Know How / Feed and nutrition AHDB resource Download the feed budget planner spreadsheet Download spreadsheet Case studiesSee all SHEEPHow autumn flock resilience plan cuts lambing and cake billPrioritising fertility and challenging ewes to milk off forage has halved an autumn lambing flock’s labour requirement and saved on 27t of bought-in feed. Focus has shifted from aiming for… LIVESTOCKWhy Angus breeder prioritises health and forage-only dietsHigh health status, easy calving genetics and performance from forage are the foundations of Angus Stovold’s Aberdeen Angus herd. His cattle, although largely sold for breeding, also have to succeed… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow growing lucerne could build resilience for Welsh farmIntegrating drought-tolerant lucerne into its sheep rotation has helped a Welsh livestock farm reduce the risk of feed shortfalls. Nitrogen fixing as well as deep rooted, lucerne has leaves with… BEEFWhy a suckler unit joined an integrated beef schemeFor Stephen and Gretta Hodges, an integrated supply chain offered a beef enterprise with less risk, a smaller workload and more flexibility in terms of succession. They had been farming… DAIRYHow a 12,000-litre herd balances efficiency and cow welfareA focus on optimising milking efficiency through 12 robots has created a setup that also maximises cow comfort and welfare for a large Wiltshire herd. The result is a herd… DAIRYHow a high-yielding dairy herd hits 1,000kg milk solids a cowA multi-pronged approach with ration consistency and genetics at its core has helped the Campbell family increase kilos of fat and protein from 754kg to 1,000kg a cow since 2016.… Practical adviceSee all FEED AND NUTRITIONAdvice on managing silage stocks effectively for dairy dietsFeed accounts for the biggest proportion of variable costs on a dairy farm. But that cost is often unnecessarily high because farmers fail to match silage quality to the needs… HEALTH AND WELFAREAdvice on maintaining a healthy rumenThe dairy cow’s rumen is a large bioreactor, home to a diverse and dense population of microbes. A single teaspoon of ruminal content contains 150bn micro-organisms, which act in co-ordination… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTGrazing kale v fodder beet: Which is best for youngstock?To farmers who are unfamiliar with winter grazing fodder crops, kale and fodder beet can appear to provide very similar feeds. In fact, there are many points of difference, from… POULTRYThe benefits and uses of lucerne in poultry productionLucerne is becoming more commonplace in UK poultry systems because of the benefits the crop provides to the welfare and productivity of flocks. Lucerne bales provide hens with important foraging… LIVESTOCKHow feeding methane inhibitors can help cut emissionsMethane inhibitors supplied in feed rations could play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in ruminants. However, no one size fits all, advises Annie Williams, ruminant nutritionist and… FEED AND NUTRITIONBenefits of topping silage clamps with fodder beetTopping clamps of maize or grass silage with a layer of fodder beet can provide a ready-made total mixed ration without the challenges sometimes associated with ensiling this mix. Clamping… InsightsSee all FEED AND NUTRITIONCopper in dairy rations: Is too much as bad as too little?Evaluating copper levels in every feed source and supplement before formulating rations for dairy cows – and youngstock – will help meet animal requirements but prevent overfeeding and protect animal… LIVESTOCKFeed efficiency research reveals importance of cow groupingBreeding dairy herds for feed efficiency can be negatively impacted on-farm by managing lactating cows in mixed parity groups. This is because of competition at the feed bunk and a… DAIRYCow health strategy rethink needed after bolus lossDairy farms need to review their strategies for preventing metabolic disease in transition cows as monensin boluses are no longer on the market, said independent veterinary consultant Dr David Charles.… FEED AND NUTRITIONMaize Watch: Crop progress a month behindMaize progress has largely been a month behind all year in southern Wales, with drilling and harvesting dates both delayed. This is according to George John of SG John… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTTrial compares performance of whey protein v whey powderUsing a whey protein-based milk replacer, over a whey powder-based alternative, could increase saleable milk yields by almost £500 a heifer. This is according to research presented by Volac’s global… BEEF16 ways to improve suckler herd profitabilityBritish beef farmers can check their management practices against a list of tried and tested ways to make their suckler herds more profitable and productive. A joint levy board initiative… FEED AND NUTRITIONBacterial inoculant boosts milk yield 1.9kg/day, study showsInoculating silage increases available dry matter, improves aerobic stability, and increases milk yields, according to the findings of a new trial. The independent trial was carried out at Reading University’s… FEED AND NUTRITIONExcess copper found to impair liver function in heifersFeeding excess copper to dairy heifer calves can compromise liver function, leading to poorer fertility and lower milk yields in first lactation. This is according to AHDB-funded research at Harper… LIVESTOCKAre milk fever and negative energy balance under control?Milk fever and negative energy balance are issues for many dairy herds, despite most dairy farmers recognising the importance of the dry period to cow health and productivity. According to… LIVESTOCKAdvice on using data to deliver consistent rationsDairy farmers need to make efforts to use their farm data to manage nutrition, monitor the results, then train staff correctly. This is because cows respond to consistency, says professor… DAIRYHow early life calf nutrition affects long-term metabolismResearchers are discovering more about early life programming and how critical this is for adulthood, according to Trouw Nutrition’s Dr Leonel Leal. This starts with colostrum, but also includes feeding… LIVESTOCKWhy diverse forage mixtures could improve outwinteringFindings from a recent trial in Devon have concluded that outwintering cattle on a diverse mix of forages can help improve both animal and soil health, while also benefiting the… Advertiser contentSee all ARABLEHow hybrid rye could help decarbonise the food supply chainAs well as having significant advantages for growers and proven benefits in pig and poultry rations, hybrid rye could now play a key role in decarbonising the food supply chain.… CROP MANAGEMENTHow to choose the best sulphur source for your cropsWith many growers using the summer months to think about next year's fertiliser requirements, focusing on how to incorporate sulphur into crop nutrition plans is one of the most important… DAIRYLet’s take a closer look at dry cow managementIs drying off a well-defined and flawlessly executed management task on your dairy farm? There’s no point in cutting corners if you wish to improve your dairy farm’s sustainability. The… LIVESTOCKInnovative feed robot transforms dairy feed managementRoboPusher Nimbo is a revolutionary feed pusher robot that uses visual navigation technology; it can charge itself, push feed autonomously, and facilitate constant access to fresh and nutritious feed for… LIVESTOCKThe need to maximise milk from forage is a ‘no brainer’Although milk prices have dropped back recently, they are still well above previous pricing. But with high costs for certain inputs, producing milk cost-efficiently in 2023 will be key. Which… ARABLENutrient management – are we getting the basics right?On Thursday, September 8th, ICL UK’s agricultural conference entitled ‘Facing the Future’ highlighted some major challenges and opportunities facing farming today. The focus was on effective nutrient management planning to…
