Know How / Feed and nutrition AHDB resource Download the feed budget planner spreadsheet Download spreadsheet Case studiesSee all DAIRYHow self-feed silage allowed autumn-block herd to expandAn autumn block-calving herd has moved to a new site on farm, replaced a mixer wagon with self-feed silage and increased herd size by 120 cows. Cost of production for… BEEFWhy a Durham beef finisher is adding Wagyu placesA Durham farming family is erecting a new shed to expand its Wagyu-cross beef enterprise by 30%. The Medd family hopes to lift cattle capacity to about 650 head by… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTWhy simple herbal ley mix benefits Durham mixed farmGovernment clarification that growing one herb, one legume, and one grass together qualifies as a herbal ley under the Sustainable Farming Incentive is grist to the mill of a County… CALVINGWhy portable milkers can ease stress at calvingUsing a portable milking machine in the calving pen is the easiest and fastest way to harvest a cow’s first colostrum and avoid having to move a newly calved cow.… BREEDING AND FERTILITYHigh-selenium diet helps to boost heifer fertilityA high-selenium cattle diet and focus on optimum pelvic area is helping Aberdeenshire farmers Craig and Claire Grant rear high-quality beef breeding heifers with an average conception rate of 99.9%.… BEEFHow beef finisher has grown tenfold in a decadeAdaptability and a talent for improving growing cattle has seen a beef finishing unit expand rapidly after acquiring a second farm and embarking on a shed-building programme. Ten years ago,… Practical adviceSee all FEED AND NUTRITIONHow to assess farm mineral status after high rainfallProlonged rainfall has led to concerns about mineral supplementation on farm, due to leaching from the soil. A mineral audit may be a better investment than reaching straight for boluses,… LIVESTOCKTips on improving silage quality in a wet seasonChasing high dry matter in clamp silages is costing livestock farmers money in terms of feed quality and sustainability. Rather than wilting this year’s bumper grass crops for 36-48 hours… DAIRY7 ways to prevent colostrum contaminationColostrum cleanliness should be given as much attention as immunoglobulin levels if farmers are to optimise calf health and performance. This is according to vets in a Glasgow University Veterinary… FEED AND NUTRITION6 ways to check feed intakes for high-yielding cowsHigh-yielding herds with empty bunks or lax push-up procedures could miss 2.5 litres of milk for every kilo of dry matter not eaten. Ensuring peak-production cows can access ration whenever… LIVESTOCK5 early-life heifer nutrition tips to drive milk productionFollowing basic principles of good colostrum management and feeding elevated levels of milk could pay dividends for herd performance. Dairy heifers fed the correct amount of good-quality colostrum at the… ASSESSING PERFORMANCE7 lessons learned outwintering in soaking conditionsWinter growth rates struggled on many outwintering systems this year, and the cattle at Castletown Estates, near Carlisle, were no exception. Ruari Martin, farm and estate director, told the Beef… InsightsSee all 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… 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… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow home-grown forages could make dairy protein more greenMaking better use of home-grown forages could help eliminate the overfeeding of costly dietary protein in dairy cow diets and, in turn, reduce associated emissions, according to Liam Sinclair, professor… LIVESTOCKHow multispecies swards can improve production efficiencyGrassland in the UK has traditionally been dominated by ryegrass. While ryegrass provides high yields of good-quality forage, it is dependent on applications of now-expensive nitrogen fertiliser and is susceptible… FEED AND NUTRITIONMaize-bean cropping tipped to see huge growth in GermanyMore German growers are companion-cropping maize with beans to address astronomical ammonium nitrate and protein costs, saying the dry matter and protein performance of the resulting silage outweighs the energy… LIVESTOCKHigh-yielding herds top efficiency stakesHigh-yielding dairy herds are more feed-efficient than low-yielding herds, but improvements must be made in cow fertility and longevity to lower methane emissions. A study of 21 farms across five… HEALTH AND WELFAREWhy keeping ewes in good condition can help save on wormersKeeping ewes at a good body condition score (BCS) in the weeks before and after lambing minimises worming requirements at a key point in the year, a new Welsh study… FEED AND NUTRITIONMaize silage should feed well despite drought, analysis showsAnalysis of nearly 700 samples of maize silage suggest it should feed well this winter and complement this year’s grass silages. This is according to Liz Homer, ruminant technical development… Advertiser contentSee all 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… LIVESTOCKGamechanger, creating a secure and sustainable beef industryWhen it comes to the beef supply chain, efficiency and quality are what matters. The best genetics means the best beef, and the best beef means the best deal for…
