GrassScienceSeeds

@grassscienceseeds @gsseeds_scnutrition This is one heavy crop, can’t wait to hear the yield per hectare. Splendid 🌱🌱 This will need a top up of potash after this high yield harvest. 🖥️💻📱 Team Grass Science Seeds are here to help you 📞☎️🤙📲📱

🐄 When evaluating a Total Mixed Ration (TMR), the numbers on the computer screen are only half the story. A few weeks ago, we were out on-farm looking at how a transition mix physically behaves. One of the most effective "field tests" we use is the squeeze test: Can you compress the mix into a ball, or does it stay light and resilient? The reason for this check is simple but critical: we need to visualise how that ration will react inside the rumen. If a mix is too wet or over-processed, it becomes dense and sinks to the bottom of the rumen, disrupting the natural "rumen mat" and hindering efficient fermentation. By ensuring a light, fluffy consistency with the correct particle size, we ensure the ration remains buoyant and active. Nutrition is a science of instinct as much as it is of data; if the physical feel isn’t right, the cow won’t perform to her potential. #SCNutrition #TMR #RumenHealth #DairyNutrition #PrecisionFarming #UKAg #SoilToRumen #AnimalPerformance

We have been out on farm today conducting routine health and performance checks on a high-performing group of heifers milked three times a day. In systems with high metabolic demand, visual monitoring is a critical "early warning" tool that complements our nutritional data. Our checks evaluate body condition scores (BCS), hock hygiene, and mobility as the group moves to the parlour. By assessing coat condition, eye brightness and rumen fill relative to the time of day, we can gauge exactly how well these animals are transitioning through their lactation. Seeing a group yield exceptionally well in terms of milk solids - both fat and protein - while maintaining peak mobility and health is the ultimate validation of a joined-up SCN and GSS strategy. /pages/agricultural-services #SCNutrition #DairyPerformance #CowHealth #TechnicalNutrition #MobilityScoring #MilkSolids #UKAg #SoilToRumen

There’s nothing quite like the moment cows step out to fresh grass 🌱🐄 But behind that simple, natural scene is a powerful opportunity. Grazing isn’t just about turnout — it’s about maximising grass potential, animal performance, and nutritional efficiency. At the heart of it all is grass science and ruminant nutrition: ✔️ Understanding grass growth stages ✔️ Optimising grazing management ✔️ Balancing nutrients from pasture ✔️ Supporting animal health and productivity Getting this right means better margins, healthier livestock, and more sustainable systems. Are you making the most of your grass this season? 👉 Let’s talk about how science-led nutrition can transform your grazing strategy. /pages/agricultural-services #GrassScience #RuminantNutrition #DairyFarming #BeefProduction #GrazingManagement #SustainableFarming #PastureBased #FarmEfficiency #SoilToFeed #AgriScience

Clean equipment = healthy calves 🐄✨ Milk troughs and bottles can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria if not properly cleaned. Residue milk, warm temperatures, and moisture create the perfect environment for harmful pathogens that can impact calf health and growth. 🧼 Best practices for hygiene: 💦Rinse immediately after use with lukewarm water 🌡️Wash thoroughly with hot water and approved detergent 🧹 Use brushes to remove all milk residues 🦠Disinfect regularly to kill bacteria 💨 Allow to air dry completely before next use Consistent cleaning routines help reduce the risk of scours and other illnesses, ensuring your calves get the best possible start. Healthy calves start with clean feeding equipment 💪 #CalfCare #DairyFarming #FarmHygiene #LivestockHealth #CalfRearing #CleanEquipment #FarmLife #AnimalWelfare #DairyTips #HealthyCalves

🌱💷 Rising fertiliser costs and ongoing policy uncertainty are putting even more pressure on farm resilience. This highlights the need for targeted action and support to help farmers manage input costs and maintain productivity in an increasingly volatile environment. 📈 With fertiliser prices and wider input costs continuing to challenge margins, the focus is shifting towards efficiency, smarter nutrient use, and long-term resilience planning. Where can farms take control? 🌱 Grass Science seeds help maximise nutrient uptake and drive performance from every hectare – ensuring fertiliser investment delivers real return. 🥛 SC Nutrition supports rumen efficiency and feed conversion, helping turn high-quality forage into profitable milk. 💡 The takeaway: ➡️ Improve nutrient efficiency, not just input levels ➡️ Build resilient systems that reduce reliance on volatile inputs ➡️ Focus on forage-led performance to protect margins Because in today’s climate, efficiency isn’t optional – it’s essential. #Farming #DairyFarming #Fertiliser #FarmResilience #GrassScience #SCNutrition #ForageFirst #SustainableFarming #UKAg #InputCost

