| |
|
NUMBER 07/04 13 July 2007 |
Perennial chicory could have a valuable role to play in improving the grazing performance of English beef cattle and lamb. It also offers reliable yield on drought-prone land, according to the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) which is currently evaluating the herb as part of its drive to help producers improve performance from home-grown forage.
Extensive New Zealand studies with new perennial chicory varieties have shown them to provide high quality grazing for both cattle and lambs. Indeed, over a number of years varieties bred for improved performance have proved capable of supporting daily lamb growth rates noticeably higher than ryegrass, albeit not up to the level of white clover.
Recent SAC work has further confirmed New Zealand findings that much of the improved performance from lambs grazing chicory could be related to reductions of as much as 40% in gutworm burdens compared to counterparts grazing grass and clover.
There is also evidence that the herb, which has a deep tap root not unlike red clover, could be beneficial in maintaining the productivity of grazing leys under particularly dry summer conditions.
It is too early to judge the extent to which the potential benefits of modern perennial chicory varieties can actually be realised under English conditions, let alone their practicality and value in commercial grass-based English production systems.
However, EBLEX considers the opportunity they offer for inclusion in long to medium-term grass ley mixtures well worth exploring, and a number of farm studies are getting under way including performance evaluations of ewes and lambs on perennial ryegrass swards with and without chicory at Newton Rigg.
EBLEX stresses that any producers keen to explore the possibilities the forage offers need to be aware that:
| ° | Using the right type of perennial chicory is vital; |
| ° | Well-drained soils are preferable and slug control will aid establishment; |
| ° | Broad-leaved weeds need to be controlled before sowing; |
| ° | Plants of less than 150-200 mm are susceptible to uprooting by grazing stock; |
| ° | Chicory can bolt and become unpalatable if not managed correctly; |
| ° | Hard grazing can damage plant crowns, reducing productivity and persistency; and, |
| ° | There is the risk of milk taint if dairy cows receive too much of their diet as chicory. |
English producers interested in finding out more about chicory should contact EBLEX on 0870 2418829 or e-mail brp@eblex.org.uk for details of planned summer and winter events.
Site map
Health page
Home page
| |
|
NUMBER 07/02 15 June 2007 |
One of the warmest winters and earliest springs ever followed by persistently wet weather from mid-May means beef and lamb producers across the country need to reinforce their guard against liver fluke infestations this season, advises the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX).
This will significantly improve stock performance at grass, increasing beef weight gains by up to 1 kg/week, for instance. Good control is also vital if the red meat industry is to improve returns by making the most of the substantial domestic and overseas offal marketing opportunities recently identified by the EBLEX Offals Working Group; particularly so with the new markets coming on stream after last year's lifting of the beef export ban.
Meat Hygiene Service records for English abattoirs over the past year show liver rejections from liver fluke running at 14-15% of throughput. Although noticeably lower than those in either Scotland or Wales, rejection levels of over 20% in some parts of the country in some months underline the extent of infestations and their impact on performance and value.
Against this background, EBLEX has published new Better Returns Beef and Lamb Action for Profit fact sheets providing practical management guidelines to help producers combat liver fluke. These fact sheets emphasise that the risk of liver fluke increases following wet weather which favours the parasite's life cycle by increasing the habitats of the intermediate snail host essential for its transmission to and from both sheep and cattle.
Specific recommendations include:
Copies of the new Beef and Lamb Action for Profit fact sheets - Better Returns by Controlling Liver Fluke - are available free of charge to English levy payers. They can be obtained from EBLEX on 0870 2418829 or by e-mailing brp@eblex.org.uk. More detailed information and guidance linked to the fact sheet is provided through the Action for Profit website resources at www.eblex.org.uk.
These comments are quotes from EBLEX Beef & Sheep Scientist, Dr Liz Genever who can be contacted on 01908 844243. Alternatively, ring your EBLEX Regional Manager or the Press Office on 01908 844166. Information is also available at www.eblex.org.uk