March - April 2014 Newsletter

This months linked article's:

• ARE YOUR COWS LACKING THAT 'SPARK' THIS WINTER?...
• NEW IMPROVED DAIRY FEEDS FOR SPRING...
• LITRES FROM GRAZED GRASS...

FORAGE STOCKS

A number of farmers are currently experiencing a shortage of forage, due to very little ‘carry over’ from last years’ long feeding season, because of adverse conditions and also because of lower grass silage tonnages due to the very dry summer.

We have available a number of replacement type feeds (eg Brewers Grains, Fodderbeet, and Supergrains).  The table below (table 1) for dairy cows shows the situation, but you have to bear in mind the wetter the product the more it will need to replace 1kg of silage.

Conversely the dryer the product the less space is taken up in the rumen but would replace wet feeds at approximately one fifth the amount.  

Take into account that some of these products may also add extra protein or energy (starch) to the diet more than the silage it is replacing with the need to check the overall diet again.

Table 1 – Lactating Cows

Product	DM %	Amount fed / day to replace 10kg silage		Cost / Day
		Wet Feeds	DryFeeds
Fodderbeet	18	Approx. 15kgs	N/A	66p
Grass Silage	28	Approx. 10kgs	N/A	40p
Maize Silage	30	Approx. 10kgs	N/A	45p
Brewers Grains	23	Approx. 10kgs	N/A	65p
Soya Hulls	90	N/A	3 kgs	55p
Citrus Pellets	90	N/A	3 kgs	55p
Wheatfeed Pellets	88	N/A	3 kgs	55p
GP Feeds Forage Saver	89	N/A	2 kgs	43p

It is vitally important to remember a cow needs at least 12 – 14kgs DMI from forage per day

An alternative dry feed to consider as a replacement would be GP FEEDS FORAGE SAVER BLEND available in Bulk only.  Fed at 2kgs per day it would save over 60 tonnes of silage per month for 100 cow herd and followers at the very competitive price of 43 pence per day, also adding 11 days extra silage saved for each month on the system.

With a good energy content and a crude protein of 14% it mirrors good silage excellently.

NB Another way of saving silage is to put your heifers onto straw ad-lib and feed 3kgs GPF Heifer 18% nuts or Supergro Heifer Rearing 20% nuts.

For more information on Forage Saver or to check availability of other forage extenders, please contact Gareth at the office on 01948 661602

FORAGE SAVER 3.41% Oil, 14.1% Protein, 14.6% Fibre Contains: Sugarbeet, Soya Hulls, Wheatfeed, Maize Gluten, Palm Kernel, Distillers, Wheat, Molasses. We have formulated a blend of raw materials especially to extend your silage stocks. Contains high sugar levels to compliment grass, maize and wholecrop. The protein levels are higher than most forages. Do you need to make your silage stocks go further, and are struggling to get hold of alternative stock feeds, then this is the product your should consider. Available as either a coarse blend or 5mm nuts Bulk only (minimum delivery 5t) Can be fed to all classes of ruminant livestock Feed at 2kg per animal per day to replace 10kgs of average quality silage When fed at the above rate it will save over 60 tonnes per month on a 100 cow herd plus followers When fed at 25kg per animal will save over 60t / month of average silage For further information please contact the office on 01948 661602 and speak to Gareth.

GPF Heifer Nuts 4% Oil, 18% Protein, 14% Fibre Contains: Wheat, Rapemeal, Soya Hulls, Wheatfeed, Palm Kernel, Sunflower, Molasses, Biscuitmeal, Sugarbeet, Minerals & Vitamins, Vegetable Fat Palatable ration that can be fed at higher levels without compromising animal health mainly on grass forage systems Designed to get heifers to bulling weight economically with reasonable quality forage Balance starch and energy sources to promote efficient weight gain without laying down fatty tissue Selective protein sources to maintain the growth frame for the correct size at bulling stage Value for money ingredients with balance sources of starch and sugars Available in 25kg bags, ½t totes and 1t totes as well as bulk Value for money product that produces great results

Supergro Heifer Rearing 20 Nuts 4% Oil, 20% Protein, 9.9% Fibre Contains: Distillers, Rapemeal, Sunflower, Sugarbeet, Hipro Soya, Maize, Barley, Wheat, Palm Kernel, Citrus, Molasses, Biscuitmeal, Minerals & Vitamins, Vegetable Fat 20% protein ration for feeding to heifer replacements from 12 weeks of age to calving Primarily to be fed in conjunction with straw systems Designed to be fed to beef animals on low protein forages Feed at heifer at 2kgs – 4kgs per day based on age and condition Minimum of 35% cereal inclusion Available in 25kg bags, ½t totes and 1t totes as well as bulk 35% Cereal inclusion

NEW IMPROVED DAIRY FEEDS FOR SPRING

Every farmer can’t wait for spring to arrive and this year is no exception following a long wet winter.  We know that spring grass will boost milk production due to its high protein, high energy status and young nutritional stems and leaves.  However with all its attributes it can also have it’s down side such as reduced fibre intakes, the variability of intakes subject to weather conditions, the possibility of reduced butterfats, possible cases of ‘grass staggers’ and the overall feeling of ‘loss of control’ that you do have when they are housed on a TMR or semi TMR diet.

We are all aware of these problems so what can be done to try and counteract them.  Firstly because of the high levels of grass being eaten the rumen is very limited to dry matter capacity (especially in wet weather) so intakes of ‘top up’ feeds have to be very condensed with high energy levels, digestible fibre levels and mineral levels all packed into a very small package because of the physical lack of room in the rumen.  On top of this the feed has to be very palatable to encourage these small intakes.

As a result of these facts we have improved our Spring dairy rations by the following:

• Increased energy levels
• Good source of high digestible fibre to counteract the lack of it in grass
• Enhanced palatability and flavour
• Micro pack mineral inclusion (all the minerals needed in a condensed package)
• Dairy nuts to suit all systems and feeding regimes
• Higher levels of magnesium to offset hypomagnesaemia
• Ingredients to utilise the fibre content fully if so required

Condensed packages that really pack a punch

 

LITRES FROM GRAZED GRASS We are often asked during the spring and summer ‘How many litres can I get off grass this month’? This is a bit like which comes first, the chicken or the egg?  The answer to the question of the value of grass grazed will vary on every farm dependant on a lot of facts, like grass type, soil type, weather conditions, stocking rates etc. To the right is our rough guide to litres off grass through the spring and summer. This is only a guide and a number of conditions will affect the litres on every single farm.

April 22 May 18 June 16 July 12 August 8 September 4

 

QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION

To discuss any of these products, along with your other on farm requirements please call GP Feeds on 01948 661602 or use our text line number 07969 808188

Gareth or Rachel (Office)
01948 661602 Fax 01948 871776