What do we feed our stock?
Our Dexter herd is on an entirely grass fed system.
Our Prime lambs (Suffolk, Dutch Texel and hybrid) are raised off their mothers and grass fed system
The Pedigree Suffolk show team are grass fed, supplemented by concentrate to a secret formula to ensure they are in optimum condition for showing much as you would put a superior fuel into a car for racing.
Prior too and after lambing the ewes are given concentrate to help support lamb development and to improve ewe milkiness so that they can provide their lambs with plentiful high quality colostrum & milk.
To learn more see the different feed options that we utilise below
Grass
Just Good old basic Grass
The main food source for our livestock is wholesome natural grass. Our stock is fattened on grass straight off the field (except during the winter months) when the feed is supplemented as described below.
We do not use pesticides or weed killers and depending on soil analysis we provide nutrients to improve soil fertility in the form of dung / slurry, chemical fertiliser and lime
Hay
Grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder
Hay is very sensitive to weather conditions, too wet then the hay can rot or go mouldy. Too dry will effect the nutritional values producing poor quality feed. Good hay making requires several days of dry preferably warm weather, so that the grass can be cut, dried, spun, dried again then baled.
Our hay fields are a mix of grasses and clover supporting a rich eco-system. The hay produced by these fields are species rich and have always been put to grass due to the local geology making it unsuitable for crops.
Haylage
Grass that is cut, baled moist and wrapped in plastic.
The grass for haylage is cut the same as it would for dry hay, the difference is in the timing. Haylage is baled at 15% to a maximum 40% moisture, compared to dry hay.
The bale is then wrapped in plastic so that it is hermitically sealed to prevent the growth of mould.
Haylage is typically in large rectangle bale or round bale format and is heavier than hay due to the moisture content making it difficult to transport with out machinery.
Silage
Grass that is cut, baled wet and wrapped in plastic to ferment
The grass for silage is baled at a minimum 45% moisture content it is then wrapped in plastic so that it is hermitically sealed. The natural microbes in the wet grass begin to ferment the natural sugars in the grass. As the acids accumulate in the packed forage the pH drops, eventually arriving at a point where no more microbial activity can happen. This process generally takes about 21 days to complete.
Sheep Concentrate
A food supplement high in nutrients in pellet or muesli form
Commonly referred to as cake these supplemental feeds to the usual grass fodders can contain anything from grains such as oats and barley to vitamins and minerals bound together typically by molasses. Mixed to every day blends or more specific and specialised recipes.
Grass Pellet
Providing all the benefits of summer grass all year round
100% natural pure grass pellet free from cereals, molasses, vitamins and proteins or binding agents as a friendly alternative to other concentrates and without impacting our grass fed systems
