News
AMINO PRO-TEK
Amino Pro-Tek works in the rumen and enables better use to be made of the protein in home grown forages, especially in high protein spring grass. Apart from increases in milk yield we have also seen reduced blood ureas and improved fertility in some herds. It is a sugar mineral complex that utilises the excess protein in the rumen to the cows advantage, rather than it being passed through without the full advantage and benefit being taken from the nutritious spring grass. For a small outlay per cow per day you can expect increases in milk yield by up to 3 litres based on results we have had over the past two years. If your milk quality slip shows high blood ureas the inclusion of Amino Pro-Tek in the diet virtually guarantees a reduction of them and better production for you herd. Ring us for further details. AMINO PRO-TEK ANALYSIS
AMINO PRO-TEK
Amino Pro-Tek works in the rumen and enables better use to be made of the protein in home grown forages, especially in high protein spring grass. Apart from increases in...
TURNOUT ADVICE - 2004
Cows, in general, have milked very well through the winter for those of you wanting to maintain these high yields at turnout perhaps your problems are about to start. We all know that spring grass boosts yields even further but we also know that milk quality (particularly butterfat) is reduced along with fertility. The ever present problem of Grass Staggers is always on the horizon too. To help overcome some of these problems we feel it is always helpful not to turn your cows out too quickly, provided of course you have sufficient reserves of silage left. It is always a good thing to let your cows graze for a few hours in the day and keep them in at night with perhaps the mid and late lactation cows going out all the time before giving full access to the freshly calved and high yielders. This is a somewhat ideal situation based on various factors but even if you cannot follow the practice yourself maybe there is some element of it that you could adapt to help maintain yield, quality and health. Another point we feel worth mentioning with regard to maintaining high milk yields in the spring is the consideration of adding AMINO PRO-TEK to the diet.
TURNOUT ADVICE - 2004
Cows, in general, have milked very well through the winter for those of you wanting to maintain these high yields at turnout perhaps your problems are about to start. We...
CASE STUDY / TESTIMONIAL - PH Bourne & Partners
GP Feeds first supplied PH Bourne & Partners, Stoke Hall, Nantwich with a 'Rolls Royce' product our Dairy 10,000 litre nuts in December 2002 and this was fed up until turn out, Dave Bourne then went onto our new summer ration Excel 16 nuts, and stayed on the Excel 16 nuts until the cows came in. Following a very successful summer feeding programme, Excel 20 nuts was recommended to compliment the winter forage. When you look at the Milkminder figures below I hope you will be suitably impressed. With no change to feeding systems it is a straight like for like comparison of one year to the next. Competitor 2001 - 2002 GP Feeds 2002 - 2003 Milk litres (rolling yield) 8,272 8,412 Butterfat % 3.92 4.00 Protein % 3.24 3.29 Concentrate / kg / litre 0.26 0.24 Feed Cost pence / per litre 3.65 3.56 Dave Bourne's summarises his reasons for changing to GP Feeds: I was most impressed by the fact the company guaranteed fixed formulations, a factor no other company could offer. Operating a high forage system, the feeds physical and nutritional consistency is essential to avoid unnecessary digestive upsets, which I have suffered in the past from other companies operating a least cost formulation as their normal practice. The physical pellet quality has been excellent, whichever diet I have used according to the season. I have been delighted with the health, yield and milk quality of the herd since changing to GP Feeds and a conception rate of 68% to first service against the national average of below 38%. I believe this can only be achieved with the right nutritionally balanced diet and fixed formulations. It is comforting to know that every delivery is exactly the same ration as the last. I would have no hesitation in recommending GP Feeds to any other farmer, for the professional personal service, great products and the very efficient way the company conducts themselves. If you would like to know more about how we can enhance your business please don't be shy, give us a ring on 01948 661602 or e-mail us on admin@gpfeeds.co.uk. We can put together a feed plan for your farm that will give you the performance the Bourne's would be proud of.
CASE STUDY / TESTIMONIAL - PH Bourne & Partners
GP Feeds first supplied PH Bourne & Partners, Stoke Hall, Nantwich with a 'Rolls Royce' product our Dairy 10,000 litre nuts in December 2002 and this was fed up until...
