Hazell Mullins: Cows are what they eat - so make sure you know what's in their feed

The importance of silage testing should not be overlooked on farms. Knowledge is power when it comes to winter feeding, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

The importance of silage testing should not be overlooked on farms. Knowledge is power when it comes to winter feeding, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

What a difference a year can make; I remember this time last year, all the cattle were in, it was a constant battle with rain, and the fields resembled mud planes. I was happily milking the cows this week in my shirt - not a raincoat or woolly hat in sight. 

When it comes to the silage we are feeding this year, it is also a very different picture from last year. You may remember reading about my low pH silage, causing the cows to regurgitate cuds all over the cubicles. It was a sight every day that was so disheartening and their milk production was also a sight for sore eyes.