Our services

We offer advanced and customisable Ruminant Nutrition consultancy services based on: 

• Nutrition basics – get the base ratio right!
• Forages and feeds available
• Objectives of owner/manager
• Type and genetic potential of the stock
• Farm facilities/infrastructure and resources available (land/buildings/machinery/labour)
• Site/climate/season/calving pattern
• Solving problems/deficiencies/health problems/‘cow signals’
• Milk/beef contract requirements
• Feed costs/availability/market values

Keep reading to find out in-depth information about what we can advise you on!

• Cattle are ruminants – feed rumen, not the animal 
• Fermentation vat = 130-160 litres, full of billions of bacteria 
• Fibre digester (cellulose)
• Needs balance of energy, starch and sugars
• Energy: protein balance and type of protein ERDP/DUP
• Clean water available at all times
• Cover mineral requirements

Silage Stocks – stock taken before house cows so winter ration remains consistent

· Measure silage clamps

· Establish the number of cubic metres 

· Get silage analysed for DM and calculate tonnage based on density

· Allow for DM adjustment (wet clamps feed out faster!)

· Calculate silage consumption rates

• Dairy cows total daily DMI = 3.7% of body weight of which 60% forage = 48kg silage/hd/day @ 30% DM
• Beef Cattle total DMI = 3% of bodyweight (Av. 400kg) = 12kg DM from Forage/hd/day (40kg fwt)

• Particle size of TMR (Penn State Separator)
• Silage chop length 
• DM of silages
• Ingredients used (straw/conc/blend grist potatoes/fodder beet)
• Mixing order/time/accuracy
• Mixer wagon 

Dung consistency = slow hand clap

• Firm/fibre/grains going through rumen (protein)
• Loose/no structure (fibre)
• Runny and bubbling (acidosis, high gut fermentation)
• Restlessness/tail swishing/body condition?

Check silage chop length and NDF level in ration + starch content and acid load

Re-formulate/offer buffer.

• Get forages tested for mineral content – particularly grass silage and 2nd cut are preferable.
• Calcium: Phosphorus ratio 2:1.
• Beware of mineral lock-up: Mb and Cu, K and Mag and CAB value of silage for dry cows.
• Supplement diet with correct minerals to ensure adequate supply of macro minerals and trace elements.
• Formulate bespoke mineral if necessary.
• Seek a second opinion, minerals are very important – deficiency can impair performance and cause metabolic diseases and death.

• Feed costs = largest single cost (50-60% of VC)
• Getting nutrition right will maximise FE and reduce feed costs.
• Balancing diets/forage properly will improve performance and reduce the need for bought-in feeds.
• Volatility in Feed RM Prices over the last 12-18 months makes planning and buying decisions even more critical. 
• Nutrition is directly linked to fertility which in turn has a major impact on profitability.

We will be sourcing and supplying high-quality feed materials and are currently updating this section. Check back soon!