Case studies produced for the Feed Adviser Register (FAR) demonstrate the real difference that professional feed advice is making to livestock producers’ businesses around the UK. The FAR case studies provide evidence of increased outputs, reduced inputs, better sustainability and improved animal welfare as a result of the partnership between feed advisers and their clients.
John Kelley, Managing Director, AIC Services said: “One of the main drivers behind the launch of FAR in 2013 was the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock industry in order to meet Government targets. Three years on and we have begun to assemble a library of case studies that show measurable results. Reductions in inputs and increases in outputs inevitably reduce businesses’ carbon footprints, but these case studies also show improvements in animal welfare and overall sustainability.”
To date seven case studies have been produced covering dairy, poultry and pigs.
In the dairy industry increased yields, reduced calving intervals, better use of forage and reduced greenhouse case emissions all feature.
For pig specialists both case studies show increases in pigs/sow/annum as well as improvements in sustainability.
The poultry case study demonstrates the early results of an experiment with afternoon feed which has produced increased productivity, but also welfare benefits for the flock concerned.
FAR was launched in 2013 and now has just under 1200 members including feed advisers covering sheep, pigs, poultry, dairy and beef. Members have to demonstrate their competency on an annual basis, and the scheme uses online training and validation.
The first two training and validation modules cover animal feed planning, and the links between feed and animal health and fertility. Once advisers have completed these modules, they progress to FAR Module 3 dealing with environmental emissions and policies.
