Guide to the assessment and analysis of silage for the general practitioner
- Richard Cooperand
Richard Cooper graduated from Bristol in 2002, and worked in mixed practice for four years before returning to Bristol as a farm animal clinical training scholar (resident). He is currently an associate consultant for Evidence Based Veterinary Consultancy and holds the RCVS certificate in cattle health and production.
- Ben Hutley
Ben Hutley graduated from Bristol in 2003 and worked in mixed practice before returning to Bristol as a clinical training scholar (resident) in the farm animal department. He has just returned to the UK after working in New Zealand and is currently a locum in south-west England. He holds the RCVS certificate in cattle health and production.
Abstract
The modern cattle practitioner is increasingly being expected to offer advice and services beyond that of emergency treatments, routine fertility visits and tuberculosis testing. With a good knowledge of farming ‘best practices’ and the unique ability to link cow-side indicators with health and performance, veterinary surgeons are best placed to offer expert independent and unbiased advice on many aspects of herd management, especially nutrition. Volatile and increasing prices for purchased feed mean that a greater emphasis must be placed on making the most of home-grown forages. This article aims to equip practitioners with the confidence to give nutritional advice on the main component of most winter diets in the UK – silage.
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