Ever wonder how to get the best out of your cattle or sheep, well this article may be just what you are looking for.
Diets and watching what we eat has never been more scrutinised as it is these days and the same can be applied to our livestock as farmers are paying greater attention to what they feed their animals.
There is more of a scientific approach to animal feeds and the nutrient values of all feeds are closely monitored by both the manufacturer and the end user.
Farmers are always on the lookout for the best feeds for their animals and in Tullyherron Farm Feeds Ltd, they needn’t look any further.
Situated in Mountnorris, Co Armagh, Tullyherron is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year and for this month’s edition of Irish Tractor & Agri, we profile this flourishing business and speak to director Paul Sloan about the services that they provide.
Paul and fellow director Kieran Shields have worked hard to establish the business, which specialises in providing quality blends and a nutrition service for livestock farmers.
There are a wide variety of blends available and every package is tailored for each customers’ specific needs according to Paul.
“All diets are formulated based on individual customer requirements. This business philosophy stems from our understanding that every farm scenario is different and needs to be treated as such, different breeds, different forages etc. This all leads to improved feed conversion efficiency and reduced costs,” said Paul.
From their state of the art facility, Tullyherron have produced top quality feeds for a wide range of customers and that customer base is expanding all the time.
“We meet regularly with our customers and discuss what would be best for their livestock. We would have a lot of repeat custom and many are with us since we started the business ten years ago. The customer base is expanding all the time and we’re happy with the direction that the business is heading. If you have a nutritional problem on your farm or your stock are not thriving as well as they could be, our experienced team will be more than happy to help.”
Tullyherron Farm Feeds Ltd cater for dairy, beef and sheep. The comprehensive nutrition programmes available from the Northern Ireland based firm allow farmers to fulfil the potential of their herd.
In dairy, the system takes the cow from the day of drying off right through the next lactation, with an aim of producing high milk yields with good butterfat and protein levels, while avoiding many production diseases such as ketosis, sub clinical milk fever, poor fertility and lameness.
Bespoke Rations, Platinum Dairy Feeds, Elite Dairy Feeds and Omega Fertility blends are also available and the experienced staff are always on hand to talk the customer through each programme.
“There is a 4-step system in place for beef rearing. This system maximises performance allowing animals to fulfil their genetic potential, while minimising cost. Modern day finishing requires carcasses to fit into a very tight specification box and accurate planning and nutrition management is needed.”
From weaning to growing to First Stage Finish and Second Stage finish, each of these steps delivers on specific targets set by the customer.
“The sheep feeding season tends to be a short but very concentrated period. Sheep nutrition can be particularly difficult to manage around lambing time and intensive finishing. However, with proper nutrition management and high quality feeds many of the problems can be overcome.”
Breeding Ewe Blend – this is a high performance 19% ration. High in energy and balanced for minerals and vitamins it ensures a healthy, thriving lamb, lots of milk in the ewe and minimises the risks of twin lamb disease.
Lamb Finisher Blend – This is designed for fast finishing of home lambs and bought in lambs, this ration delivers high energy in a safe format. Highly palatable and balanced for minerals this ration finishes lambs while reducing the incidence of urinary calculi and bloat.
Of course any business would not be successful without a reliable workforce and Paul revealed that they are very fortunate on that front.
“There are ten people working here and all are very experienced in their areas. We work well as a team and they have all played their part in the success of the business.”
Tullyherron Farm Feeds Ltd
38 Tullyherron Road
Mountnorris
BT60 2UF
Co Armagh
Northern Ireland
Tel : 028 3750 7808
Fax : 028 3750 7110
Ruminant Nutritionist
Paul Sloan
Mobile: 07866737300.
Sales Representative
Michael Woodrow
Mobile: 07849833356
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 4, May 2015
