Quinns of Baltinglass has formulated two new coarse ration mixes for sale using 100% Irish cereals and pulses.

The mixes include Irish rolled barley, Irish rolled wheat, Irish oat pellet, Irish rolled beans and molasses, all of which are grown by tillage farmers across the Leinster region. The company is aiming to promote the use of Irish-grown grain and pulses as much as possible.

It says that it would typically include a minimum of 30% Irish barley in its coarse rations. However, the inclusion rates would be limited due to the higher risk of acidosis from feeding high levels of cereals in diets.

However, the company has now been able to increase inclusion rates of Irish cereals in its rations through the use of urea and enzyme treatment.

Quinns is also continuing to grow soya bean to test the viability of the crop in Ireland and Irish soya beans will be included in these mixes once the crop is harvested.

Harvest progress

The harvest continues in parts of the country, with many growers availing of a fine week to finish the remainder of spring barley crops.

An amount of spring wheat and spring beans have been cut. However, many of these crops won’t be fit until next week, particularly spring beans. Growers in the west and northwest have finally enjoyed a break in the weather and envisage being finished by the week’s end.