The good news for the dairy farming industry is that the Agricultural Price Index indicates that input cost inflation has eased. However, input costs remain historically high and with falling milk prices profit margins are being squeezed. The continuing uncertainty about changes to agricultural subsidy schemes is leading producers to review their future, and the … Read more
Deficiencies on Pasture Trace element and vitamin deficiencies can adversely affect performance, fertility and profitability in sheep and cattle. The four most important trace elements are cobalt, copper selenium and iodine. Trace element deficiencies can be inherent (low concentrations in soil) or induced (high concentrations of inhibitors. The resultant conditions may be expressed either in … Read more
Co Down suckler beef producer Sam Chesney has used Provita Advance+ silage inoculant for 30 years! Co Down suckler beef producer Sam Chesney reckons he will be making first cut silage two, or possibly three weeks, later than would normally be the case. And this is a direct consequence of the late spring and the … Read more
Written by Dr James Wilson PhD It is estimated across a range of dairy systems that approximately 1 in 3 cows are lame at any given time (Randall et al. 2019). This has come from numerous studies examining prevalence across a range of dairy systems, meaning that this is not a condition unique to the … Read more
The growing threat of Johne’s Disease is encouraging significant numbers of dairy farmers to offer bespoke colostrum replacements to newborn calves. A case in point is Katesbridge milk producer John McGaffin, who farms with his father Hubert. The pair milk 125, mainly autumn calving cows, a mix of Holstein and Ayrshires. The herd is currently … Read more
Recent research has shown that dry matter losses are costing farmers on average £26 per tonne of DM, with this figure likely to be considerably more in 2022 based on current input costs. Simple changes in silage making practices like ensuring a rapid wilt to a target of 30% DM as quickly as possible to … Read more
Dr T.B Barragry PhD, MSc, MVB, MRCVS, Dip ECVPT. Veterinary pharmacologist. The aim in making good silage and indeed in storing any crop, is to keep its nutritional quality as close as possible to that of the original harvested crop and to avoid losses during silage making. This means minimizing losses of dry matter and … Read more
By: Dr T.B Barragry PhD MSc MVB MRCVS Probiotic Actions Very significant advances have been made in clarifying the scientific mechanism of action of probiotics with respect to their interactions with the gut microbiome and on the development of immunity in the gut barrier itself. These interesting new probiotic mechanisms are largely threefold: The Gut … Read more
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES We are currently recruiting for a creative and dynamic Marketing Executive. The successful applicant will be responsible for all aspects of marketing developments within the business. From the creation of new marketing materials such as literature, advertising, social media, videos and website to creating and updating product packaging and label artwork. Develop … Read more
Written by Dr T.B Barragry PhD,MSc,MVB,MRCVS Physiologically, lambs are precision instruments and can be prone to a great number of health and productivity problems while on pasture. Adequacy of nutrient intake by the young lamb can be hit and miss in many cases, depending on weather conditions, soil type, parasitism, pasture quality and herbage type. … Read more