The Hocken family expose how the Tracesure bolus has delivered better scanning percentages and ewe condition.
The second-generation farm in Cheltenham has been in the Hocken family for 50 years, and is now ran a mixed beef, dairy and sheep farm.
The farm spans 1,200 acres of grassland and arable land as well as upland and lowland. Home to 380 Suffolk cross ewes, 110 British Friesian milking cows and 300 finishing beef cattle, the farm is a hive of activity.
“We’ve always ran as a mixed farm. It spreads the risk, and we enjoy the diversity,” explains Paul Hocken. “We’ve actually diversified into hay and haylage making for 200 equestrian customers which is going well. Everything is grazed, and then we grow our own feed wheat and barley for the fattening cattle.”
Lambing relatively early in February to avail of the best prices, the ANIMAX Tracesure Sheep boluses go in four-six weeks before the ram.
“We’ve been using Tracesure Sheep for two years running, and it’s made a real notable difference. We started because we weren’t getting high enough lambing percentage at 170 percent. In the first year, we got up to 193 percent, which was on that dry year when most of our neighbours were getting 150 percent. And then we got 195 percent last year. Ewes also get through the year in a lot better condition”, explains Paul.
“With the boluses, we know that every ewe is sorted until lambing. We still give buckets close to lambing and it’s working really well. It’s simple, it actually couldn’t be any easier. It was Taylor Farms Supplies who advised us to go with ANIMAX Tracesure”, concludes Paul.
Specialist viewpoint
Lauren Evans, Area Territory Manager for ANIMAX, adds her thoughts.
“It’s great to see Paul and Alan reaping the rewards of higher lamb numbers from strategically bolusing pre-tupping. Great job Team Hocken!”, says Lauren. “In addition to what Paul has described, I’d just want to mention the reason they don’t offer a copper bolus is because they’re not deficient in their diet. Suffolk sheep are actually more predisposed to copper toxicity”.
“Trace element levels in grass and forage can vary over the winter. Those feeding brassicas until closer to lambing have the added complication of trace element antagonists”.
“Bolusing 6 weeks prior to turning in the rams allows for any deficiencies to be corrected before the pressures of mating. The 6 month duration of the bolus means we cover the all-important periods of ovulation, conception, and pregnancy. It is also important to highlight the need for the high energy supplements closer to lambing to reduce the risk of pre-lambing metabolic disorders such as pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease).”
