heifers and the top cows within the milking group.

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Provita Lamb Colostrum fed to every Artnagullion lamb within minutes of birth

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The name McAllister is synonymous with the highest standards of pedigree sheep and cattle breeding. It’s a reputation that has been founded on the back of a tremendous commitment to sourcing the best genetics while, at the same time, applying the highest herd and flock management standards. And where young stock are concerned, this commitment kicks in within seconds of birth.

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Provita Protect at the heart of successful calf rearing business

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Father and son team Peter and Ciaran Kerr run a successful calf rearing business on the family’s Lurgan farm. The enterprise is focussed on the sourcing of top quality cross bred calves directly from dairy farmers, with whom they have built up a close working relationship. The animals are then sold-on in batches to customers, many of whom are repeat clients.

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Tremendous demand for new Provita sheep products

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Provita is confirming a tremendous demand for its two new sheep products:  Jump Start and Ewe Two.

Flock owners are confirming very high lambing percentages this year,” explained the company’s Tommy Armstrong.

“The arrival of triplets and even quads have been common enough occurrences within flocks over recent weeks. And, obviously, farms want to keep as many of these lambs as possible alive and thriving.”

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New Provita ‘Ewe Two’ drench works a treat for Tullylagan Texels

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Father and son team Philip and Stuart Hammond run the renowned Tullylagan flock of Texel and Blue Leicester sheep on their farm near Sandholes in Co Tyrone.

“We keep 120 breeding ewes in total,” Philip explained.

“The bulk of the flock is made up of pedigree Texels. But we also keep 40 Blue Leicesters plus a small number of commercial ewes, most of which are used to carry pedigree embryos.”

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Generating the competitive edge – key to profitable sheep production

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Achieving that all important competitive edge is the core principle by which Co Tyrone sheep breeder Colin Barnes runs his business.

“And that’s as important for my customers as it is for me,” he said.

“The focus of our business is to supply high quality hybrid terminal sire rams produced from crosses involving Beltex, Charollais, Texel and Rouge bloodlines.

“We are bringing to the market high quality rams that will generate equally impressive meat producing lambs with the added fertility bonus that is delivered courtesy of the sires’ hybrid vigour.

“Demand for this type of breeding stock is growing at commercial level here in Northern Ireland. They are delivering better numbers of higher quality meat producing lambs. And this represents a win:win scenario for the flockowners involved.”

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Record lamb crop predicted for 2016

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Sheep producers across Northern Ireland are telling Farming Life that a record lamb crop is on the cards for 2016. A case in point is John Martin, at Gordonall Farm, located on the outskirts of Greyabbey in Co Down. Based on scanning results, he is predicting that a 200% lambing percentage may well be achieved across his 620-strong ewe flock. But, like every other sheep farmer, he is not counting his chickens until all of this year’s lambs are on the ground.

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