This months linked article's:

ARE YOU SHORT OF FORAGE? WE STILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP

MYCOTOXIN RISK ASSESMENT...

MYCOSORB...

SEL-PLEX IS BACK...

LET US QUOTE FOR YOUR CUSTOM BLEND

YOU TELL US WHAT YOU WANT OR ASK US TO BALANCE YOUR FORAGES FOR YOU

We know that all farm situations are different and therefore 'one blend' will not fit into all farms: i.e. differing cow yields, types of forages, amounts of forages, forage quality, etc.

Getting the right blend will improve performance in terms of yields, quality and cow health. A properly balanced blend can be worth up to 5 litres per cow.

We will supply you a FIXED FORMULATION with ONLY QUALITY RAW MATERIALS to suit your individual situation.

All of our blends are produced in a coarse blend form with accurate computerised weighing of all materials, which are mixed thoroughly in the mixer before being held in bulk bins.

WE SUPPLY TIPPED OR BLOWN, 5 TONNES TO 29 TONNES,
MINERALISED and MOLASSED or not!
RING US TODAY ON 01606 738617 FOR A QUOTE
OR ALTERNATIVELY FILL IN OUR BLEND CALCULATOR

DRY COWS

RATION FAULTS:

1. Trying to slim dry cows in the dry period
2. low quality forage
3. poor cow comfort
4. 'roughing' it approach
5. low vitamin and minerals
6. mouldy feeds
7. one dry group
8. wrong diet formulation
9. the use of milking cow minerals in a dry cow diet

WHAT TO AIM FOR:

Two groups of dry cows with the far off dry cows fed at least a minimum of a high specification mineral tub and some starchy forage as well as ad-lib straw. All cows and heifers to have at least 21 days on a transition diet. Cows should have a body condition score of between 2.5 to 3.0. Thinner cows should be on a transition diet for longer.

Diets should contain similar forages to those fed post calving and either blend or EXCEL DRY COW ROLLS. A high specification mineral should be fed. Our EXCEL DRY COW MINERALS / BUCKETS cover all your mineral and vitamin requirements.

This transition diet should be formulated by a competent nutritionist to check it meets the modern cows requirement. Need advice with any of the above, feel free to ring the office on 01606 738617

Remember comfort is paramount. Pay attention to these cows and mastitis, lameness and infertility will be reduced.

ARE YOU SHORT OF FORAGE? WE STILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP

RAW MATERIAL MARKET REVIEW

Soya Meal has drifted back £6 or £7 off its high of two weeks ago. This is due to the excellent progress of the Soya crop in South America where harvest will commence in about six weeks time. Should the weather continue to benefit the crop there is no doubt a new record number of tonnes of Soya and Maize will be on the market. This will not necessarily lead to much cheaper prices as many other factors are about to influence prices and trigger fund buying which could move the market higher very quickly.

Such as:

• If the USA plant more than 8 million acres of corn at the expense of Soyabeans
• If the USA has poor planting conditions or growing conditions for their Soya and Maize crop.
• If anything happens to push up the crude oil prices currently $20 off its high (if the USA's plan with its extra 20,000 soldiers does not succeed - who besides Bush thinks it will! What turmoil will be left behind if and when they pull out!)

What ever happens we need big crops to satisfy demand with the vast expansion of ethanol plants coming into production throughout the world the need for energy is competing with the food market and prices could be very volatile indeed.

So we have a complex situation where Soya Bean prices need to encourage the farmer to plant the crops to produce enough for the market. Once we have the crop is it to be used for energy or feed and if oil prices stay around $50 per barrel will the meal price have to increase to offset the price of oil?

Rapemeal prices have firmed the past two weeks due to the large European Rapeseed crushers slowing down their crush due to massive stock of Rape Oil.

Rape Oil commands over a £40 per tonne premium over Soya Oil (one reason for the premium is it needs less refining for bio diesel). But if crude oil prices continue to fall, bio diesel will not be as an attractive a proposition as when crude oil prices hit $75 a barrel.

Maize Products from the USA are still restricted due to a zero tolerance of B10 throughout Europe. There has been a couple of shipments of gluten, which the shippers have been able to bring in to the UK but the premium for such goods is quite hefty and it begs the question what raw materials will be economical to ship to the UK. In the weeks up to turnout time for cattle there could be some very technical markets. Currently due to lack of demand many products in surplus are trading at between £5 and £20 below replacement, this is only short term, the day of reckoning beckons. Don't be short of product!

DECLARATION TICKETS

REMEMBER TO KEEP ON EYE ON THEM WITH THE EVER CHANGING SITUATION WITH RAW MATERIALS. ARE YOU GETTING WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR?

REMEMBER YOU DO WITH GP FEEDS!!

FEBRUARY'S TOP 6 RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. SUPREME HDF 18 NUTS
   Our best selling winter cake. Excellent source of proteins and energies from different
   types of quality raw materials. Competitively priced for today's market.
2. MYCOSORB
   Cows not performing as well as they should? It could be Mycotoxins (remember they are invisible to the naked eye). Minimum order size 250kg.
3. EXCEL DRY COW MINERALS / BUCKETS
   Contains all the essential ingredients the dry cow needs. Buckets available in 20kg & 100kg
4. EXCEL PRE CALVER ROLLS
   Fed at 2.5kg per cow per day, will supply all the necessary protein, energy and minerals she needs. Milk fevers and retained cleansings are a thing of the past with our Excel Pre Calver Rolls.
5. GPF HEIFER NUTS
   An economically priced ration, formulated from only quality raw materials. Fixed prices are available through to April 2007.
6. GPF 16 NUTS
   Economical 16% ration suitable for all types of stock. Made from only quality raw materials. 5t bulk £120/tonne - price fixed through to April 2007

QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION

Contact

Gareth, Gavin or Rachel (Office)
01606 738617 Fax 01606 738618

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