1st April 2009

Feeding amounts

Our nutrition team regularly receives requests to give precise feeding amounts. For example a caller asked how much food to give a 6 month old Labrador, then how much in each month thereafter. An important part of nutrition is to get the feeding amount right but it can’t be done from a chart. Every pet is different and the amount has to be adjusted to suit individual needs. Also, needs are not constant; they may change depending on age, amount of exercise, season and so on. That is a large part of what our nutrition team does – advise on the fine tuning to suit each individual. I am reminded of when I was in practice before starting the pet food business. I was frequently asked how much food to give a pet. My (flippant) answer was “read what it says on the bag and then ignore it.” The point is that recommended amounts can only be a starting point.

Farm update

Things are starting to move on the farm. We’ve just received a report which has been prepared by FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) with proposals for implementing schemes to improve wildlife habitats on the farm. We’ve already started; one field has been split into two by creating a bank and planting hedge plant mix. We’ve also created new hedge banks alongside several farm tracks. Years ago farmers were given grants to rip out hedges; now they are being encouraged to put them back.
We’ve planted 30 acres of winter wheat and 90 acres of spring wheat will be in by the end of the week. Strips at the margins of most of the fields are being left unploughed to allow wildlife to develop. Some margins will be over sown with a seed mix to provide food for wild birds in autumn.
Our flocks of pullets are now producing over 200 eggs a day out of 300. This is the pilot scheme before we start in earnest to produce eggs for moist pet food production.

info@burnspet.co.uk