Q. I usually calve a large batch of cows in July and August. As the cows are out, the less help they need the better. What is the best thing to feed?
A. From 6-8 weeks pre-calving offer TUB EC (Easi Calver) which is exactly right for this. The cows will help themselves and ingest the elements that are designed to help ease the calving process. The result should be a stress free, wet calving where calves are up quickly. Where flies can be a problem throughout the summer then opt for TUB EC+FLY. This will give all the benefits of Easi-Calver but with Repel-Ex included to help reduce summer fly irritation.
Q. At this time of year our lambs’ performance sometimes slows down a bit and they look as though they could do with a boost. Can you suggest anything?
A. This can be a common complaint at this time of the year as the supply of milk may be getting less and lambs need to start relying on their own feed intake. You really want to get them moving so they are off the farm earlier and get a better price. 10ml of Ex-Sel Advance drench is the answer. It will supply the kick-start they are looking for and you should see a difference within a couple of weeks.
Q. Cell counts are a problem at the moment and I am worried about price penalties. Someone told me about a product supplied by you that would help?
A. You are probably referring to Sel-Count Tablets which has been one of our most popular products over the past few years. There are several reasons that the cell count may be high which could be to do with the herd management, cow stress or indeed injury. If you can rule these out then a nutritional imbalance is highly likely. Sel-Count tablets come in pods and are hung inside the water troughs. When a cow drinks, it swallows the active ingredients which help repair the keratin lining on the teat canal. The response is normally a reduction in cell counts within 3-4 weeks.
Q. The ewes go to the tup in August and last year we gave them a tupping bucket. They ate the buckets very quickly but we just had an average percentage. How can I improve that this year?
A. Ewes will often binge if their bodies require a boost at a critical and stressful time, such as tupping. For best results you should plan ahead and not look for a quick fix when the rams go in. If you can support condition now, then their nutrient status come tupping will be even better. An ideal solution is to offer Tub SF (Sheep’s Feet) for the next couple of months to bridge the nutrition gap. This will maintain body levels of vital nutrients and ensure sound feet, then move onto a fertility specific product such as Tub TUP.
DENIS BRINICOMBE GROUP
Registered Office: Fordton Industrial Estate, Crediton, Devon, UK EX17 3BZ
tel: 01363 775 115 | fax: 01363 772 114 | enquiries@brinicombe.co.uk
Company Number: 4309124 | VAT Registration Number: UK 785 4166 95
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