Recently I have been developing my skills in Freeze branding. Here I share a few thoughts on the process and some key facts which help explain the method we use to provide permanent ID on cattle. Freeze branding uses copper alloy irons chilled in a solution of dry ice (frozen C02) and an alcohol solution […]
Tag Archives: Dairy Cow
Vaccination Time for Cattle
For most, Spring is the busiest time of the year. Traditionally herds would vaccinate their cows before turnout, but all year round housed cattle tend to have the majority of vaccine now as well. It is important an individual vaccination programme is in place for your farm so that not only the correct timing, dose […]
Shape the future – the chance to have your say
You may have spotted in the farming press that in April 2022, AHDB is holding a vote asking all eligible levy payers from Beef, Lamb, Dairy, Pigs and Cereals sectors – how each would like their respective Levy to be used. However, only those who register to vote can do so in April! AHDB is […]
How can friendly flies – Parasitic Wasps – help with on farm fly control?
New solution to fly control Flies are a problem for all of us – Summer mastitis, eye infections, drops in milk yields and growth rates. On top of this, they are a continuous irritation to you and your staff working on farm. Despite our best efforts, flies continue to be a challenge on many farms. […]
Prof Mitloehner – What he doesn’t know about Greenhouse Gases and how they relate to livestock production, isn’t worth knowing! BCVA Congress session review
The piste de resistance of BCVA’s sustainability series was UC Davis Professor Frank Mitloehner (@GHGGuru on Twitter). Prof Mitloehner previously served as the chairman of a Global United Nations & Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) partnership project to benchmark the environmental footprint of livestock production. His key research quantifies ruminant greenhouse gas emissions and investigates […]
Metabolic Profiling by Mike Kerby – Nov 21
Now is the time to focus on a balanced winter ration especially for dairy cows. This Autumn it is probably more important than for many years as most 2021 grass silages are variably low in crude protein (CP) and Metabolisable Energy (ME). The price and availability of concentrates/straights is rocketing and uncertain respectively. At least […]