WYNNSTAY GROUP PLC – AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIES GROUP REPORTS


recommendation for the mapping of the sector’s competitive advantage. The Trade and Agriculture Commission


RECORD INTERIM


RESULTS Wynnstay Group plc has reported record underlying and reported pre-tax profit in its results for the six months ended 30 April 2021. The key points of the report are listed below


• Results reflect increased sector confidence due to stronger farmgate prices, greater clarity with the completion of the EU settlement and the enactment of the UK Agriculture Bill, as well as the benefits of Wynnstay’s balanced model • Revenue up 9% to £249.71m and reported profit before tax up 25% to £5.36m, with interim dividend up 8.7% to 5p • The Group reports strong feed sales and activity from Glasson Grain in the Agriculture Division compensating for expected weaker performance from arable operations due to last year’s poor harvest impacting grain trading and seed sales • In the Specialist Agricultural Merchanting Division, demand for bagged feed was strong as well as hardware sales as farmers returned to investing in their businesses • Looking ahead, strong trading conditions support a good outturn in H2 and the Board remains very confident about the Group’s longer term prospects


The full report can be viewed online.


TIME TO DRIVE CHANGE AND EXPLOIT POULTRY-MEAT SECTOR


OPPORTUNITIES The tools and resources are available for the UK poultry meat sector to help drive change and achieve ambitious government and industry net zero and trade targets, but they must be underpinned by an approach based on efficiency and competitiveness. This is the message from Brian


Kenyon, senior nutrition manager at British pig and poultry compound feed manufacturer, ABN, after chairing the Poultry Meat Outlook session at this year’s British Pig & Poultry Fair Forums. Speaking following the online event,


in which he was joined by Sophie Throup of Morrisons, Jonty Hay of Hay Farms and David Neilson of Avara Foods, Mr Kenyon drew parallels to recent Government and industry reports that set out recommendations for the future of the wider UK agri-food sector, advocating a focus on productivity to be key to reaching these targets. The UK has a deficit in food, animal


feeds and drink, and a report presented to Government in March, includes a


(TAC) report sets out 22 recommendations to meet the Government’s ambitious trade policy aims to contribute to a global farming and food system that is fair and trusted by all participants, while advancing the interests of British farmers, food producers and consumers. Mr Kenyon says the TAC report


very closely aligns with the report Rising to the Challenges: A Food Policy for ‘Global Britain’ prepared by independent agricultural economist Sean Rickard and commissioned by ABN, alongside KW Feeds and Trident Feeds, in October 2020.


The Rickard report outlines that


productivity growth is a necessary condition for financial resilience and international competitiveness. Combining productivity growth with the production of distinctive, value added products that meet affordable demands of consumers both domestically and abroad, will therefore improve the trade balance, self-sufficiency and food security. “Crucially, if we want any of these


recommendations to work, we must address the fact that we have to become more productive as an industry, and continue to set high global standards, marketing the credence attributes of British produce,” says Mr Kenyon. With credence attributes delivered


largely at the farming stage of the food chain, collaborative vertical relationships between food manufacturers and their agricultural suppliers will be key. “A joined-up UK supply chain is


essential to delivering these productivity levels and supporting the industry to reach our ambitious targets. There are lots of ways, with both Government and industry support, we can and should help our farming practices become more competitive,” he adds. Within the ‘Global Britain’ report, Sean


Rickard considers that future success will depend on UK farm businesses and their food manufacturing customers rising to three specific challenges • Raising standards • Accelerating productivity and sustainability • Capitalising on expanding global opportunities


In essence, this neatly encapsulates


the recommendations of the TAC report. The TAC recommendations promote the liberalisation of trade, prioritising a thriving domestic agri-food sector supported by complementary domestic and trade policies, while matching tariff-free market access to relevant climate, environment, animal welfare and ethical standards. “The ‘Global Britain’ report helps set


out the approach for progressive farm businesses to thrive, based on productivity and competitiveness,” concludes Mr Kenyon.


BOOST CALF DAILY LIVE WEIGHT GAIN THIS SUMMER WITH AD-


LIB FEEDING Dairy farmers are being advised to consider ad-lib feeding this summer to boost dairy heifer calf growth and lifetime yield potential. According to Carr’s Billington’s calf


specialist Clare Lawson, up to 1kg of daily live weight gain (DLWG) can be achieved using this type of feeding system when birth weights are at least 35kg. “When calves feed naturally on the


cow, they typically drink between 11 and 15 litres per day. Ad-lib mimics this instinct and can often lead to better growth rates than in a restrictive system. “There’s also the added benefit


that calves are fully weaned off milk on average four days earlier on ad-lib systems meaning feeding costs can be reduced.” There is evidence to suggest that if


calves achieve an extra 0.2kg DLWG in the first eight weeks, it can result in 500 extra kilos of milk in their first lactation. “Therefore, if you are able to go above


this and achieve up to 1kg of DLWG, this could pay dividends once these cows reach the milking herd,” she adds. To optimise performance with the


system, Clare recommends feeding a top- quality milk replacement powder. The advice is bolstered by the latest


LifeStart Science research that’s revealed calves provided with a consistent, high plane of nutrition via ad-lib milk feeding, experience benefits post weaning above those animals of the same genetic merit that are fed a lower plane of nutrition. “Elevating the plane of nutrition pre-


weaning not only leads to higher calf growth rates and improved heifer performance but can also result in long-term positive impacts on fertility, survivability and lactation performance providing a clear return on investment,” says Clare. Farmers must also take steps to


smooth the transition from milk to non- liquid diets to avoid a post-weaning growth check, which applies to both ad-lib systems and restrictive systems. “Calves will need to be eating 1.5 to


2kg of starter feeds before milk is fully taken away. When feeding ad-lib, calves can be slowly weaned over ten days by gradually taking milk away for a certain period of the day, with the total milk feeding period becoming shorter over a set period of time. It is advised that farmers contact


their nutritionist if target calf growth rates are not being achieved, in order to review all aspects of calf management.


FEED COMPOUNDER JULY/AUGUST 2021 PAGE 57


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