Just wondered if anyone else was using Seaquim Elite (from The Glenside Group in Scotland) as part of their Dexter feed rations?
I used it on a trial basis last year, having researched online, when some bought-in heifers arrived with ringworm and I have to say the results were spectacular. All ringworm cleared up in just a few weeks and we've seen no evidence of it since. In fact the cattle performed so well, and all calved with ease, that we've now adopted this as a routine mineral. It's not cheap but the cost benefits in our case were / are remarkable.
Anyone else have any experience of it?
Aye
Roddy Hamilton
Seaquim Elite
Re: Seaquim Elite
Yes, we've been using it as a mineral supplement for a few years now, we started using it sparingly, due to the cost of buying a few bags at a time but last year the forage quality was so bad that we pushed the boat out and started buying in bulk. They get it adlib and it's interesting how they gorge on it when they need it (between the end of winter & before calving in particular) and you think they're going to bankrupt you, but then at other times of the year they hardly touch it. I like to give them the option of rock salt too, just in case they're eating it purely for the salt.
I'd welcome a recommendation of an effective feeder for out in the field though, as they don't like it so much when it gets wet and goopy!
I'd welcome a recommendation of an effective feeder for out in the field though, as they don't like it so much when it gets wet and goopy!
Re: Seaquim Elite
Thanks Rob - good news that you're having success with it too. I actually only feed it when cattle are housed over the winter so have no advice regarding outside. Am instead focussed on grass improvement to try and increase feed value during the growth season and have done a bit of work with our Agronomist to drive this. Results will I hope be promising.
Interestingly the Glenside Group MD called in to see me recently and is keen to develop a relationship with DCS members so I guess we have an opportunity. I will raise at our Council meeting on Monday but it would be good to think we might be able to negotiate special DCS member pricing if enough Members were interested in what is an outstanding product.
Aye
Roddy
Interestingly the Glenside Group MD called in to see me recently and is keen to develop a relationship with DCS members so I guess we have an opportunity. I will raise at our Council meeting on Monday but it would be good to think we might be able to negotiate special DCS member pricing if enough Members were interested in what is an outstanding product.
Aye
Roddy
Re: Seaquim Elite
Unfortunately a lot of our grazing is SSSI & rented, so there's little we can do but I'd be interested to know what you are doing to address mineral imbalances? Our main issue is copper def/molybdenum excess, we used boluses the first year but have relied on the seaweed since then to address this.
Re: Seaquim Elite
The best thing I can suggest would be to have an agronomist thoroughly test your soil and report back on what needs to be done. I feel this was a good investment and we received a detailed report on suitable compound application to re-balance the problems. I'm certainly not an expert but am pleased that we took this decision to try and improve the mineral content and grass growth season / forecast. We will also over seed, and of course results won't be known for a while, but instinctively I feel we are doing the right thing.
One solution, which you may want to consider, for your summer Seaquim feeding might be the Glenside mineral buckets. I'm trying a couple at the moment - so far sheep seem to like them but cattle are not interested. The latter though is probably because I'm giving them the Seaquim Elite meal each day and they're doubtless getting enough without the addition of a bucket. Trial and error but the cattle really do look good.
Roddy
One solution, which you may want to consider, for your summer Seaquim feeding might be the Glenside mineral buckets. I'm trying a couple at the moment - so far sheep seem to like them but cattle are not interested. The latter though is probably because I'm giving them the Seaquim Elite meal each day and they're doubtless getting enough without the addition of a bucket. Trial and error but the cattle really do look good.
Roddy
Re: Seaquim Elite
As I say, being on rented SSSI ground it wouldn't be cost effective to test all the land as there's nothing we can do to change it, and it's all short term lets, so no security even if we were able to do anything. I've been testing the forage and seeing what we need to do, if anything, to balance out any issues on a season by season basis. That's always going to be the problem with a small herd though - it's the same costs in testing soils, forage and cattle whether you have 10 cows or 200.
We started out using the buckets, before the meal, in winter but considering they are only 25% seaweed and significantly more expensive than buying seaweed & molasses separately, it didn't seem cost effective, the only advantage was convenience. The other problem I can see with summer feeding of mineral buckets is that the molasses is there as a carrier to stimulate their appetite for the seaweed, but in the middle of [most] summer they're getting good levels of sugars from the grass, so it could act as an appetite suppressant, unless the salt & seaweed is offered separately.
We started out using the buckets, before the meal, in winter but considering they are only 25% seaweed and significantly more expensive than buying seaweed & molasses separately, it didn't seem cost effective, the only advantage was convenience. The other problem I can see with summer feeding of mineral buckets is that the molasses is there as a carrier to stimulate their appetite for the seaweed, but in the middle of [most] summer they're getting good levels of sugars from the grass, so it could act as an appetite suppressant, unless the salt & seaweed is offered separately.