Up to 60% off
Up to 60% off
What’s going on in store:
Our changing room is now open and we are offering a hat fitting and body protector service – masks must be worn.
Telephone system – during May we are upgrading our phone system. There will be a small amount of downtime, but we will keep you posted via our website. For those customers who don’t know their mobile numbers, you will be pleased that we will have the facility to see your number when you call!
Bank Holiday
Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 3rd May 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 31st May 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
NEW IN STOCK
The Classic Brushed Stag Bed has a country feel. The outside material is a strong durable polyester and the inside is polycotton. The inner cushion is removable and reversible. One side is strong durable polyester and one side is polycotton. The bed is machine washable at 30 degrees.
Small £44.95, Medium £54.95, Large £68.95
The Traditional Tweed bed has a luxurious look with a polyester base. The outside fabric is Tweed and the inside is soft and cosy sherpa. The Inner cushion is removable and reversible. One side is tweed and one side is soft and cosy sherpa. The bed is machine washable at 30 degrees.
Small £49.99 (82069), Medium £59.95, Large £79.99, XL £89.99
Dog poo bags made from plants that naturally break down leaving zero waste behind!
Features:
Equestrian
It’s easy to think that it’s only the farrier’s job to keep your horse’s hooves in good condition. That’s true, but you can help to strengthen them with good management techniques.
Feed for hoof strength
Good nutrition provides the building blocks for strong, hard, healthy horn. Vitamins A and B with biotin support the production of the protein keratin, which underpins quality hoof horn (and hair). This means getting the mix of minerals and nutrients correct. A good nutritionist will look at your horse’s diet and provide feeding recommendations to fill in the gaps for their daily requirements.
Check hooves regularly
A daily check while cleaning out mud and debris with a hoof pick will allow you to spot problems and changes quickly. Remove jammed stones, check for chips or cracks, and use appropriate anti-bacterial agents on thrush, which thrives next to the frog, and white line disease, which creeps up the inside of the hoof wall. Both are fond of damp conditions. A good mineral supplement will help to improve your horse’s immune response and keep these pathogens at bay.
Plenty of movement
Exercise improves hoof health and function by stimulating blood flow and the circulation of nutrients. As the horse loads the hooves, the blood is pumped as the walls widen slightly with the weight. A horse that has just had its shoes removed may need to develop hoof wall strength before doing much exercise, so be sensible and increase ridden exercise gradually.
Varied surfaces underfoot
Healthy hooves are conditioned by the surfaces the horse walks on. Constantly wet pasture can lead to softened walls that spread, creating ideal conditions for bacterial invasion. Horn that’s softened will wear quickly if the horse moves to a harder surface. If the Pasture is too dry, the hoof will harden and sometimes chip. Variety is the key to hoof health, so aim to balance out wet conditions with areas where the hoof can dry out fully as well.
We’ve got you covered! Our top picks for dealing with those pesky flies this spring.
Fly Masks
Whatever your preference, we’ve got you covered! Available in sizes Small Pony, Pony, Cob, Full, X Full
Fly Rugs
Help stop the horse flies with the Original Zebra Fly Rug from StormX- Specially designed pattern to help deter horse flies
Essential Fly Rug & Mask Set
Available in sizes 5’0”-7’0” £39.95
Fly Fringes
Did you know- Citronella targets midges & Deet targets biting flies?
Horse doesn’t like spray? No problem- check out these products!
Want to reduce nuisance flies? Make sure your muck heap isn’t too close to your paddock and your field is poo picked regularly (poo= fly breeding paradise!)
Building Muscle & Top Line
It’s Easy When You Know How! Article supplied by Baileys Horse Feed
A horse in good condition has optimum levels of body fat and is well-muscled for his level of work and fitness. Where that muscle develops is dependent on his work and training but, if the diet is lacking in the right nutritional building blocks, the horse’s body will never quite achieve the top line and musculature required.
