Approximately 30% of cows across Europe are now milked robotically. And there is every prospect of this figure rising exponentially during the period ahead. Here in Northern Ireland, approximately 40 farmers switched to dairy from another enterprise within the last 12 months with around 50% of these new entrants having committed to robotic milk production. […]
News & Events
Are Mycotoxins impacting performance on your herd?
This winter, we are again witnessing many issues caused by mycotoxins, with a notable surge in recent weeks as herds are introduced to a mix of winter forages. What are mycotoxins? Mycotoxins are natural substances produced by moulds and fungi. They are invisible, tasteless and toxic. More than 500 different mycotoxins have been identified […]
Maximise the value of slurry this winter
With fertiliser prices high for next season farmers across Europe are quite rightly looking to maximise the potential gained from their on-farm nutrients (slurry). Here in Northern Ireland United Feeds have partnered with Devenish and Gouldings to offer an innovative and widely researched product to market. Digest-it® is a microbial inoculant added to slurry that […]
Maximising the value of your milk this winter – Healthy rumen, Healthy Cow
Optimising your herds diet this winter to improve milk quality provides the opportunity to not only increase the value of your milk but also have a positive effect on animal health and fertility. A complete balanced diet approach is key to ensuring high levels of milk quality can be achieved while still maximising milk yields. […]
Looking back on 24 months of heifer rearing in Gilford
Ongoing Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) research is again confirming the importance of dairy heifers calving down successfully at 24 months of age. It’s an approach that ticks every box: two year old heifers that have reached their proper weight targets are more likely to achieve higher lifetime milk outputs. This level of performance is […]
Finishing cattle – Better in the field or in the house?
The unfavourable weather over the past couple of weeks has saw grass quality decline and if rainfall persists, could cause ground conditions to deteriorate seeing many beef cattle housed. For cattle still out, decisions need to be made soon, depending on several factors. So, when deciding if finishing cattle off grass will provide the best […]
Pre-calver technical notes
Managing the dry period correctly lays a strong foundation for a successful lactation. Follow our traffic light system for management and feeding tips depending on when your cows are due to calve. For more information read our Pre-Calver guide or contact your local adviser
Producing milk from grass is the core objective for North Tyrone dairy farmer
North Tyrone dairy farmer Tynan Roulston is proof positive that you don’t need to be farming south of Dublin to make spring calving and producing as much milk as possible from grazed grass feasible options. He is, in fact, a new entrant into milk, having previously managed a very successful suckler beef operation. This year […]
Mycotoxins
This winter, we have witnessed many issues caused by mycotoxins, but with a notable surge in recent weeks, it’s a hot topic on dairy, beef and sheep farms. What are mycotoxins? Mycotoxins are natural substances produced by moulds and fungi. They are invisible, tasteless and toxic. More than 500 different mycotoxins have been identified […]
Grassland decisions made now will affect dairy farming profitability for the next 12 months
Grassland management decisions taken over the next three months will determine the profitability of dairy farms throughout Northern Ireland well into 2022, according to United Feeds’ ruminant nutrition advisor Alan Boyd and company nutritionist Matt Bourne. “Swards have taken no hurt over the winter months, which should set farmers up well for the push to […]
SUSTAIN – Protected urea
SustaiN is protected urea Nitrogen fertiliser. Urea is treated with a stabiliser called Agrotain. Agrotain reduces volatilisation, ensuring the Nitrogen is available to fuel crop growth all season long. Sustain (Agrotain) has been independently trialled by AFBI on both grassland and tillage. The trial results show that SustaiN yields are consistently as good as CAN, […]
Fertility management kicks-in when the cow is dried-off
According to United Feeds’ nutritionist Andrew Fyffe, effective dry cow management has a crucial bearing on two fundamental aspects of dairying performance: the ability of the cow to have a successful lactation after calving and her subsequent fertility performance. Body Condition Score is the key driver in both cases. From a management point of view, […]