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It was springtime 1995 when Stuart Cowan from Hampshire,  who just recently retired as raw material controller for BOCM Silcock UK, was asked to go to Ireland by Mr Gilsinen the then owner of Schils BV Netherlands to pioneer sales of milk powder in Ireland. Robert and Marion Mollan were running a small grocery and … Read more

Milking goats must be given the best possible start Ireland’s milking goat sector might be small, in terms of its physical size. However, those involved are totally committed to achieving the highest business management and animal husbandry standards. Brian and Linda Cowan, who own the Owenskerry herd, are a case in point. The couple milk … Read more

Rearing Lambs Every year most farmers will have some surplus lambs due to multiple births or ewe dying which will lead to lambs needing to be artificially reared. There are many things to look at which can help you successfully rear strong healthy lambs this season. Colostrum Colostrum is vital for improving immunity and reducing … Read more

SilaSave is the only cost-effective solution to stop surface waste on silage pits. Surface waste presents a problem from a number of perspectives: Loss of valuable fodder The effects of the presence of moulds and mycotoxins on production, health and the fertility of your livestock, often not noticed The amount of labour required to remove … Read more

Guidelines for Calf Rearing   Giving your calves the best possible start in life is very important to ensure they thrive, stay healthy and to mitigate losses on the farm. There are some guidelines you may want to look at in order to reach the best possible results.   Colostrum A newborn calf must rely … Read more

When it comes to feeding your calves, there are many different options on the market. Figuring out what is best for you and your farm is important and it is good to think about things like costs, what works on your farm best and maintenance. We will try to break down the pros and cons … Read more

Housing for calves   To help reduce the risk of spreading disease and bacteria, it is recommended that you try to keep calves in individual pens for the first 3 weeks. Usually disease is spread through direct contact with other calves so this will help reduce that problem. Statistically farms that use individual pens for … Read more

Cryptosporidiosis What is cryptosporidiosis? Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most common causes of calf scours in the UK. It is caused by a parasite called cryptosporidium and is usually seen in young calves from 5 days of age until around 3-4 weeks of age. There are four species of the cryptosporidium parasite that infect cattle, … Read more

On most farms at one time or another farmers have to deal with lung problems in young calves. These can cause significant health issues in young calves and damage to the lungs can be irreversible and can make it much more difficult for the calf to thrive and grow, let alone much higher costs in … Read more