Finishing Ration: Feed given to animals to prepare them for slaughter. A finishing ration includes silage, beet pulp, and by-products such as outsize carrots. Proper formulation of finishing rations ensures optimal growth and meat quality.
digestible: Able to be digested. Glucose is an easily digestible form of sugar. Providing digestible nutrients is essential for maintaining the health and productivity of livestock. Farmers should work with veterinarians and nutritionists to ensure that animal diets are highly digestible and promote optimal health. Understanding the importance of digestible nutrients will aid in effective feed management and improved farm productivity.
short duration ryegrass: A class of grasses which are important to the farmer, including Westerwolds, Italian and Hybrid. These grasses are quick to establish and give early grazing. They are used where persistency is not important. Farmers benefit from growing short duration ryegrass for quick establishment and early grazing opportunities.
Levy: A levy is money which is demanded and collected by a government. Understanding agricultural levies can help farmers comply with regulations and manage financial planning.
Crofting: Crofting /kr?ft??/ noun a system of farming in Scotland, where the arable land of small farms, which was previously held in common, was divided among the joint tenants into separate crofts, while the pasture remains in common. Implementing crofting practices supports rural development and sustainable farming.
Food Pyramid: A chart of a food chain showing the number of organisms at each level. Understanding food pyramids helps farmers manage ecosystems and support biodiversity on their farms.
A management practice that uses hormones to control and synchronize the estrous cycles of female cattle. Estrous synchronization helps facilitate timed artificial insemination. For instance, synchronizing the estrous cycles of a cowherd to enable mass breeding.
Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy noun a set of regulations and mechanisms agreed between members of the European Union to control the supply, marketing, and pricing of farm produce. Abbr CAP. COMMENT: The European Union has set up a common system of agricultural price supports and grants. The system attempts to encourage stable market conditions for agricultural produce, to ensure a fair return for farmers and reasonable market prices for the consumer, and finally to increase yields and productivity on farms in the Union. A system of common prices for the main farm products has been established with intervention buying as the main means of market support. The first major reforms in 30 years were carried out in 1992 and included arable set-aside, suckler cow quotas, ewe quotas, price reductions on oilseeds, peas, beans, cereals, and beet. The second major CAP reform was in 2003 with the introduction of the Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS), which brought together individual subsidy schemes into a single payment calculated on the land area used. Understanding the Common Agricultural Policy helps farmers navigate subsidies and market regulations.
native breeds: plural noun breeds which have been developed in a country, and not brought in from other countries. Native breeds are often well-adapted to local conditions, including climate and available feed resources. Farmers can benefit from raising native breeds as they typically exhibit greater resistance to local diseases, require fewer inputs, and can thrive on locally available feed. This can lead to reduced veterinary costs, improved animal welfare, and sustainable livestock production. Additionally, marketing products from native breeds can attract consumers interested in supporting heritage and local agriculture.
ration: An amount of food given to an animal or person. Proper rationing ensures that livestock receive balanced nutrition, promoting growth, health, and productivity.