Page 16 - AWA Vol.42-No.6 issue

DAIRY FARMING

Supporting livestock performance when summer

grass is lacking

sential.
In either situation, additional for-
age, most commonly silage, may
be needed to replace missing and
scorched pasture. However, this
draws on winter stocks earlier than
planned.
Where silage is required, Dr Wynn
advises using the best-quality for-
age available. The rumen produces
• Lower milk yield
heat as feed is fermented, so poor-
• Reduced liveweight gain er-quality, harder-to-digest material
can add to the challenge during hot
• Loss of body condition
weather. Better-quality forage can
• Knock-on effects for fertility support more effective digestion

• Pressure on health and perfor- and help animals to retain more val-
mance ue from what they eat.
Hot, dry weather can leave cattle Depending on the ration, farmers
and sheep with less to graze, just as • Reduced farm profitability may also consider rumen buffers,
heat stress and fly irritation disrupt These effects may last beyond the protected fats or live yeast to sup-
feeding behaviour. With pasture immediate hot spell and can affect port the rumen environment and the
scorched and providing less nutri- the health and future performance microbes responsible for breaking
tion across much of the UK, now is an of unborn calves, so acting early can down fibre.
ideal time to review both fly-control help protect longer-term herd and
measures and summer rations, help- flock performance. More than fly control: How Crys-
ing maintain grazing efficiency and Review forage and the basal ra- talyx Garlyx supports summer nu-
livestock performance. trition
tion first
The nutritional challenge Once the base ration has been ad-
As a first port of call, Dr Richard dressed, targeted supplementation
AHDB’s Forage for Knowledge Wynn, head of research and devel- can help fill remaining gaps.
grass-monitoring alerts from July opment at Fevara, advises farmers to
2026 show average grass growth reassess the basal ration and replace Crystalyx Garlyx is an ideal sum-
was down 30% compared with the the nutrition that declining pasture is mer grazing solution. Primarily de-
same time last year. It also notes that no longer providing. signed to maximise animal perfor-
dry soils and a lack of moisture has mance by stimulating forage intake
stopped growth in some areas, with Start by considering: and digestion, it helps cattle and
swards beginning to struggle above • How much grass is available sheep make more of scorched, lim-
25°C and growth stopping altogeth- • Whether grass growth is meeting ited or low-nutrient grass, while its
er at 30°C. The advice states that high concentration of natural garlic
even after rain arrives, grass could livestock demand is an added benefit to help ward off
take several weeks to recover, and • Whether the nutrient profile of flies and biting insects.
many farms may therefore need to summer forage has changed Crystalyx Garlyx contains:
rely heavily on supplementary feed • Which groups are under the great-
for at least another six weeks. • A full complement of vitamins,
est nutritional pressure minerals and trace elements to bal-
Cattle and sheep can become less ance deficiencies in summer grass
• How much silage or alternative
active in hot weather, seeking out forage may be required
shade and altering when and where • Concentrated natural garlic to
they graze. This can impact the • What using silage now will mean create an invisible barrier around
the animal, making it less attractive
amount they eat, reducing their in- for winter stocks to flies and biting insects
take at precisely at the point when Some farmers may consider bring-
their bodies are under more strain. • High levels of zinc to maintain skin
ing cattle inside where suitable
When intakes fall and pasture no housing and ventilation are avail- condition and integrity
longer supplies the nutrition it did able. If this is not practical, stock will Its free-access format allows an-
a few weeks earlier, the effects can likely remain outside, where access imals to visit the lick as and when
include: to clean water and shade will be es- they choose, which may be useful
14 Vol. 42 No. 6

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