January Newsletter 2023

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. Charolais
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.
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.
Jill Hunter
• Rumi Defence, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
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
Charolais cattle breeders!
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.
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No bull works harder for the farmer, the plate and the planet