YOUNGSTOCK
The foundation of any good quality yielding herd, is only as good as the youngstock you replace into it. It is vital that your herd's next generation is fed correctly in order to be an asset to your business. From weaning off milk or milk replacers, all of your animals should continue to grow quickly in the most economical and profitable way. This must include checking their weight throughout their lives to ensure that target weights are being met. Failure to reach target weights will lead to small heifers at bulling, small heifers at calving and small heifers at the lactating stage. To help maintain growth and health here at GP Feeds we have a range of products, whether it be a quality coarse calf mix to get a good foundation for replacement stock, maybe a heifer rearing nut or even an economical ration to keep them up to standard ready for exporting, we have something to suit all your needs. These products, when fed alongside quality forage, will ensure that all aspects of growth patterns throughout the various stages of their young lives will be taken care of. YOUNGSTOCK - DO'S AND DON'TS The Calf Feed 5 - 7 litres of Colostrum in the first 6 hours of life and continue feeding for the first 4 days. Mix the correct amounts of calf milk powder, check the temperature and feed at a daily constant temperature. Ensure milk bucket is 12 inches above bedding level. Provide clean barley straw from a few days of age for the calves to pick at. Clean water should be readily available and changed at least once a day. Calf rearing The calf house should be airy, fresh smelling and draught free. Wean when calves are eating 1kg of Calf Starter Pellets on 3 consecutive days and are seen to be cudding. Calf Starter Pellets should be fed ad lib up to 3 months of age (100 - 110 kgs live weight) Introduce Supergro Heifer Rearing 20 Nuts gradually at 3 months of age. Do not introduce silage before 10 weeks of age. Feeding and Management during housing. Supergro Heifer Rearing 20 Nuts should be gradually introduced at 3 months of age. Heifers should not be given silage that is unacceptable to cows. Bedding in the form of clean barley straw can be expected to provide approximately 5% of total roughage intake. Heifers should be housed in semi covered yards, providing as much fresh air as possible with a draught free lying area. Further information HEIFER REARING TARGETS... Phone the office today on 01948 661602 to discuss your needs. As with all our feeds the ingredients have been carefully chosen for digestibility, with well balanced starch and sugars and quality protein sources, along with FIXED FORMULATIONS. We aim to give your youngstock the best start in life. Testimonials from our customers are available on request.
YOUNGSTOCK
The foundation of any good quality yielding herd, is only as good as the youngstock you replace into it. It is vital that your herd's next generation is fed correctly...
HEALTH CLINIC - HEALTH PLANS
So far we have discussed various health issues. Farm assurance schemes are requiring health plans as part of the auditing procedure. Many farmers are fearful of the task and then do not have a plan detailed enough to pass the audit. We offered to help prepare a health plan for a customer supplying Joseph Heler and audited by Freedom Foods. This involved liasing with the vet and the farmer. As you know this is an RSPCA scheme and the RSPCA check a certain number of farms to check the standard. The RSPCA auditor commented that the health plan that we had done (and the nutrition plan as well) was the best they had seen in all their countrywide audits. An example of the Mastitis health plan is shown below. It is important that you liase with your vet in the production of these health plans especially where prescription drugs are involved. Below is an example of one of Tony's plans. Please contact Tony or the office if you would like further information. Condition: Mastitis Preventative Measures Treatments Outcomes/Records/Targets Pre MilkingCow housing kept clean with regular scraping, bedding and sterilisation. Cow cleanliness monitored.Milking RoutineUdder preparation, foremilking and teat dipping. Discarding of non conforming milk. Cows ID and problem cows milked last or units disinfected. Routine liner change and annual equipment check. DCT as per vet advice Routine sampling of clinical cases. Treatment strategy agreed with vet e.g. 3 tubes product A intermammary @ 24 hour intervals. Milk withdrawal 60 hours or 9 milkings. Treatment for severe cases established.Cow ID, treatment protocol displayed for all milkers DCT according to cell count. Milk withdrawal noted on records Cell counts, clinical cases and incidence rates kept via NMR and health records including medicine bookInterference targets:-Monthly cell counts >180000Individual cell counts>800000>30 clinical cases per yearCulling rate >10 %Culling policy >3 cases per lactation or cell count >1 mil for 3 months
HEALTH CLINIC - HEALTH PLANS
So far we have discussed various health issues. Farm assurance schemes are requiring health plans as part of the auditing procedure. Many farmers are fearful of the task and then...
EXCEL DRY COW ROLLS AND EXCEL MINERALS
Since their introduction last summer these products have proved to be very effective in promoting health and production in high performing dairy cows. This is no surprise. Highlight all the areas in the table where minerals and vitamins have an effect on cow health in the dry period. The Excel products contain high levels of the required minerals and vitamins to match the high yielding cow's needs. Excel Dry Cow Rolls are also formulated using top quality raw materials specially selected for the dry cow. Many users of the Excel products have commented on the easier calvings, better cleansing and the subsequent performance of cows receiving these products. The benefits take a while to appear so the products need to be fed correctly for the right length of time. We have looked closely at other companies dry cow products since last summer and we can say with confidence that Excel Dry cow range is the best bar none. Check out the price and specification of other dry cow products and compare to Excel. Case proven.
EXCEL DRY COW ROLLS AND EXCEL MINERALS
Since their introduction last summer these products have proved to be very effective in promoting health and production in high performing dairy cows. This is no surprise. Highlight all the...