Mole Avon Town & Country Stores held a sheep farmers evening at the Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum last month. The event featured guest speakers Dr John Vipond, SAC Consulting Senior Sheep Specialist, who talked about DUP supplementation of pregnant ewes and David Thornton, Technical Manager from Rumenco Ltd, who spoke about feeding ewes to maximise lambs survival. It was a huge success - a night enjoyed by all sheep farmers!

Here Mole Avon customers Roger and Dodie Huxter give a review of the evening:

“It was a full house for the evening with presentations by David Thornton of Rumenco and Dr John Vipond, a specialist in feeding analysis and research, working with SRUC. Both speakers stressed the importance of DUP (digestible ungradable protein), found in soya. Working with Dr John Vipond, Rumenco have produced a new feed block, Rumevite GrazeDUP, containing a high percentage of soya which optimises ewe and lamb performance on spring grass. It is particularly useful post lambing for just 4 weeks, helping in the important milk production peak period.”

“David Thornton also mentioned Lifeline buckets, an older product which most of those present must know by now, but something in which we personally have great faith.

Dr John Vipond emphasised the need to recognise the ewe's need for high energy intake and to ensure protein levels are sufficiently high to satisfy her needs in late pregnancy. Reduced appetite is a myth; it is smaller rumen capacity that needs to be acknowledged. To this end, the importance of having silage analysed, (free through Mole Avon), was mentioned to prevent over feeding of protein and to supplement silage with correct levels of energy and protein, to cut unnecessary costs and to avoid other pre lambing problems: prolapse, mastitis and twin lamb disease.”

“A complimentary drink to start the proceedings, a delicious shepherd’s pie supper to round off the event, an 'on the evening' only offer of a 10% reduction on the price of Graze DUP blocks made for a thoroughly interesting and informative evening.”

David Thornton comments on DUP supplementation; “The new Rumevite GrazeDUP block offers sheep farmers an easy and less disruptive way of feeding high quality rumen bypass protein to ewes and lambs after turnout.” Dr Vipond concludes “Here the new Rumevite GrazeDUP feed block is a forward step in sheep feeding.”

For more information on the GrazeDUP block or any other queries contact your local Mole Avon Town & County Stores; Axminster, Crediton or Okehampton.