Better preservation of crops

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Mixed weather has coincided with the start of the second cut silage season.

“Those crops that have been taken are light, but quality is excellent,” explained Provita’s Tommy Armstrong.

“Higher dry mater forages are harder to compact. Under such circumstances regular rolling as the crop goes into the clamp is crucially important, as is the use of a lactic and acetic acid inoculant, such as Advance+. Its use will reduce heating in clamps at feedout, secondary fermentation, mould and yeasts. This will help maintain feeding values and reduce waste once clamps are opened.”

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Footbath to prevent lameness

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The Provita stand at this year’s Sheep NI event was a focal point for discussion regarding a wide range of sheep management issues.
“It was tremendous to have so many flockowners coming up and discussing many management related issues which are of key interest to them at the present time,” confirmed Provita’s Tommy Armstrong.
“It was obvious that keeping hoof condition right remains a priority for sheep producers throughout Northern Ireland.
Tommy pointed out that Hoofsure Endurance, the unique footbath solution from Provita, is finding favour with leading sheep producers throughout Northern Ireland.

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ProVitaMin – the proven fertility boost

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Annalong Texel breeder Sam Gordon and his son Alistair, owners of the Lindstair flock, are committed to achieving the highest levels of performance from their ewes and other breeding sheep.

And their track record speaks for itself. Lindstair bloodlines have secured top prices in the sale ring throughout the UK over recent years. Moreover, breeding stock sold by Sam and Alistair has helped secure the development of other leading Texel flocks throughout the British Isles.

“Earlier this week Provita’s Tommy Armstrong called in with the Gordon family to assess the quality of the hoggets, which will be going to the ram later in the autumn

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Foot bathing sheep – the protocols to follow

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According to the main advisory and research organisations in the UK and Ireland, foot bathing is the most effective way of treating scald and footrot on a flock basis. But is only successful if all the sheep’s feet remain in the foot bath chemical for the recommended length of time

The following regime is advised:

  • Sheep should stand on a hard surface prior to foot bathing to help remove as much dirt as possible.
  • Sheep should then be run through a water bath prior to foot bathing to clean the feet prior to treatment.

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Flockowners across the UK give Hoofsure Endurance the ‘thumbs up’

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Hoofsure Endurance, the unique footbath solution from Provita, is finding favour with leading sheep producers throughout the United Kingdom.

It provides a proven means of keeping on top of feet problems within flocks. To improve the effectiveness of the solution prepared, an increasing number of sheep producers place a sponge mat on the floor of the bath. But in the same way as one swallow does not make a summer, foot bathing once in a blue moon will not deliver the degree of control over hoof problems required by sheep producers.

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Keeping animals feet right – a priority for Co Antrim flockowner

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Edward Adamson from Carrickfergus in Co Antrim, runs a flock of 600 breeding sheep which includes 50 Ile de France, 200 Lleyn, 50 Clun Forest and 50 Easycare ewes

“The Ile de France sheep lamb in January with the remainder of the flock lambing in the spring,” he said.

“Keeping the animals’ feet right is an absolute priority. But the management focus has got to be on preventing the problem from occurring in the first place, rather than treating ewes and lambs that have already succumbed to foot rot or some other form of lameness.”

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Lamb Trace Element Deficiencies

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Patrick Grant BVMS MRCVS Parklands Veterinary Group. Poor grass growth and cold wet weather has left a lot to be desired when it comes to lamb performance, with grass quality having a major impact on lamb daily live weight gain. It is imperative that with lambs being finished through grass based systems we pay close … Read more

What a difference a day makes

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Farmers are being advised not to over wilt grass prior to ensiling during the current dry spell. Grass samples taken by Provita directly after cutting this week, and thereafter, following an 18 hour, 24 hour and 48 hour wilt have confirmed that dry matter values can increase dramatically if grass is left to wilt beyond a 24 hour period.

“Freshly cut grass samples had average dry maters of between 18 and 20%”, confirmed Provita’s Tommy Armstrong.

“This rose to a figure in the mid-twenties after a 24 hour wilt, and rose again to 40% when grass was left in the field for a further day.”

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ProVitaMin boosts flock performance levels in Co Down

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Colum Woods runs an expansive upland sheep enterprise near Hilltown in Co Down, with a mix of Blackface, New Zealand Romney and Lleyn breed types featuring prominently within his ewe flocks.

“The focus is very much on spring lambing with most of the lambs sold as stores in the back end,” he said.

“Improving the number of lambs reared per ewe has been a key objective for the business over recent years, hence the inclusion of Romney and Lleyn bloodlines.”

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Opportunity next week to get the rest of the first cut silage in

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Up to 50% of this year’s first cut silage crops have still to be cut across many parts of Northern Ireland, according to Provita’s Tommy Armstrong.

“The very changeable weather of recent weeks is the obvious culprit,” he said.

“The good news is that a return to warmer and drier conditions is predicted during the first few days of next week.

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