First and foremost, the diet must supply sufficient protein, which is the main component of muscle and body tissue and may be supplied in only limited amounts by forage (grass, hay, haylage). The higher a horse’s workload, the greater the demand for protein to both build more muscle tissue and to repair that which is constantly being damaged during work and performance.
Essential Amino Acids
Of equal importance is the quality of that protein, which is determined by the individual amino acid “building blocks” of which it is made. With the right dietary components, the horse’s body can manufacture most amino acids but there are a small number of “essential” ones, like methionine and lysine, which have to be included in the horse’s diet.
Good quality dietary protein sources supply these essential amino acids and include alfalfa, micronised soya and distillers’ grains (a by-product of the brewing industry). Looking out for these ingredients on feed labels is particularly important, if you’re wanting to build muscle and top line.
Other Essential Nutrients
Clearly, other nutrients are also involved in healthy muscle structure and function, all of which can be found in a good quality compound feed or balancer. Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are all included at appropriate levels according to the workload the feed is designed to support.
Vitamin E and selenium, for example, are important antioxidants which help neutralise free radicals produced at increased levels as the horse’s workload increases. Minerals, like calcium and magnesium are involved in the transmission of nerve impulses so are essential for correct, sustained muscle contraction.
Look at the Base Diet
Ensuring the horse’s diet contains the necessary nutrients for muscle build and function, at levels to meet his requirements, need not be complicated or expensive.
Before turning to the supplement tub, check that your chosen feed and/or balancer is formulated for the workload your horse is undertaking and then check that you are feeding at recommended levels.
Cubes and mixes are designed to be fed by the scoop-full in order to provide a fully balanced diet, alongside forage. Under-feeding – perhaps because you don’t want to feed all those calories – cuts back all the other essential nutrients too so protein, vitamin and mineral levels are likely to be inadequate.
The Right Feeds
For equines whose calorie requirements are met by forage and grazing alone, Baileys Performance Balancer is ideal and provides vitamins, minerals and quality protein to meet the elevated needs of the working equine, but without unwanted calories.
Alternatively, all of Baileys’ performance or conditioning feeds, contain a balance of highly digestible calories, quality protein sources and supporting nutrients. They will promote and support top line and condition, when fed at recommended levels, or can be fed in reduced amounts, to moderate calorie intake, as long as they’re topped up with a balancer.
www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk
Poultry
Whilst wild birds appreciate being fed throughout the year, Winter & Spring are the most important as their natural food is scarce. Also feeding throughout the Spring helps to ensure that they raise their chicks successfully.
As well as helping the birds, feeding them enables us to observe them close up and even snap an impressive picture or two!
Here is a selection of the wild bird feed that we offer at Welland Valley Feeds
What are Red Mites?
The weather is starting to warm up and in the chicken run, poultry mites are on the move. Also known as chicken mites, red chicken mites or roost mites, they are just 0.6 – 1 mm long, and are transferred from wild birds to poultry. They are nocturnal and feed off the blood of birds at night (haematophagous) ectoparasites, turning from pale grey to red as they fill up. During the day, they disappear into cracks and crevices in the roost. This makes them hard to detect and they can often be present for a long time before being noticed.
How to Identify Red Mites
The first signs of an infestation are changes to the flock’s behaviour. Birds become stressed and restless, with feather pecking and changes to their sleep patterns and roosting positions. They may have blood or scabs on their legs. Eventually, anemia leads to pale combs and wattles, dullness, and weakness.
Egg production falls
Examine a bird and it’s possible to see clumps of mites, mainly around the base of feathers under the wings and around the vent. Another way to confirm their presence is to enter the coop at night with a piece of white paper. Rub it along the perches. If it smears red, you can be sure red mites are present.
Dealing with Red Mites
Prevent reinfestation by:
Agricultural
Blowflies are a major problem for sheep, constituting a welfare issue and economic concern. As the riskiest period is from May to September, the time for action is now.
What is Blowfly Strike?
