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Livestock - Grasstrac Booklet - 08

“We’ve found Grasstrac to be more efficient and easier to use”
The Heard Family - Devon

Farm Profile
John and Sandra run a 750-acre, all-grass farm lying at 750 feet. The soil is fairly light with broken stone. Most grass is down to long-term leys with some permanent pasture. About 20 acres of grass is re-seeded each year under rape.



The Stock
Stock comprises 1,000 lowland ewes, 1,000 hill ewes and a 250 suckler herd of Limousin x Friesian and South Devon cows. Bulls are Limousin, Charolais, Blonde Aquitaine and Belgian Blue. Calving starts in March, when the majority calve, through to November with calves being sold as stores from 7 to 20-months old. The lowland sheep are Mules crossed with a Suffolk and also Mule replacements. Hill ewes are Scotch Blackface. Lambing starts in mid-March.

The Problem
John had been using other forms of trace element supplementation which were increasing in use year after year. Another farmer suggested that Grasstrac would be more economic, more efficient and less of a hassle.

The Grasstrac Experience
Alternative trace element treatments were dropped and Grasstrac was spread on silage ground, which is grazed before being shut-up for silage. Weaned lambs were then turned onto the silage aftermath. John says the Suffolk x Mule lambs are fitter than ever before, without the check in mid-July that he has experienced in the past.