Articles

With Kexxtone™ boluses no longer available, transition cow management is facing renewed scrutiny. For many, particularly those managing high-risk or high-yielding herds, the question is: how do we continue to support energy balance and rumen function in the final weeks before calving—without relying on monensin?

When the temperature climbs, it’s not just us feeling the heat laying hens can really struggle too. Hot weather knocks their feed intake, stresses them out, and often hits egg production. With summers getting hotter and heatwaves now a regular feature, it’s worth getting ahead of the game. Here are six straightforward ways to help your birds stay healthy and productive through the warmer spells.

Applied nitrogen from fertiliser, slurry, FYM, biological fixation and purchased feed often exceeds what is actually utilised by crops. That gap, known as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), is the key to understanding both lost value and environmental impact.

With recent discussions around dry cow management gaining momentum, it’s important to address the ongoing unavailability of Kexxtone and how this impacts transition cow strategies on farm.

April can be a testing time for free-range flocks. As temperatures start to rise and ventilation increases, many producers find themselves juggling air quality, dust levels, and immune challenges—all while trying to maintain strong egg output and shell quality. For systems where birds have outdoor access and a longer lay cycle, managing respiratory health at this stage of the year is critical.

Of all the trace minerals likely to spark interest at a dairy nutrition meeting, chromium probably wasn’t top of the list—until now.

The CMC Question Time event in Exeter—an important and informative session. Among the many important discussions, the topic of recruitment and retaining farm staff particularly stood out, especially as it’s something I’ve been involved with for over a decade through my work in agricultural apprenticeships.

Dairy farms generate huge amounts of data—some find it invaluable, others struggle to link it to daily decisions. And let’s be honest: a graph on its own never made anything better. But spotting trends and setting trigger points for review, that’s where the value lies.

Creep feeding lambs offers significant benefits, particularly for early finishing systems or where forage quality is suboptimal. However, its viability depends on a clear understanding of costs and potential returns.

Creating and maintaining a productive, long-lasting range for free-range layers starts with careful planning and ongoing management of the herbage and soil.