The common greenbottle fly, Lucilia cuprina, feeds on animal body fluids and is attracted by the odour of soiled wool, wounds, or skin inflamed due to lice or mites. It lays eggs that hatch in under 12 hours. The maggots then feed and create or open a lesion, before attacking the living tissue. This then attracts more flies.
Identifying Blowfly Strike
Infestation is recognisable from its early stages.
Where Do the Flies Strike?
Flies target most body areas of both adults and/or lambs:
Treating Blowfly Strike
Preventing Fly Strike
Early measures can aid in fly strike prevention, including:
Rapid detection is vital, so be sure to have the means to quickly round up and access the sheep for correct treatment at short notice.
Fly strike- don’t be caught short! Prevention is much more effective than treatment, speak to our qualified Animal Medicine Advisors for a plan of action against fly strike this season.
Struggling to know which product to use when? Speak to one of our fully qualified Animal Medicines Advisors to come up with a tailored prevention plan to suit your animals’ needs.
Dagging Shears
Did you know that Rabbits can get fly strike too?
The most common season for fly strike in rabbits is Spring & Summer due to the warmer weather being ideal for
flies! Strike is caused when the fly lays its eggs onto the rabbit’s fur. These then hatch into maggots and burrow under
the skin to feed on the flesh. This is a very painful and serious condition that can quickly become serious.
What are the symptoms?
Patches of wet fur and fur loss, which usually presents around the back end of the rabbit. Seeming under the weather, unusually quiet or loss of appetite. Visible symptoms of open wounds infested with maggots.
How do we treat fly strike in rabbits?
If you suspect your rabbit may have fly strike, firstly it is a good idea to contact your vet. They may then prescribe pain relief, medication to kill the maggots or remove them manually.
Can it be prevented?
The best prevention is to keep your animal and its environment clean. Remember that flies love a dirty hutch! So make sure you change dirty bedding regularly and make sure any sores or wounds are treated before infection can occur. Speak to your vet about fly repellents too, this is the best way to keep the flies away from your rabbit!
Relevant Products
Oh to be out and about! Whether you are off in your horsebox, caravan or tent… we have Elsan products in store for use with chemical toilets:
Gardening
Remember we stock the following products at exceptionally good value for money!
As we’re now hopefully seeing the last of the frost, it’s time to start thinking about your summer veggie garden!
So what can be planted now?
Hardier plants like Cabbage, Calabrese, Carrots & Melons can now be planted in the veggie plot. As May can still be cold, some plants should be planted more towards the end of the month or even early June. These are the more tender vegetables such as Squashes, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Chillies & Courgettes. If you are unsure about when to plant your veggies, make sure to check the planting instructions on the packet.
At Welland Valley Feeds we stock a wide variety of seeds from Kings Seeds, see some of our selection below:
Cabbage
Calabrese
Carrots
Attillio F1 £1.75
Melons
Emir F1- 100483- £1.85
Does your dog have any of the following symptoms?
Loose stools or diarrhoea, more frequent toileting, skin & coat problems, itchy or hot spots? If so, these could be a sign that your dog has a grain allergy. Grain allergies and sensitivities are becoming more common in dogs, but don’t worry, there is something you can do to help! So, if dogs can have sensitivities to grain, why is it included in most dog foods? Grain (usually wheat) is easy & inexpensive to grow, making it a cheap source of calories and it acts as a good bulking agent to help our dogs feel fuller for longer. Whilst the majority of dogs have no reaction to grain in the diet, for some it can be troublesome.
So what can we do about it?
Grain allergies can be relatively simple to solve, by removing grain from your dog’s diet, the symptoms should alleviate fairly quickly. Also, it’s important to think of what treats you are giving your dog; try and choose grain free or natural alternatives as this will avoid any potential flair ups. Whilst the above-mentioned symptoms can be signs of a grain allergy, they can also be symptoms of other things too. If you are worried about your dog, please ensure you speak to your vet.
James Wellbeloved Dry KibbleGrain Free Adult
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