Undoubtedly, Avian Influenza (AI) is the biggest challenge facing our industry, and due to its indiscriminate nature, it feels like a lottery as to where it will crop up next. I think everyone would agree that there is so much about AI and its transmission that we don’t understand, especially how it gets into units when we know biosecurity is strong. Whilst it would be impossible to eliminate the risk of AI, what can we do to reduce the risk?

Last month Crediton Milling were delighted to host Zinpro’s Dr Huw McConochie, Research Nutritionist, for a series of ‘Rumen Roadshows’ across the South West. These interactive workshops and discussions challenged traditional beliefs about dairy nutrition, focusing on the critical role of rumen health and muscle tissue development in heifers for long-term lactation success.

How to Spot It, Stop It, and Protect Your Winter Forage Stocks

So, eight months into my first new job in 32 years, how’s it going? It’s a great question and one I’ve been asking myself as I reflect on 2025 so far.

Trillions of microbes. One fragile peace. The battle for balance begins.

Rumen Balance: The Key to Sustainable Production. Can yeasts, essential oils and buffers be part of this?

Good dry cow management launches them into lactation. Every dairy farmer knows the weeks around calving are critical. The “transition period” (about three weeks before and after calving) is when cows face their toughest metabolic test. Feed intake drops just as energy demands rise, and the cow starts pulling on her fat reserves. Managed well, she glides through this phase and into milk production. Managed poorly, she’s at risk of ketosis, fatty liver, retained placenta, displaced abomasum, or fertility issues later on.

Why calcium balance matters

Around calving, a cow’s calcium needs triple to produce colostrum and milk. If her body cannot mobilise calcium fast enough, she may suffer from milk fever (clinical hypocalcaemia) or hidden low calcium (subclinical hypocalcaemia). Both can cause loss of appetite, weaker muscles, and higher risk of disease, leading to reduced fertility and milk yield.

The 3 weeks before and after calving are arguably the most important in the Dairy Cows calendar. Getting everything right is critical for the cow’s health, fertility, and milk yield. Often referred to as the “transition period” (−21 to +21 days around calving), poorly managed nutrition during this window can directly influence many aspects of cow's health and performance, impacting on future production and calf health.

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