Technical Services

NWF Agriculture offers a wide range of technical services for livestock farmers along with our state-of-the-art laboratory to analyse forage samples.

NWF TECHNICAL SERVICES
The range of Technical Services available from NWF include:

• Dairy Costings
• Beef Costings
• Ration Planning
• Diet Sieving
• Dung Sieving
• Forage Analysis
• Clamp Capacities
• Body Condition Score Monitor
• Locomotion Score Monitor
• Dry Cow Check
• Mineral Analysis
• Interherd Report using NMR and CIS Data
• Heifer Rearing Calculators
• Youngstock Growth Monitor
• Soil Analysis
• Water Testing
• Cow & Calf Signals

NWF LABORATORY
NWF operates a state of the art laboratory at Wardle and process over 8,000 silage samples per year
The laboratory analyses:
• Fresh grass
• Silage – grass, maize, whole crop
• Haylage
FREE analysis for NWF customers with results processed within 24hrs* of receipt of sample.(*48hrs during peak season).

How is reliable and consistent is our forage analysis?

NWF Agriculture is a longstanding member of the Forage Analysis Assurance Scheme. The FAA Proficiency Test Scheme provides each member with a set of standardised test samples every month from summer to late spring. These, in turn, are assessed to ensure the samples are homogenous and each lab is receiving the same sample. Each laboratory analyses the samples according to their normal commercial method and reports the results to the group. The results are then statistically reviewed and compared to two standards.

• Firstly, against a Master NIRS Instrument (NIRS is Near Infra-red Spectroscopy) and is a widely used rapid technique for forage analysis in laboratories and on farm.
• Secondly, against the gold standard of wet chemistry analysis carried out by an ISO accredited laboratory.

Having both these sets of results allows the laboratories to confirm that their instruments are calibrated and performing correctly and that the rapid analysis techniques are a good reflection of wet chemistry results.

Scan the QR with your phone camera to view the NWF Lab results!

Click to visit the FAA Group Website.

MINERAL ANALYSIS
As livestock dietary requirements become more complex and the aim to maximize herd health becomes of increasing importance, NWF is also able to offer a Mineral Analysis service to identify any areas for improvement, results from which our nutritionists are able to advise and develop for individual herd requirements.  Click here to view the NWF UltraMin range.

Cow Signals

The NWF sales team includes Certified Master Cow Signal Trainers providing advice on the six signs of freedom.

How many times do you wish your cows could talk, so they can tell you what they think about their environment, their diet indicating how you can improve their performance?

Dairy farming is about cows, learning to maximise their health and welfare. Cow Signals, the concept of reading cow behaviour to identify areas for improvement in their surroundings or routine, is growing in popularity, and enabling dairy farmers to more closely meet their cows’ needs, leading to increased production and lower costs.

For production, health and welfare, a cow needs feed, water, light, air, rest and space,  In addition the cows should be free of infections and wounds.

The Cow Signals Diamond

NWF Agriculture have seen the benefits of Cow Signals in dairy herd management and as a result have invested in the training of key members of the sales team who now have the skills to apply this practical concept to help dairy farmers.

NWF have Cow Signal Master Trainers across the trading area, who can help dairy farmers understand the environment and what cows are actually telling them.

Cow Signal Master Trainer Team

• Anna Meakin – NWF Blends Team
• Paul Crocker – NWF Sales Team

For further information on Cow Signals please call 0800 756 2787 or email nbteam@nwfagriculture.co.uk