I walked into Barryroe Co-op to pick up some calf ration. The key component of a starter ration is that it is appetising enough to encourage calves to eat it. After that it needs to have the right mix of energy, protein and fibre to promote the development of a new-born digestive system. If it is too rich in oils I have seen problems with scours.

I only use this feed until they are eating well, and then introduce calf nuts, usually around 6 weeks of age.

The coarse ration I have used for the last few years has worked well. It has plenty of molasses and smells almost tempting enough to eat it myself.

I ordered two bags to get me going. “Which type?” If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it – right? “It has higher protein and is 50c/bag cheaper.” I bought a bag of each as an experiment.

I opened the two bags and gave my youngest the job of keeping a little of each in front of each calf pen. The “new” version just didn’t have the sweet smell and honestly looked like it contained the sweepings off the mill floor. There’ll be some bunch of weanlings that’ll eat it eventually.

A few days later and the calves had told me they preferred the dry dusty powder instead of the sweet soft muesli. On top of that the original had attracted my sweet-toothed feathered friends.

At the Teagasc Soil Fertility Conference in Clonmel this week I listened to Patrick Forrestal comparing the performance of urea versus CAN on Irish grassland. The regular comment from the anti-urea brigade is that they don’t like it, and anyway urea doesn’t work as well as CAN. The figures speak for themselves with there being virtually no difference in performance and urea is currently 24% cheaper per unit of nitrogen.

Urea does have problems in dry conditions, especially if applied at higher rates. I use it in spring when the most suitable cool damp conditions are prevalent. There is though an increasing number of farmers spreading urea in summer when rain is forecast, or even in the evening if there’s heavy dew. Patrick Forrestal’s interesting recommendation was to have a quantity in the yard, ready to use if and when conditions are suitable right throughout the year.

It is very easy to continue farming as we always have. Sometimes it is worthwhile to follow the results instead of what we might personally like to do.

The latest delivery of calf ration is the one the calves have asked for.