Industry Insights & News

Fane Valley Feeds has completed its Annual Mycotoxin Survey, providing an overview of mycotoxin levels detected in forage samples from farms across Northern Ireland during the 2025 harvest season. Both the overall trends and individual analysis results show that most farms face some degree of mycotoxin risk. The survey objectives were to deepen our understanding…

With winter feeding well underway on most farms, now is the ideal time to assess your silage stocks and identify whether you will be in surplus or deficit by turnout or when first cut is harvested next year. Although 2025 has been a favourable year for grass growth on many farms, it remains essential to…

For many farmers across Northern Ireland, 2025 has been one of the strongest years in recent memory. The weather has been kind, stock has performed well and profitability has been healthier than usual. In truth, it has felt like the kind of year farmers deserve after several harder ones. But as everyone in the industry…

While ruminant nutrition is increasingly driven by lab analysis, software and predictive models sometimes show the best information can be gleaned from the floor of the shed. Digestive clues of ruminant animals are ever present in the form of fresh dung. Typically using dung scoring, where dung is judged on its appearance and thickness, we…

The transition period – defined as the 21 days before and after calving. This is a critical 42-day window that can make or break the success of a dairy cow’s entire lactation. As milk yields continue to increase across dairy herds, the importance of optimising this period only grows. The demands on the cow’s metabolism…

Efficient and well-managed heifer rearing plays a vital role in the productivity and profitability of any dairy herd. Grazing systems offer a cost-effective alternative to housing, significantly reducing inputs such as feed, bedding and labour. However, this lower-cost approach must be matched with structured management to ensure heifers reach key development milestones and grow into…

Managing dry cow nutrition is crucial for ensuring optimal health and performance during the transition period. This phase, particularly the last four weeks before calving, is pivotal for setting the stage for a successful lactation. A well-balanced dry cow diet that considers energy density, palatability, and mineral composition is essential. In recent years there has…

With current lamb prices remaining strong and the Spring lamb trade looking optimistic, many sheep farmers are starting to introduce lamb creep to their newly born lambs. Creep feeding is a management practice used to supplement the diet of young lambs, typically after they are a few weeks old, to promote faster growth and better…

Transitioning cows from winter diets to fresh spring grass offers an opportunity to increase milk production from forage, reduce concentrate feed costs and improve farm profitability. However, successful grazing management is essential to maintain performance levels and maximise these economic benefits. The aim: The main objectives of spring grazing management are to gradually increase the…

With the main lambing season fast approaching, it is critical we start planning for the feeding management of our pregnant ewes.  During the last 6 – 8 weeks of pregnancy, ewes need to be on a rising plane of nutrition to compensate for the rapid increase in lamb growth, and reduction in dry matter intake…