Winter brings a unique set of challenges for livestock farmers in Somerset and Dorset, as colder temperatures and shorter days place extra demands on livestock.

Kathryn Thompson :: Tuesday 26th November 2024 :: Latest Blog Posts

Preparing Your Somerset or Dorset Farm for Winter with B&W's Mill and Mix Services

Winter brings a unique set of challenges for livestock farmers in Somerset and Dorset, as colder temperatures and shorter days place extra demands on livestock. As grazing options dwindle and energy needs rise, it's essential to have well-planned winter rations to maintain livestock health and productivity. 

This is where B&W Feeds' custom mill and mix services make a real difference. By creating tailored winter feed solutions, we ensure that your animals receive the optimal balance of nutrients they need to thrive through the colder months. Dedicated to supporting local farms in Somerset and Dorset, B&W Feeds offers expertise and personalised feed preparation to meet the specific needs of your herd.

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Assessing Winter Feed Needs for Somerset and Dorset Farms

Maintaining body temperature in colder weather requires extra calories, and with limited access to fresh pasture, animals become more dependent on stored forages and supplemental feed. While Somerset and Dorset experience milder winters than some areas, the season often brings significant rainfall, creating muddy, poached ground that can limit grazing options and push farmers to bring cattle indoors.

These regional challenges mean that a one-size-fits-all winter feeding approach may fall short. Custom winter rations, tailored to both the specific nutritional needs of your animals and the unique conditions of your local environment, are essential. B&W Feeds' mill and mix services provide a solution by creating bespoke feed blends designed to keep livestock healthy and productive through the colder, wetter months. From balancing energy-rich grains to selecting forages that support digestive health, we consider all aspects to ensure your animals get exactly what they need.

Tips for Winter Feeding with B&W's Mill and Mix Services

Winter feeding requires careful attention to the nutritional composition of livestock rations to support animal health and productivity. By incorporating energy-dense ingredients and carefully balanced forages, we help ensure that livestock maintain body condition even when temperatures drop.

Protein is another crucial component in winter feed. Adequate protein supports muscle mass and overall health, which is especially important when animals have less access to fresh forage. B&W's custom blending service can adjust protein levels in your feed to meet the specific needs of your herd, ensuring each animal receives the right balance to thrive.

Winter also brings additional challenges for livestock digestion and immunity. Adding digestible fibre sources, such as sugar beet pulp, and essential minerals can make a significant difference to gut health and resilience against seasonal ailments. With B&W's expertise, your winter rations can be tailored to include the right levels of fibre and minerals, supporting both digestion and immune function.

Practical Tips for Storing Winter Feed

Proper storage is essential for maintaining the quality and nutritional value of winter feed. As colder and wetter weather sets in, moisture and temperature fluctuations can threaten feed quality, leading to spoilage or nutrient loss. For farmers in Somerset and Dorset, where winter often brings mild yet damp conditions, it's vital to adopt storage practices that safeguard feed throughout the season.

To protect your feed, ensure storage areas are dry, well-ventilated and free from temperature extremes. Avoid direct contact with the ground to prevent moisture absorption, and regularly inspect feed for signs of mould or spoilage. Silage, haylage and other high-moisture feeds should be covered tightly, as exposure to air increases the risk of spoilage. 

Monitoring Livestock Health and Adjusting Feed as Needed

Farmers should keep a close eye on their livestock, looking for signs such as a dull coat, changes in behaviour or visible weight loss, which could indicate that the current diet isn't providing enough energy or nutrients.

Flexibility in winter feeding is essential, as livestock may require adjustments to their diet based on health indicators or shifting weather patterns. With B&W's custom mill and mix services, farmers can easily modify rations throughout winter to adapt to these changes. This tailored approach allows for the inclusion of additional energy or protein sources as needed, ensuring livestock stay healthy and maintain body condition even in harsh conditions. 

B&W Feeds offers ongoing support and consultation to help farmers monitor livestock health and adjust feed formulations throughout the season. We can make substitutions with different cereals as the quantity of stored cereals change on the farm. For example, a customer may start running low in barley, so we might add in some oats or wheat as partial replacement for it. Likewise, our clients might need to change their forage, which can impact the ideal blend. For example, if a client moved over to a higher protein/clover silage, we would then lower the protein level in the blend or vice versa.

Benefits of Partnering with B&W Feeds for Winter Feed Preparation

With years of experience supporting livestock farmers in the area, B&W tailors their services to meet the unique demands that local weather and terrain bring to winter feeding. This local insight ensures that each feed solution is designed with optimal nutrition in mind, helping livestock thrive even during the colder, wetter months.

B&W's flexible and convenient mill and mix services make winter feed preparation straightforward. Our mobile milling service arrives directly on your farm, producing custom feed formulations suited to your specific herd and storage capacity. This streamlined approach saves time and hassle, allowing you to focus on other aspects of farm management while we take care of creating balanced, high-energy rations.

Many Somerset and Dorset farmers have seen the benefits first hand, with success stories ranging from improved livestock health to greater efficiency in winter feed management. Here is what one of our Dorset customer has to say about us: 

"We use B&W Feeds on a regular basis to mill rations on farm for dairy cows and youngstock.  It means we can use feed grown on the farm mixed to our own specifications.  It reduces road miles and we know exactly what the livestock diet is made up of.  They provide a very valuable and efficient service."

Sophie Alexander, Hemsworth Farm,

As winter approaches, ensuring your livestock receive the right nutrition is essential. B&W Feeds is here to support Somerset and Dorset farmers with customised winter feed solutions, tailored specifically to meet your farm's needs. Contact us today for a winter feed consultation and see the difference our local expertise can make.