Beware Of The Grass

October 2011

One of the key issues at this time of the year is the quality of grass for grazing the beef herd. While the grass may look lush and ideal for keeping the herd on well into the autumn, the truth is that it will have very low nutritional value. Indeed, in some cases it will have no nutritional value at all and there is a danger that the herd can suffer weight loss if the grass is to be their sole source of nourishment.

Situations of weight loss are such a waste after working so hard to maintain the herd’s health during the summer months. Last year the autumn was quite dry and farmers kept their stock out for as long as possible to save on housing costs. We don’t yet know the weather pattern for this autumn, but there are two options: extended grazing or early housing. Common practice suggests that late-housing will once again be the standard route, not least because it shortens a long winter of providing care for an indoor herd.

With the stock kept outside the only way to maintain growth levels is to use concentrates and perhaps also to buffer with forage. Cornwall Farmers has new, improved feeds available for this autumn in both compounds and blends, the key products being Super Finisher, Beef Finisher 14, Intensive Beef and Beef Finisher Rolls if the weather is good enough to allow for them, in the CF Pinnacle Feeds range.

Special offers are available across the range, so too with the feeders required at this time of the year. Feed troughs are essential if rolls are not used, and beef troughs can double-up as ideal winter troughs; these along with ring feeders, feed barriers and water troughs will be featured at a series of winter road shows that Cornwall Farmers are running in October throughout the region.

 

Further advice and offers will also be available on animal health, which is vital when stock is left out for a prolonged autumn period and the health consequences of not housing can build up. Farmers are wise to be timely with their worming and fluking practices.  Cornwall Farmers have a range of products to suit all pockets including Bimectin, Ivomec, Cydectin and Fasinex, all excellent products for addressing these issues.

Early Lambs

And finally, a word for pedigree sheep farmers who will be early-lambing in November: last year was a strong one for early lambs and this year we can expect the same, and to support this Cornwall Farmers is launching two new, high quality CF Duchy Blends in November, Super Course Lamb & Ewe, and Super Sheep 18. These are both fully micronized, molassed feeds that are designed to boost ewe health and produce enhanced lambing percentages even compared to the excellent results gained in 2010.

Both CF Duchy Blends Super Course Lamb & Ewe and Super Sheep 18 will be featured in promotions in time for the November lambing season, please visit your local Cornwall Farmers Country Store for further details.

For further information please contact Cornwall Farmers’ nutritional specialists by calling Matthew Jenkin on 07770 598296, David Passmore on 07901 854463, Blair Vanstone on 07799 773990, Hannah Storey on 07766 416829, Philippa Lohmeyer on 07976 468563 or Robert Northcott on 07919382518.