Proven Formulas Bring On The Young Stock To Be Stronger, Fitter, Faster

July 2010

Cornwall Farmers’ selection of Duchy Blend feeds for young stock rearing has been well proven over many years’ research, development and practical application around a large number of farms in the south west. The whole process sets appropriate rearing targets for two-year calving, with benchmarks along the way, and ensures that young stock develops properly and that heifers can successfully manage their introduction to the milking herd. Well-grown, well-framed animals are consistently produced, with fewer replacements needed, less land required, and feeding, housing and labour costs all reduced.

The first few hours are vital, and good practice is most important here with calves requiring 10 per cent of their body weight in colostrum within twenty-four hours, half of this being fed within six hours of birth.

For the next eight to ten weeks, Duchy Blends’ Super Coarse Calf provides a fully mineralised, palatable blend of high quality feed that ensures the young stock develops quickly and safely. The coarse, open texture helps develop the rumen in this 18 per cent protein blend that also provides high energy and good coat shine. Super Coarse Calf is available in 25kgs tote bags and bulk from your local Cornwall Farmers Country Store.

From around ten weeks, the animal can move onto Super Beef and Beefy Biceps for beef animals or, if for dairy replacements, Pedigree Heifer is the ideal blend right up to calving. Pedigree Heifer is a mineralised blend containing a balanced supply of ingredients, including starch and fibre, to ensure strong, but not fat heifers. Feeding between 1kg and 3kg per day will produce consistently strong heifers with stature.

Duchy Blends’ Super Beef is an excellent, very high specification blend for all beef and rearing situations except barley beef.  Containing 16 per cent protein, this mineralised blend has high barley and sugar beet content, and is especially effective for forage based diets. The blend should be fed in quantities between 1kg to 8kg per day and comes in 25kgs bags from Cornwall Farmers’ country stores, and in 750kg tote bags as well as bulk.

Duchy Blends’ Beefy Biceps is a similar feed type to Super Beef, but with 14 per cent protein content and is suitable for intensive rearing at levels of 1kg to adlib, per day.

All these blends are fixed formulation, produced using the highest quality ingredients. Bespoke rations are also available on quantities of 5 tonnes and above, with all supplies backed up by nutritional and technical support from Cornwall Farmers’ feed and forage team.

For further information and prices on Duchy Blends, please contact your local representative by calling Dr Robin Hawkey on 07770 816581; Tom Mann on 07901 854477, Andy Hawken on 07901 854463 or Matt Jenkin on 07770 598296.