🐄 A few weeks ago, we were on-farm reviewing a transition cow programme where space constraints required the "far-off" and "close-up" groups to be managed together. While transition management is highly technical, the foundation of success always returns to the basics: consistency and rumen fill. The mix we assessed was a textbook example of a high-performance transition TMR. It was light, fluffy, and perfectly balanced—avoiding an over-burden of energy or protein while prioritising volume and activity. By ensuring the mix cannot be compressed into a ball, we encourage the cows to maintain high dry matter intakes, keeping the rumen active and expanded throughout the dry period. Frequent pushing up of the feed ensures every cow has access to the same consistent ration, which is the most effective way to reduce metabolic failure post-calving. #SCNutrition #TransitionManagement #RumenFill #DairyPerformance #TMR #TechnicalNutrition #UKAg #SoilToRumen

Colostrum is essential for lambs too!🐑🥛 Lambs are born with virtually no immunity — so their early protection depends entirely on high-quality colostrum and timely intake. Here’s the science: ✔️ The lamb’s gut can only absorb antibodies (IgG) efficiently for a short window after birth — with absorption dropping rapidly after the first few hours ✔️ Colostrum provides essential energy to prevent hypothermia and kickstart metabolism ✔️ It delivers vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds that support gut and immune development ✔️ Poor intake or low-quality colostrum leads to Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) — increasing disease risk and reducing lifetime performance Getting it right comes down to the “3 Q’s”: 🕒 Quickly — within 2 hours of birth 🥛 Quantity — ~50ml/kg ASAP (200ml/kg in first 24 hours) ⭐ Quality — high IgG, clean, and from well-managed ewes So how do you ensure colostrum quality? 🔬 Test it — use a Brix refractometer to assess IgG levels 🍽️ Nutrition matters — well-fed ewes in late pregnancy produce better-quality colostrum 🧼 Hygiene — collect and store colostrum cleanly to avoid bacterial contamination (which reduces IgG absorption) ❄️ Store smart — freeze surplus high-quality colostrum for later use 🐑 Ewe management — adequate body condition, mineral balance, and health status all influence colostrum quality Colostrum isn’t just about survival — it’s about setting up resilient, productive lambs from day one. Are you confident in your colostrum quality this lambing season? 👉 Get in touch to optimise your flock’s nutrition and lambing protocols with science-led support. /pages/agricultural-services #LambingSeason #ColostrumManagement #SheepFarming #FlockHealth #Youngstock #RuminantNutrition #AgriScience #HealthyStart #FarmPerformance #Livestock

🐄Most people focus on what calves drink - but what about how they drink?💧 When a calf drinks with its head up and neck extended - just like it would naturally from its mother - it helps the oesophageal groove close properly. This directs milk straight to the stomach where it should go, supporting better digestion and nutrient absorption. Feeding with the head too low (like from a bucket on the ground) can increase the risk of milk entering the wrong part of the stomach, leading to digestive issues and slower growth. Simple changes can make a big difference: ✔️ Feed using a teat at shoulder height to encourage a natural head-up position ✔️ Promote steady, calm suckling - not fast gulping ✔️ Keep milk at the correct temperature Healthy calves start with natural habits - and posture plays a bigger role than you might think. Because it’s not just what they drink - it’s how (and how they hold their head) that counts. #CalfCare #DairyFarming #AnimalHealth #FarmManagement #YoungStock

Ever stopped to watch your sheep cudding? 🐑 Cudding (or rumination) is one of the clearest signs that your sheep are healthy, settled, and content. When a sheep lies down and chews the cud, it’s reprocessing feed to aid digestion - getting the most out of every bite. It’s a simple behaviour, but it tells you a lot: ✔️ Good rumen function ✔️ Effective fibre intake ✔️ Low stress levels ✔️ Comfortable, settled animals Quiet sheds filled with sheep happily cudding are a great indicator that your feeding and management are on point. If cudding activity drops, it can be an early warning sign that something isn’t quite right - whether it’s diet, health, or environment. Sometimes, the small things you see every day are the biggest indicators of flock performance. #SheepFarming #Ruminants #AnimalHealth #FarmLife #KnowYourFlock

The simple pleasures of working outdoors with some fantastic friends, clients and blue skies! #May #Spring #OutdoorWork #Nature #Cows #Agriculture #SCNutrition #GrassScienceSeeds

As we are now in 2026 silage making season, look at chop length and clamp management. Try to visualise the forage pathway through the rumen and beyond… / #SilageMaking #Silage #Agriculture #GrassScienceSeeds #SCNutrition