This months linked article's:
TAKE CAUTION WITH THIS YEARS SPRING TURNOUT...
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR BUTTERFAT...
LET US QUOTE FOR YOUR SPRING / SUMMER CUSTOM BLEND...
IT CAN BE DONE!
Congratulations to EW Nixon & Sons, of Upper Farm, Ridgewardine, Market Drayton, for their successes in the NMR herd competitions for SHROPSHIRE run in 2006 (sponsored by Genus), the results of which were announced this March.
Ian & David who run the 240 cow pedigree 'Clockhill' herd were awarded in the large herds section
- 1st place - The Shrewsbury Livestock Auctioneers Perpetual Challenge based on an inspection and financial performance
- The Genus Champion Herd Perpetual Cup (winner of both the large and small herd competitions)
- 1st place in the highest yielding individual heifer production section
- 2nd place in the highest yielding individual cow production section
Truly a remarkable achievement, with which GP Feeds are delighted to be closely associated in terms of supplying all the compound and blended feeds, with technical and nutritional work undertaken by Nick Sharp.
The herd which is close to 10,000 litres per cow milk sold on twice a day milking, operates a system which is relatively simple, yet highly efficient. Indeed the factor which put Ian & David head and shoulders above other entrants, was their outstanding and quite exceptional financial performance in a difficult climate!
So, given first class management, the right technical support, the correct nutritional products and adherence to the advice given it can be done!
Can we do this for you? Phone the office to discuss your needs on 01948 661602.
TAKE CAUTION WITH THIS YEARS SPRING TURNOUT
Everyone is aware of the benefits that good, young, succulent spring grass can bring. The nutrient value during the spring is ideal for all grazing animals and provided care is taken over the possibilities of grass staggers and all the associated problems you should benefit with extra milk or liveweight gain.
However, spring grass on a number of farms will not be the same as usual this year because of an unusual winter growth pattern. Due to a wet autumn last year, following drought conditions through the summer, cattle were housed for the winter early, leaving a lot of growth on the pastures. Since then we have had a very mild winter and the grass has not stopped growing being assisted by a lot of wet weather. This winter's grown grass could cause a lot of problems unless precautions are taken. Instead of having young lush succulent grass that promotes high intakes and can support high milk yields etc, some farms will have a more stemmy pasture with lower digestibility and palatability which will not support milk outputs the same. Another problem could also be yeasts and bacteria fermenting in the dead material in the bottom of the sward which would certainly affect yields and any silage cuts taken.
As long as you realise that this winters grown grass has possibly not got the feed value as usual you can help the situation. Shortage of sugars and overall palatability will reduce milk yields, and the need for higher levels of supplementation this spring is paramount if yields are to be maintained. When this older type of grass has been grazed off normal spring feeding practices can be followed. Every farm situation will be different but overall caution is needed maybe more this spring than normal.
If you need assistance with you on farm feeding this spring, give us a ring at the office on 01948 661602 where we will be only too happy to help.
MAGNESIUM REMINDER
Are you considering turnout? It is worth reminding you that magnesium will be an important and necessary supplement.
Remember dairy cows do not store magnesium, so it is important to start feeding higher levels around 10 days before turnout. This can be done in a variety of ways:
- Having higher levels incorporated into your compound feed or blend
- Change to high magnesium mineral
- Have your custom mineral magnesium level increased
- Add magnesium chloride to the water system
- Add Calcined Magnesite to the buffer ration
The modern dairy cow will require the equivalent of at least 25 grams of pure magnesium (or 50 grams of Cal Mag). Here at GP Feeds we have already increased the levels of magnesium in our compounds ready for the spring.
So, speak to the office or your local agent to determine the best way to meet your cow's needs, we can customise your mineral products to any specific need, and remember that all of the above mentioned options are available through GP Feeds.
RAW MATERIALS REVIEW
As spring approaches the availability of feed materials for compounding are quickly diminishing and we are entering a potentially volatile technical market for the next six to eight weeks with very frothy prices. Will the froth be blown away?
The GM issue has not been resolved regarding US Maize bi products. When the standing committee meet again, even if they accept the B10 gene, there are at least two new varieties being sown this spring that have not been accepted or reviewed. This means that we will likely have the same scenario as last year and the shippers will not ship early and carry material through the winter after the quality problems that arose last winter. This situation will put a greater reliance on Feed Wheat and Rapemeal and other home produced raw materials.
The use of Palm Kernal Meal by the power stations has already driven the price up by over £20 per tonne and recent demand from the power stations has taken spot material off the market.
We are now firmly entrenched in an energy led commodity market which is totally new to our concepts as feed traders, and the following factors must be considered when looking ahead at your buying.
- Are power stations likely to buy Wheatfeed to burn, if so at what price?
