Seasonal Advice - January 2009
Welcome to this years first edition of the Monthly Mineral. January is usually one of the busiest periods for the Mineral Clinic, not least because of the quality of this winters forage and the associated problems that have arisen. Please read on for some solutions to this month’s most common situations….
New Product Sizes
Due to Health and Safety regulations we are no longer allowed to supply our 30kg Tubby’s or our 35kg StokBlok’s. The limit one person can lift safely is 25kg, so we have had to make some changes. As of the 1st January 09, we will be supplying the above in either 22kg or 25kg tubs depending on the formulation. Our 100kg StokBlok’s are not affected and we also have a new addition to the 100kg range. Please see below for details.
Feeding Sheep the low labour way!
We have introduced a new weight for our popular StokBlok Sheep Plus. Now available in 100kg also, the product combines 18% Protein and high sucrose energy with trace elements in a solid molassed feed tub. This is a low labour method of feeding any class of sheep over the winter season and it also contains Smart Zinc to aid hoof health, Yeast to aid digestion and Megalac (a protected fat) to provide extra energy.
Feeding Maize Silage?
It has been documented in the press that maize silage energy levels are lower this year, which could lead to a drop in performance if this shortfall is not addressed. It has been recommended that a protected fat is fed to increase total energy intakes. Megalac is a protected fat and is included in all StokBlok’s.
If feeding Maize to youngstock you could look at including StokBlok Forage Booster in your ration. As well as containing an energy source from Megalac (and molasses), there is an 18% protein inclusion and a rumen specific live yeast to improve digestion and encourage DMI, another factor that may be affected by the low intake potentials shown on analysis.
Lambing Ewes…
For all pre-lambing ewes, we would recommend Tub PPL. This our Pre & Post Lambing tub, and has been specifically designed to help prepare the ewe for lambing, with high levels of Selenium & Vitamin E to boost colostrum quality and quantity. We would suggest that you place one tub per 25 ewes 6 weeks prior to lambing and leave out for up to 4 weeks after lambing. If Coccidiosis has been an issue in previous years, we do Coxi-Clear Ewe; this has all the benefits of Tub PPL but with added Decoquinate to combat Coccidiosis development in the ewes gut, so as they do not shed lethal oocysts into the environment.
If Coccidiosis is an issue in newborn lambs we would recommend our Coxi-Clear Lamb, Coxi-Clear 3in1 or Coxi-Clear 4in1.
Please call our Mineral Clinic for more information.
Please note that all products containing Decoquinate require an MFS Script from your Veterinary Surgeon.
DENIS BRINICOMBE GROUP
Registered Office: Fordton Industrial Estate, Crediton, Devon, UK EX17 3BZ
tel: 01363 775 115 | fax: 01363 772 114 | enquiries@brinicombe.co.uk
Company Number: 4309124 | VAT Registration Number: UK 785 4166 95
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