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This months linked article's:
Why choose Ecosyl...
MYCOTOXINS...
MINERAL AVERAGES (Courtesy of Frank Wright)...
DRY COWS
WHAT TO AIM FOR:
Two groups of dry cows with the far off dry cows fed at least a minimum
of a high specification mineral tub and some forage as well as ad-lib
straw. All cows and heifers to have at least 21 days on a transition
diet. Cows should have a body condition score of between 3.0 to 3.5.
Thinner cows should be on a transition diet for longer.
Diets should contain similar forages to those fed post calving and
either blend or EXCEL PRE CALVER ROLLS.
A high specification mineral should be fed. Our EXCEL
DRY COW MINERALS / BUCKETS cover all your mineral and vitamin requirements.
This transition diet should be formulated by a competent nutritionist
to check it meets the modern cows requirement. If you need advice with
dry cow management please ring the office on 01948 661602.
Remember comfort is paramount. Pay attention to these cows and mastitis,
lameness and infertility will be reduced.
Ration faults: |
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- Trying to slim dry cows in the
dry period
- Poor cow comfort
- Low vitamin and minerals
- One dry group
- The use of milking cow minerals
in a dry cow diet
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- Low quality forage
- 'Roughing' it approach
- Mouldy feeds
- Wrong diet formulation
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(Oil 2½%, Protein 21%, Fibre 6.8%) A QUALITY PRODUCT
TO PRODUCE QUALITY RESULTS
Phone the office today on 01948 661602 to discuss your needs.
Why choose Ecosyl
- A clear and effective product range
covering all of your requirements, with each being supported by proof
and in most cases being the market leader, at a realistic prices
- The Ecosyl Product Range is manufactured
exclusively in the UK and delivered to over 20 countries worldwide.
- Ecosyl Products Ltd was awarded The
Queens Award for Industry in 2007 in recognition of its role in assisting
dairy farmers to improve efficiency.
- Ecosyl is the only silage inoculant
in the world with milk production improvement claims supported by
15 totally independent full scale trials.
- Ecosyl is the only product Guaranteed
on the label to apply 1 million bacteria per gram of forage treated.
- Ecosyl ultra low volume formulation
is the only ULV product declared to apply at 1 million/gramme. Their
ULV applicator The Ecosyler was developed in partnership with Claas
and has proved to be the First Choice of contractors
- The Double Action Range for dry grass
and wholecrop/maize contains the food preservative Potassium Sorbate
to reduce heating. Double Action Ecosyl and Double Action Ecocorn
have received acclaim from both Kingshay and the Maize Growers Association,
for keeping silages cooler for longer.
If you want any further information or just want to place your order
please give us a call today on 01948 661602
MYCOTOXINS
Are you experiencing problems? It could well be Mycotoxins. Mycotoxins
are produced naturally from all types of mould, there are hundreds of
different known mycotoxins. Mycotoxins affect animals is a variety of
ways and since there are many types, identifying and diagnosing is often
very difficult.
Common effects of mycotoxins
Variable intakes |
Inconsistant milk yields |
Scouring |
Acidosis-type symptoms |
Impaired immune function |
Poor rumen function |
Bloody faeces |
Lethargy |
Reduced fertility |
Swollen ankles / teat swelling |
Muscles tremors |
Unsettled cows |
General poor performance without any clear explanation |
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Conditions for mycotoxin production
Mould is highly adaptable and will develop on any growing or stored
feedstuffs in a wide variety of conditions. Mould produce mycotoxins
under a wide range of conditions and therefore, the challenge should
be considered ever-present:
Plant stress - soil infertility, insect damage, extremes
of temperature or moisture. Harvest stress - late harvest, crop too
dry, slow clamp filling. Storage stress - wet grain, poor clamp consolidation,
poor fermentation. Feed-out problems - poor hygiene, spoilage at face,
poor face management.
Control or eradication of toxin's is not as easy task, but a product
that can help is Mycosorb - a natural feed supplements
based on the inner cell walls from specifically selected yeast.
How does it work - when mycosorb is fed, mycotoxins
present in the gut of the animal are absorbed by the yeast sugars and
are excreted with the faeces, thereby maintain the health of the animal.
Mycosorb has been extensively trialled and is effective against the
vast majority of known problem-causing mycotoxins.
Response - mycosorb becomes effective as soon as fed
and animal responses are typically seen from 3 days to 3 weeks after
inclusion, depending on the type and severity of the mycotoxin challenge.
Feeding - can be fed as part of a TMR or direct into
the trough. To be fed at 100g per head per day for the first 7 days,
then reduce to 50g per head per day thereafter.
MINERAL AVERAGES (Courtesy of Frank Wright)
The 2008 growing season appears to have created a much larger variation
in mineral levels in grass silage than in 2007. Of the analysed elements,
all but sodium and lead were lower in 2007 when compared to 2006. However,
this years' results show 3 elements with the same average, 9 higher
and 5 lower than the 2007 averages.
Copper
- When looking at copper levels it is
very important to also consider the key copper antagonists, iron,
molybdenum and sulphur, which reduce the availability of dietary copper.