- How are the cereal crops growing? Particularly in Europe. Any crop failure or short fall and the Wheat price would rise very quickly.
- Rapemeal could be quite volatile, if there is good demand for its oil, meal may be plentiful, but should the oil price recede then the meal price will have to increase to bear the cost of seed to crush.
- There could be Distiller products from our EEC neighbours but these will probably be taken up by blenders and the niche markets for the farm trade.
Soya has been the one product which has been, and is, consistently available. Beans are currently plentiful. However, another good crop is needed this season if there is to remain an adequate supply to meet increasing demand, even after taking into account the record forecast for crops in South America.
Our next focus of attention will centre on the March planting intentions on the CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade). The Soya acreage is expected to be decreased by about eight million acres if it is less than eight million acres it would be bullish for Maize. Conversely if ten million plus acres are switched to Maize it would be bullish for Soya. Therefore, it would be more imperative that the growing conditions were good for them to produce high yields.
The two most important things not to lose sight of this growing season will be the price of crude oil and the weather. Due to the potential unrest in the Middle East volatility of crude oil prices will always be a threat. Vegetable oils will respond likewise, as with all other energy products (i.e. Grains and Oil Seeds).
The weather perhaps may play the biggest part in the volatility of the market, and it will be watched very closely for any abnormalities. We have already had warning the 'La Nina' could influence the weather causing dryness in the Mid West April onwards. This has already prompted more buying by the funds.
Think of the prospect of three weeks dry weather and where prices could rise too. This has happened in the past two years and on both occasions they managed to produce record yields! due to timely rains after the dry spells. Can we have record crops three years running? Food for thought!
As you have just read, we really are in a very volatile market at the moment. Our advice is that you should be talking to us on a regular basis at the moment, so that we can keep you up to date as to where the markets are going.
Then together, with the full information available we can plan and look for the opportunities that will come our way as when to buy, at the most economic time, to give you 'the best return'!
LATEST NEWS RE CORN GLUTEN (AS PER ADM LTD, GERMANY)
On Friday 23rd March, the European Food Safety Authority voted in favour of Herculex Root Worm Corn (no risk for the environment, human and animal health). Their opinion will be published right before or just after Easter.
DG SANCO plans to have a vote on the full dossier in the Standing Committee on May 10th or 11th. It is highly likely that there will be no qualified majority in favour of the approval during that meeting. Most member states will either vote against Herculex (Austria, Italy, Denmark, etc) or simply abstain (France, Germany, Spain, etc).
No qualified majority means that the dossier will then be sent to the Agricultural Council for a vote, most likely on 11th June. Again, we have to expect that no qualified majority in favour will be achieved. In this case, the dossier goes back to DG SANCO and the Commissioner will okay the approval eventually. This is expected to take place at the end of June / early July.
No real good news. The only hope we have is that some member states change their attitude and vote in favour.
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR BUTTERFAT
CS PLUS is our exclusive product, aimed at improving butterfats, fertility and increasing milk yield as well as improving the condition score of your cows. It is a specially formulated fatty acid blend processed with a selected glucose preparation into a free flowing dust-free meal. It has been designed for mixing into compound feeds or home mix diets. The recommended usage rate is 300 grams per cow per day. However, levels can be increased for high performance dairy cows. more >>
LET US QUOTE FOR YOUR SPRING / SUMMER CUSTOM BLEND
YOU TELL US WHAT YOU WANT OR ASK US TO BALANCE YOUR FORAGES FOR YOU
We know that all farm situations are different and therefore 'one blend' will not fit into all farms: i.e. differing cow yields, types of forages, amounts of forages, forage quality, etc.
Getting the right blend will improve performance in terms of yields, quality and cow health. A properly balanced blend can be worth up to 5 litres per cow.
We will supply you a FIXED FORMULATION with ONLY QUALITY RAW MATERIALS to suit your individual situation.
All of our blends are produced in a coarse blend form with accurate computerised weighing of all materials, which are mixed thoroughly in the mixer before being held in bulk bins.
WE SUPPLY TIPPED OR BLOWN, 5 TONNES TO 29 TONNES
MINERALISED and MOLASSED or not!
RING US TODAY ON 01948 661602 FOR A QUOTE, OR ALTERNATIVELY VISIT OUR ONLINE BLEND CALCULATOR
Do you want to make sure your forage lasts through next winter? Ring the office today on 01948 661602 to book your requirements on Brewers Grains, Supergrains etc for pitting with your silage
DECLARATION TICKETS
REMEMBER TO KEEP ON EYE ON THEM WITH THE EVER CHANGING SITUATION WITH RAW MATERIALS. ARE YOU GETTING WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR?
REMEMBER YOU DO WITH GP FEEDS!!
QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION
Contact
Gareth or Rachel (Office)
01948 661602 Fax 01948 871776