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Concentrate finishing systems for store lambs often involves a dramatic change in the basal diet as lambs are moved from being managed on, e.g. grass and / or roots to concentrates. If this is done too quickly there is a risk of digestive disturbances leading to acidosis and secondary infections. However, the desire of the lamb finisher is to transfer the lambs onto the concentrate diets as quickly as possible and reduce rumen friendly materials such as straw to maximise performance. Yeast products have been shown repeatedly to reduce the production of lactic acid and stimulate the utilisation of lactic acid by certain rumen microflora, e.g. M. elsdenii leading to a more optimal rumen environment for the rumen microflora that in turn enhances nutrient supply and animal performance.The aim of this trial was to determine whether there would be any response to the inclusion of two yeast products, a live yeast, Yeasacc 1026 and a yeast culture, Diamond V XP, in intensively finished Swaledale wether store lambs.

Through the dry period to early lactation the cow goes through a dramatic change in her metabolism. To supply the high energy requirement in early lactation fat supply from the diet and body mobilisation increases substantially. As a result, the liver accumulates fat, the rate of detoxification slows down, ammonia accumulates and there’s a reduced supply of fat, glucose and protein to the udder. This trial was designed to evaluate the response of dairy cows to product called ABN-LiFT a proprietary mixture of B-group vitamins and methyl group donors (rumen protected choline, niacin, vitamin B12, biotin, folic acid and thiamine) designed to reduce the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and accelerate VLDL export.

Concentrate finishing systems for store lambs often involves a dramatic change in the basal diet as lambs are moved from being managed on, e.g. grass and / or roots to concentrates. If this is done too quickly there is a risk of digestive disturbances leading to acidosis and secondary infections. Hence, the selection of the carbohydrate balance between starch and digestible fibre is crucial as ruminants fed high levels of starch-based concentrates can develop sub-clinical acidosis and liver abscess, leading to decreased voluntary food intake and daily live weight gain (DLWG). The aim of this study was to evaluate two concentrate formulations for effective growth for finishing of Swaledale lambs, one concentrate being starch biased the other digestible fibre biased.

Efficient lamb finishing is geared to reaching market at a specific time, this is done by regulating growth rates – this may involve using different feeds – in this case varying in crude protein content or using different breeds – crossbreds rather than purebreds. The objectives of this trial were to determine the effect of different feed crude protein level on lamb performance of two breed types.

Starchy feeds favour the high protein / low fat milk that the market is increasingly demanding, though they place a considerable acid load on the rumen and there is a danger of acidosis at high levels of inclusion. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the use of maize starch, which is perceived to be more slowly and less extensively fermented in the rumen, when compared with wheat starch, in supplements for grass silage.Thirty-two autumn-calving multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows were balanced for parity and calving date, randomly allocated to the 2 treatment groups and trained to Calan gates during the dry period. Covariance recording on a standard concentrate, was undertaken in lactation weeks 3 and 4 whilst from lactation weeks 5 to 22 cows received one of the 2 concentrate treatments (‘maize’ or ‘wheat’) in a continuous design experiment. Concentrates were fed through the Calan gates at 10 kg/day until lactation week 12 and 7 kg/day from lactation weeks 13 to 22 inclusive in two equal meals at approximately 09.30 and 16.30 h. The concentrates were formulated to be iso-energetic, iso-nitrogenous and iso-starch and balanced for minerals and vitamins. The principal starch sources were (inclusion levels in g/kg as-mixed): maize gluten (230), maize (200), maize germ (123) and barley (75) for the ‘maize’ concentrate; and wheat (425), maize germ (100) and maize gluten (100) for the ‘wheat’ concentrate.

Results from a previous study at this Institute indicated that concentrate energy source did not alter silage intake or animal performance of lactating dairy cows offered a range of grass silages of similar digestibility but differing in intake characteristics. Digestibility is probably the single most important variable affecting animal performance from grass silage. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of concentrate energy source and effective rumen degradable protein (eRDP):digestible undegradable protein (DUP) ratio in the concentrate on the silage intake of, and animal performance from, lactating dairy cows offered a diverse range of grass silages differing in digestibility and intake characteristics.

Considerable progress has been made recently at this Institute in improving the accuracy of prediction of silage intake when offered as the sole diet. However in most farm situations, silage is usually supplemented with varying levels and types of concentrate when offered to dairy cattle. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of concentrate energy source on the voluntary food intake and milk yield and composition of lactating dairy cattle when offered a diverse range of grass silages.A total of five grass silages were used in the study, silages A, B and D were produced from primary regrowths, while silages C and E were produced from second regrowths of perennial ryegrass swards. Silages A, B, C, D and E were ensiled after 48, 24, 0, 0 and 24 hour wilting periods. Silages A and C were ensiled untreated, B and D treated with an inoculant, and silage E treated with a formic acid based additive.