Locate any area in the world with this app
I thought I would take this opportunity to share a useful and relevant app, that will no doubt prove its worth in a rural setting, from giving contractors precise field…
Tips from across the pond – coping with extremes of weather
On a recent CMC Study Tour of the USA, John, Pete, Mark and Karen discovered how farmers across the pond cope with significant changes in temperatures and weather conditions from…
CMC Ruminant Focus Team
CMC fully acknowledge the dramatic changes British agriculture has undergone in recent years. Technological advancements have made a significant impact but there still never seems to be enough hours in the day. You will be pleased to hear that help is at hand.
Failing to prepare= prepare to fail?
It’s an old adage, but one that tends to ring true, but as soon as you hear it makes you remember that sickening feeling in the bottom of your stomach that you had on exam day, when you realised that actually milking cows and driving tractors after school every night was unlikely to contribute to a successful outcome in your maths exam! Nevermind, most of us have attempted to confine that feeling to history, but there may just be more than a few of you that get that same feeling when you open your clamp of silage or look at your costings or bank statement?
Multicut silages – a review
Forages this winter presented a particular challenge on farm when it came to rationing. There were many instances of variability in animal response to diet ‘tweaking’, which were put down to abnormal silage profiles. Generally, first cuts were earlier and last year and did feed quite well but in many cases, there wasn’t a lot of it, but as the table below illustrates on average they weren’t significantly improved on previous years.
Dutchy tour
In December we invited some of Duchy College Level 3 Agricultural students to spend the day with us. We did a tour of the mill to see how the products are made and how everything functions to make the mill run smoothly and efficiently. The students then had a couple of presentations one by myself, talking to them about my experiences as an ex-dutchy student and their options to employment after completing their course.
Good nutrition key to antibiotic reduction
Farmers must utilise alternative treatments and good nutrition to protect the future of critically important antibiotics, according to speakers at a recent farm seminar. Organised by CMC, Crediton Milling Company, the seminar brought together panellists including top farm vets, agricultural bank managers and a local dairy farmer, and attracted around 60 farmers from across the South West.
Feed management of Ewes during pregnancy, for extra lamb vigour.
Feed management of Ewes during pregnancy, for extra lamb vigour. By Dr Peers Davies MA VetMB PhD MRCVS In most sheep systems profitability hinges on lambs reared per ewe far more than the scanning percentage because lamb survival varies enormously with many flocks scanning at 180% and above but only selling 120-130%. There are many reasons for lambs failing to make it through to sale and even more factors influencing lamb growth rate and final carcase value.
Cann’s Corner
What a challenging summer! Started off well got difficult later on, which is how I see the winter panning out with getting cows to milk. First cuts and some second cuts seem to be feeding well in most cases but not as well as expected on paper. Third cuts are going to be very challenging with low ME and high NDF being common which we will soon have to deal with has earlier cuts seem to going back quickly.