Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Cattle and sheep energy needs guide available


    A Tried and Tested guide and tool, "Feed Planning for Cattle and Sheep," will launch at the Beef Expo, following farmer testing. It aims to increase farm profitability, reduce nutrient waste and environmental impact. Tried and Tested is a UK-based cooperative between several farming organizations.
    The tool, put together by several farming organizations and jointly funded by Catchment Sensitive Farming, helps farmers identify the metabolizable energy requirements for animal groups and work through an energy balance sheet, accounting for what can be grown on farm, and feeds that are bought in. It provides guidelines while addressing issues such as managing feed costs, profitability through feeding efficiency and reducing loss of nutrients, which affect water quality, aquatic life and climate change.
    Stephen Hobbs, a LEAF and Red Tractor certified beef farmer in Buckinghamshire, England, said, "By adopting the Tried and Tested feed plan, it helps me with my integrated farm management by creating a 'whole farm' approach.
    "It fits nicely between the original booklet 'Nutrient Management Plan' and 'Think Manures' booklet. It really is the meat in the sandwich."
    Electronic and printed copies of "Feed Planning for Cattle and Sheep," alongside the other Tried and Tested nutrient management tools, will be available to farmers and advisers after Beef Expo via the Tried and Tested website.

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