2023 Limousin Annual Journal

ADVERTORIAL
A HERD BUILT TO LAST.
Jill Hunter – Harbro Beef & Sheep Nutritionist
With another year of rising input costs under the
belt, it can be exceptionally tempting to cut
back and only spend on essentials.
What is ‘essential’?
Many discussions have been had around how best to
maintain and improve herd performance and profitability
– after all, you are running a business. All inputs need
to be carefully scrutinised and their ability to improve
efficiency of the herd justified.
One place we can have an impact on the overall bottom
line, is by having a herd with inbuilt longevity. Cows that
get in calf, calve down every 365 days and live forever
should be what we strive for. In the dairy world, it is
readily accepted rearing heifers for replacements is a
significant cost and the ones which do not get in calf, do
not rear a calf or do not make it to second lactation, are
a colossal strain on the business. Heifers in a suckler herd
are no different. Therefore, just as much emphasis should
be placed on rearing heifer calves for replacements as the
cattle being turned out for shows and sales.
Epigenetics is a simple concept where we can influence
which performance genes are switched on and off in
calves, by the nutrition and environment of the cows and
bull just before bulling and at the point of conception.
In reality, we can influence the lifetime performance
of calves, by getting nutrition and management right
around bulling. This is not overly complex, although
requires a careful overview and a good plan alongside
your nutritionist.
When it comes to turning out quality stock, genetics,
management and nutrition are all required. Limousin
cattle stockmen and women are well respected for
expert stockmanship and ability to turn out stock. Couple
that with quality genetics, it just leaves the nutrition. This
is where we at Harbro come in.
The latest addition to the range is our powdered mineral,
which allows producers to get all the benefits of the
Stockman’s Choice mineral package, while feeding a
cost effective total mixed ration (TMR) at home. It is a top
quality, balanced mineral for high genetic merit growing
and conditioning animals, designed to support health,
immunity, fertility and longevity.
To give you a flavour, just two of the unique key features
are:
• RumiTech, which is a Carbon Trust assured additive
proven to reduce methane emissions, while also
increasing feed conversion ratio and reducing cost
of production. A trial carried out with young bulls
fed RumiTech, showed an increase in loin eye
muscle area.
• Rumi Defence, which has antioxidant and antiinflammatory
properties. It enhances immunity and
improves the function of vital organs such as the
liver, which is undoubtedly under pressure with the
level of performance expected from these animals.
Pedigree nutrition is at the heart of what we do; we have
a team with a vast range of experience on hand to tailor
nutrition plans to meet performance targets, to allow
stock to be turned out to the highest standards and the
base herd to be built to last.
Please get in touch to discuss how a Stockman’s Choice
nutrition plan can complement and enhance your
management and genetics.
From all of us at Harbro, we hope 2023 is full of success
for all Limousin cattle breeders!
Our Stockman’s Choice pedigree range holds health,
immunity, fertility and longevity as its core values and
it has continued to grow in popularity since its launch
two years ago. Yet again, we were delighted to see so
many customers doing well at shows, sales and herd
competitions this year.
130 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY www.limousin.co.uk