Know How / Feed and nutrition AHDB resource Download the feed budget planner spreadsheet Download spreadsheet Case studiesSee all FEED AND NUTRITIONWholecrop barley silage solves key challenges on dairy farmCases of milk fever in the 400 high-yielding pedigree Holsteins at Poyerston Farm numbered just two in the last calving period. Roger Lewis, who runs the autumn-calving herd in partnership… LAYERSWhy egg producer includes humic acid in layer rationsThe latest cycle of hens at Glanalders in Radnorshire produced 14 eggs a bird more than the breed average, worth an additional revenue of £37,300 across the flock of Burford… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow one farm is trialling a regen approach to forage maizeFaced with a reliance on maize but driven by a commitment to regenerative farming principles, Lucy and Rob Noad set out to prove that maize can be grown more sustainably.… SHEEPHow feeding clover silage cut costs in run-up to lambingHigh-quality red and white clover silages have allowed a Powys sheep farm to shave nearly £2 a head from the purchased feed bill of twin-bearing ewes. Concentrate feed was one… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow one dairy is managing forage stocks for weather extremesThree weather apps and a bespoke spreadsheet are helping to feed cows cost-effectively at Clive Hall Farm – despite more extreme weather patterns affecting forage stocks for this spring block-calving… SHEEPHow a Romney flock is adapting to frequent droughtsRepeat periods of drought have highlighted the value of selecting resilient forage crops and breeding animals at Dineley Farming, near Shaftesbury, Dorset. Perin Dineley says the business, which is home… Practical adviceSee all FEED AND NUTRITIONSpring grazing strategies to maximise lamb performanceAs spring grass starts to flourish, it’s important to plan this year’s grazing to get lambs finished quickly. Adapting grazing strategies to try to minimise the effects of severe weather… DAIRYAdvice on balancing fibre and concentrates in dairy dietsDairy farmers who capitalise on a positive milk-to-feed-price ratio by upping concentrates in herd diets risk triggering acidosis and other metabolic issues if they fail to consider fibre. Although milk… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT6 tips on producing grass silage at optimal dry matterGood-quality grass silage is the foundation of the winter ration for livestock, and throughout the year for housed systems. A key metric for achieving the best intakes and performance from… SHEEPAdvice on feeding a home-mixed ration to pregnant ewesSheep farmers are often cautious about adopting total mixed ration feeding, in the belief that a manufactured compound is best suited to ewe intakes in late pregnancy. See also: Advice on… FEED AND NUTRITIONAdvice on forage intakes for pregnant ewesWith lambing time approaching for many, we have started to see a few cases of twin lamb disease in early lambers. This has prompted a more in-depth review of nutrition… BEEFHow to make sure suckler cows produce top-quality colostrumEnsuring suckler cows have at least 14% crude protein in their diet before calving will help antibody production and improve colostrum quality. But the drought in 2025 means that forage… InsightsSee all DAIRYAre transition cows getting enough metabolisable protein?Dairy producers could be limiting early lactation performance by underfeeding metabolisable protein, as well as the amino acids methionine and lysine, to transition cows. Prof Jim Drackley of the University… FEED AND NUTRITIONForage maize yield more than double under film, trial showsThe impact on a farm’s cost of production from more than doubling forage maize yield, from 7t dry matter/ha to 18t, is significant. This yield benefit was seen when the… FEED AND NUTRITIONWhy poor water management limits dairy herd potentialHow much water can a lactating dairy cow drink if she has access to ad-lib, fresh, clean and palatable water? The answer is unknown on many dairy farms, because of… FEED AND NUTRITIONFoliar feed boosts forage maize in drought, farm trial showsUsing foliar feeds on maize challenged by soil nutrient deficiencies and drought increased yield by 36t/ha on a Welsh livestock farm. Nigel Bowyer and his family grow 8ha (20 acres)… SHEEPWhy there's still time to target ewe condition before tuppingLean ewes that were body condition scored post-weaning and moved onto a better diet should now be gaining weight steadily before tupping to reach a target body condition score of… FEED AND NUTRITIONBenefits of following maize with Westerwolds ryegrassIncluding freshly cut Westerwolds ryegrass in the ration during housing is increasing daily milk yield by 2 litres a cow in a Ceredigion dairy herd and capturing significant cost savings… FEED AND NUTRITIONIs insect oil an alternative fat source for calf milk replacer?Using oil derived from black soldier flies as the fat source in calf milk powder could offer a more sustainable solution to current alternatives – without compromising on youngstock performance.… FEED AND NUTRITIONWhy milk fat composition in calf milk replacer mattersOptimising fat composition in calf milk replacer to focus on short-chain fatty acids could unlock better growth, stronger gut health and enhanced disease resilience, according to new research. Speaking at… BROILERSBenefits of increasing water oxygen content for broilersTechnology to intensify water’s dissolved oxygen content has been shown to reduce mortality and improve performance in broiler systems. A Ross 308 broiler trial, which involved 840 birds, showed 37.3%… BEEFHow roasting beans for beef rations improved liveweight gainFeeding roasted beans increased average daily liveweight gain by 0.15kg, when compared with using unroasted ones, in rations for young bulls on a mixed farm in South Yorkshire. In addition,… LIVESTOCKEgg producer's verdict on best alternative protein for layersFrom manure to processing, emissions from egg production can be tricky to manage. But replacing some, or all, of the soya in a standard flock’s diet with other proteins is… DAIRYWhy efficiency is the route to dairy farm sustainabilityEvery time dairy farmers think about sustainability, they should be thinking instead about efficiency. This was the conclusion of a roundtable of farmers, independent experts and industry representatives who gathered… Advertiser contentSee all LIVESTOCKAdvice on cost-efficient calf feeding with milk replacerCalf rearers looking to make strategic cost savings in light of lower milk price could make efficiency gains by reviewing calf milk replacer feeding volumes and fat levels. Dr Jessica… LIVESTOCKGuide: Addressing trace element deficiency in livestockTrace elements are essential minerals required in only small amounts, but they play a huge role in the health, growth, fertility, and performance of sheep and cattle. Despite their tiny… LIVESTOCKHow organic dairy farmer increased protein from forageBritish livestock farmers continue to produce outstanding meat and milk despite facing uncertain industry conditions. In response, Germinal is seeing more and more farmers mitigate that uncertainty by producing high-quality,… LIVESTOCKHow dairy businesses can reduce carbon and stay profitableHow a comprehensive and tailored whole-farm process can ensure dairy farms reduce emissions cost-effectively to deliver more sustainable and profitable milk production. There are two primary challenges when setting out… LIVESTOCKMaking sustainability work for the bottom lineHaving a clear emissions reduction plan is helping David Bacon make significant impacts into his carbon footprint, identifying priorities while not increasing costs. Farming at the 480ha Gleadthorpe Farm in… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHome-grown forage – All you need to knowMaking better use of home-grown forages to reduce cost of production and improve sustainability starts with crop establishment and seed choice. With carefully chosen seed mixtures, a grass sward can achieve…
