East Essex Smallholders Chitchat: Farm and Country Supplies

Extended Offers for Autumn

Well the chill has set in to let us know that winter is on its way. Animals will be coming in as the nights draw in and the bite of frost is in the air.

With this in mind we have negotiated with IAE to prolong the offers we have on animal feeding equipment to reduce the waste throughout the cold season as we provide more winter forage .

We have also managed to extend our pumps and generator offers. The generators in particular have been exceptionally popular , at these prices most of our customers have been telling us they are buying them as back up for the winter months to prevent any potential hire costs in emergencies.

Following a meeting with the representative of Barratine (makers of Romax rat poison) who gave us updates on latest poison legislation, a few hints and tips came to light that we were keen to pass on. See below....

Also, as legislation changes, rules as to what we can sell and to whom have become rather more constricting. So please don’t be offended if we cannot sell you a product you may have used before, rest assure we will be able to offer a suitable and effective alternative.

Chatting to local smallholders we found that larger handling equipment would improve their lives but the cost of these big pieces of equipment far outweigh the cost.

With this in mind we have teamed up with a new hire company to enable us to provide crushes, weighers, footbaths, hurdles, races , pumps etc on a daily or weekly basis. Read below for more information.

Lastly, now the first frost has settled why not get out there to enjoy the fresh air and pick some sloes. Making sloe gin to keep you warm through winter months is a great excuse to have some fun!

New Smallholder Hire Range - what would you want?

We have partnered with a new hire company to offer a number of smallholder hire packages we believe will be of great interest.

We appreciate many smallholders with just a few cattle or sheep or pigs cannot justify the cost of equipment such as weighers, crushes etc. Smallholders typically run professional holdings and wish to safely handle animals for occasions such as foot treatments, vest visits etc. Also to accurately weigh livestock to ensure correct medicine doses, optimise slaughter weights and so on.

By providing this range we intend to enable this level of safety and professionalism without the expense often icurred buying such equipment that may lie un-used for 51 weeks of the year.

Our range is intended to include:

Small Cattle Crush suitable for yougstock or native breeds combined with four cattle hurdles for creating a safe race setup.

Lamb wigher with race hurdles.
Pig wigher with race hurdles.
Sheep turnover crate with race hurdles.
Sheep & Cattle footbaths with race hurdles.
De horning crate & equipment
Livestock trailer suitable for Cattle, Sheep or Pigs
Generator
Submersible Pump
Trash Pump

These will be available for booked or emergency hire and can be delivered or collected. Deposits will be taken and equipment condition closely inspected on return to ensure the performance and safety of this equipment for the next user.

Each hire will be supplied with two doses of Virkon S disinfectant. One to be used before any livestock are introduced to the equipment, the other when use is finihed and prior to collection.

What else would you like to hire ? We will be investing in equipment that you - our customers ask for. So please let us know by emailingenquiries@farm-country.co.uk

Winter Forage Supplements

As grass finishes and we switch to winter forage, it is essential to maintain the key vitamin and mineral intakes for livestock. Cattle & Sheep carrying young need to maintain condition throughout the winter and stores need to maintain growth and not check or go backwards.

For cattle we have our Cattle Balancer Block - A feed block for all types of cattle where extra energy and protein is required. By using quality proteins, daily liveweight gains are boosted.

For post tupping Ewes, our Tupping Buckets are a great way to maintain vitality through early weeks, For growing and finishing lambs. Feed our Lamb Quick Finisher with 18% crude protein and a full blend of minerals and vitamins.

Full Tonne & Half Tonne rates avaialble. Buy 10 get 1 Free offers also apply.

Call for details of the entire Downland Minerals range & best prices on 01992 578496

Silage - Additives, Sheets & Film

Silage Additives - Do you or dont you?

Silage additives can play a number of roles to improve the quality and extend the life of your silage crop.

Our Downland partner Microferm have a range of silage addtives that include specific patented bacterial viruses unique to the company and have treated over 50 million tonnes of silage since 1987.

The split between simple sugars and fructans will be influenced by the weather & even the time of day grass is cut. Regardless of this, our Sale Sile Fructan utilises both types of sugars making it more effective in all conditions. - This means 100% more energy is available to complete fermentation every time. Good fermentation is essential in preventing protein breakdown and reducing ammonia content. Safe Siles instant fermentation process generated by unique live bacteria at aplication enures high protein levels are maintained.

In the same way, Safe Sile Maize inhibits spoilage organisms and provides cool silage which is stable and highly palatable. Instant and easy to use with no growing up required, Safe Sile Maize increases clamp stability by around 3 days, reduces losses, inhibits mycotoxin producing moulds and improves fermentation.

As with the entire Downland range, the exceptional product quality is coupled with prices otherwise not avaible in the area until now. For the best price for your silage crop this year simply call on 01992 578496.

Double thickness Silage Sheets in stock. Silage film avaible to order.

Pest Control Offers & Tips

Our recent offer across our entire pest control range has been extended to the end of October. Hugely succesful with offers such as 20Kg Romax - Only £35.00, 10% off all Tomcat & Jaguarrodenticides. 10% off all deterrents, bait boxes and traps make this the ideal time to stock up for this winters rodent control.

Latest Tip !

Often when bait is first introduced to deal with rats in either a domestic or farm environment, there is a delay before any take up of the poison is seen. Rats are extremely cautious and will not simply take new bait just becasue it is there. A way to tackle this is to leave bait stations down all year round in grain stores, feed rooms etc but WITHOUT poison in them. In fact with unpoisoned grain in them. This will establish a regular and safe feed location for rats at the start of each seasonal influx.

These stations should be checked weekly to see if any 'significant take' of bait is noticed, when it is, the feed within the stations should be changed to poison immediatley across all bait stations and effects should be immediate and significant. This poisoned bait should be replenished until take is no longer noticed and then switched back to un poisoned grain. At which point the cycle commences again.

By following this kind of programme, bait shyness is reduced and incoming rats do not have the time to establish a presence and start to multiply before they are noticed and baiting commences with its usual delays whilst rats get used to a new potential feed source. To discuss this and other baiting suggestions feel free to call on 01992 578496 or drop in store.

Winter Feed Equipment Offers Extended.

In partnership with IAE, we are delighted to extend our very popular winter feed equipment offers to the end of October.

Tombstone Circular Feeders still only £246.00 normally £382.17

Heavy Duty Circular Feeders stil lonly £179.00 normally £270.86

and so on...

Feed Bin on Skids

£399

Heavy Duty Circular Feeder£179

Standard Circular feeder £149

Yearling Circular feeder £120

Double Sided Hayrack and Manger

£259

High Density Feeder

£389

Portable 2 in 1 Feed Barrier£279

Feed Fence From £119

Hayrack on Wheels

From £145

Yard Scraper

£619

Generators & Pumps - a few left..

After being asked so many times in the last month 'why are these such a good price', we should explain.

We are working with one of the largest UK importers of Generators & Pumps to help clear existing stock to make room for a re branded range soon to arrive. Thee pumps and generators still have full warranties, are brand new and are exceptional value.