- Iron is down 10.9% from 368.95 mg/kg
DM to 328.86 mg/kg DM. This is not all good news, though, as 43% of
all grass silages contain greater than 250 mg/kg of iron, putting
them in the high range.
- This, coupled with a 15.3% increase
in molybdenum, is likely to negate any positive effects from the copper
increase of 6.1%.
- Troubling is the fact that 55% of
samples contained molybdenum levels greater that 1.0 mg/kg DM placing
them in the high range with the average of these samples being 1.97
mg/kg DM.
- Sulphur has remained the same but
at 0.19% is still very close to being in the high range.
- Levels of copper antagonists and the
number of grass silages in the danger zones must not be ignored.
Manganese
- Interestingly, 20% of grass silages
contains greater than 150 mg/kg DM (88% DM basis) which is the MPL
(Maximum Permitted Level) in the total diet.
- Of this 20%, the average is 214 mg/kg
DM which means that the level would need to be 'blended down' with
other dietary ingredients to avoid exceeding the MPL.
Phosphorus
- The Phosphorus level has increased
by 3.2% (0.30 vs 0.31%). However, aluminum, which decreases the availability
of phosphorus to the animal, is up by 9.4% which puts the grass silage
phosphorus balance in much the same position as last year.
- Balanced but not excessive phosphorus
supplementation will be required, especially when the cost of phosphorus
supplementation is considered.
Magnesium
- The average magnesium content is the
same as last year but the potassium has increased by 3% (2.29% vs
2.36%). Much like aluminum's effect on phosphorus, potassium decreases
the availability of magnesium in the animal, making it essential to
consider especially when trying to prevent magnesium related deficiencies
such as staggers.
- This should not make the situation
much worse than last year but the average values do suggest that magnesium
lock-up by potassium may still be an issue. Dry cows need particular
attention.
Calcium
- Calcium has continued to decrease
(8% since 2006 from 0.62% to 0.57&) equating to 0.5/kg DM.
- Attention to supply may be needed
in grass and maize diets to an inherently lower dietary contribution.
CAB
- The CAB value has decreased slightly
largely due to the 10% drop in sodium.
- Current research suggests the CAB
levels should be around 200 - 400 meg/kg (average of 295 meg/kg DM)
in the total diet for lactating cows. This year 49% of grass silages
fall within this range.
- Conversely, this is not ideal for
dry cows. Though only 7% of grass silages have a CAB above 500 meg/kg
DM, forages with high CAB values may be more difficult to balance
in a DCAB diet. In these instances it may be necessary to severley
limit, or even remove the green forage, from the diet to get within
the target DCAB range.
MAIZE SILAGE AND FERMENTED WHOLE CROP
- The maize silage results show decreased
levels of antagonists which will help to ease associated 'lock-up'
problems.
- However, maize silage copper levels
have decreased by 24.2% (from 7.1 mg/kg DM to 5.38 mg/kg DM) so copper
supplementation will still need to be addressed.
- The final word on maize silage is
the decrease in calcium levels. Being down 14.3%, where maize silage
inclusion is high in the lactating diet, it is likely that extra calcium
will be needed to meet requirements.
- Wholecrop forages have decreased levels
of sulphur and potassium levels but iron, molybdenum and aluminum
have all increased, the latter two quite substantially. Phosphorus
has decreased which will compound the problem of the higher aluminum.
- Wholecrop copper levels have increased
by 17.4% (equivalent to nearly 1 mg/kg DM) but the average molybdenum
level is now at 1.02 mg/kg DM putting in the high range even by grass
silage standards.
- Where whole crop is included in the
diet, copper and phosphorus may need careful consideration.
- In general, dietary mineral supply
will need to be increased should maize or whole crop silages be incorporated
in the diet due to the inherently lower levels of minerals.
FRESH GRASS
- The phosphorus and magnesium levels have decreased as have their
antagonists aluminum and potassium.
- The effect on phosphorus should not be too great as the current
level in the grass (depending on other dietary components) should
be high enough to meet requirements and address 'lock-up'.
- The copper antagonists, iron and sulphur have decreased but the
current averages of 305.59 mg/kg DM and 0.24% respectively, put both
in the high range. Couple this with an increase of nearly 55% in molybdenum
content and it is obvious that target copper supplementation will
be necessary.
In summary, averages show a trend but hide the wide range of results.
It is always best to have the specific forages tested and feed a specially
designed mineral to meet the animals' requirements in the most cost
effective manner. For example, the light increase in phosphorus of 0.01%
would provide an extra 1.0 g/10kg DM of grass silage. This is equivalent
to 1% phosphorous in an on-farm mineral fed at 100g per head per day.
With the current costs involved in phosphorous supplementation this
could offer significant savings. Supplementation of livestock at grazing
is essential for year-round performance.
With the above in mind, give us a call, so we may help you to maximize
your profits by targeting the correct mineral for your specific needs.
Ring us today on 01948 661602
QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION
Contact
Gareth or Rachel (Office)
01948 661602 Fax 01948 871776
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