FEBRUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER

This months linked article's:

PERFORMING WELL

Blowing our own trumpet is something that we do only on rare occasions but when we do blow it, we feel that everyone should know about it. Just three months ago we launched two new dairy compound ranges - the SELECT RANGE and the ENHANCE RANGE. During the last twelve weeks the response has been remarkable with many new customers taking deliveries of these competitively priced dairy nuts.

Having taken advantage of some astute buying we launched these products at the beginning of November and almost immediately farmers were interested. Since taking delivery the following points have been noted by our new clients:

"I don't know how you get such a low cost price for such a quality ration - your opposition can't touch it" (Cheshire farmer)

"Not only are they reasonably priced but they are also very palatable" (North Wales farmer)

"I am using them for all my dairy cows, my youngstock and beef. They have never looked better" (Shropshire Farmer)

"They can't be any good at that price" (Another compounder in our trading area) Currently 5 new clients have swapped to our products from this compounder and all are pleased with the outcome.

Why not follow our new customers' example and give the office or your agent a ring for more details - you might just make it a really happy new year!

THE SELECT RANGE

Available in 17%, 19% and 21% crude protein

Products contain: Wheat, Citrus, Rape, Palm Kernal, Soya Hulls, Barley, Wheatfeed, Sunflower, Molasses, Minerals and Vitamins, Vegetable Fat Spray.

THE ENHANCE RANGE

Available in 18% and 20% crude protein

Products contain: Wheat, Biscuit, Rape, Wheat Distillers, Soya Hulls, Barley, Molasses, Megalac, Sopralin, Minerals and Vitamins, Vegetable Fat Spray

All products available in nut or coarse blend form.

FATS

Getting enough energy into high yielding dairy cows cost-effectively is a major challenge. A cow producing 40 litres a day need 290 MJ ME/day and will have a dry matter intake of around 20kg DM per day. Diets based on forages and dry feeds alone will often be inadequate to meet the demands of high yielding cows and a failure to supply sufficient energy will results in:

  • Reduced milk yields
  • Reduced compositional quality
  • Excessive bodyweight loss
  • Poorer reproductive performance

The Roles of Fats

Oils and fats are components of the diet of the dairy cow. As they contain up to three times the energy levels of cereals they can be a valuable ingredient for dairy diets. Cows have a specific dietary need for fat, and butterfat is largely derived from fats and oils in the diet.

For efficient milk production cows should ideally be receiving 1600 - 2000g of fats and oils per day. These fats should be a type that is slowly released in the rumen. Cows on lush spring grass will consume up to 500g of fat per day. TMRs with a high cereal content can typically contain 700g per day.

This shortfall is equivalent to 32MJ, enough for nearly 6 litres or the energy released when 1kg of bodyweight is mobilised. Adding carefully formulated fat supplements can increase energy density of the diet and total energy intakes without affecting rumen function or appetite.

Energy supply for the dairy cow

Sources of energy to consider are those from oils, fats and sugars. Straight fats contain over three times as much estimated ME as cereals so can raise the nutrient energy density of a diet. Adding the right type of fat product can increase the energy component of the diet and butterfat in milk without affecting rumen function or appetite, consequently giving better performance in terms of milk yield and quality, cow condition and fertility.

Which fat should you choose? We supply the following fats:

OPTILAC - £495/t

Optilac is a blend of fats and oils with a ratio of unsaturated and saturated fats which closely matches the requirements of dairy cows. It is produced from fat sources which ensure a slow release in the rumen, similar to the way fats from grazed grass are digested by the cow.

New research carried out at Hartpury College (Gloucester) demonstrates the effect of feeding Optilac compared to feeding a protected dairy fat for the first six weeks of lactation.

Despite the protected fat having a higher energy level the Optilac fed cows produced as much milk. However, they started gaining weight sooner after calving and continued to gain weight faster than cows fed the protected dairy fat.

Feeding Optilac will support milk yields and ensure cows are gaining weight soon after calving - vital for shortening calving intervals

Feeding

A free flowing, dust free premix designed for incorporation into compound feeds and home mix diets. The recommended usage rate is 500g per cow per day although levels as high as 1500g can be used with high performance cows. Optilac can be included in compound feeds at rates up to 100kgs per tonne.

CS PLUS - EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS - £550/t

A specially formulated fatty acid blend processed with a selected glucose preparation into a free flowing dust-free meal.

CS Plus has been designed for the high performing dairy cow, in particular for raising butterfat levels and milk yields while maintaining cow condition. The blend of protected and slow release fatty acids rich in C16, has been put together to maximise synergistic effects on net energy yield and milk quality. The unsaturated to saturated ratio is close to 3:1.

The glucose blend enhances liver function and the hormonal, nervous and enzymic systems to increase overall animal performance.

Benefits

  • Specific fat profile high in C16:0 to maximise butterfats
  • A high energy content to encourage milk yield
  • Designed to maintain body condition
  • High glucose sugars to sustain milk yield
  • Promotes optimal liver function
  • Highly palatable, free flowing and easy to use

Feeding

CS Plus is designed for mixing into compound feeds or home mix diets. The recommended usage rate is 500g/cow/day. Levels of up to 1500g can be used with high performance dairy cows. CS Plus maybe included in compound feed at a rate of up to 50kg per tonne.

OMEGA GOLD - EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS - £585/t

Omega Gold is a specially formulated fatty acid blend high in Omega-3s processed with a selected glucose preparation into a free flowing dust free meal.

Omega Gold has been designed for the high performing dairy cows, in particular for improving fertility, supporting butterfat levels and driving yield while maintaining cow condition. The blend of protected and slow release fatty acids rich in C16, has been put together to maximise synergistic effects on both fertility and production parameters. The unsaturated to saturated ration is close to 1:3.

Certain fatty acids are essential in the cows diet, as the animal cannot synthesise its own. These are Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids which can significantly influence fertility in dairy cows. There needs to be a greater number of Omega-3s in the cows diet that Omega-6s. The analysis of different types of silage has shown big variations in the Omega6:3 ratios. Young grass and leafy grass silage has the highest Omega-3 content and the best ratio to Omega-6. Grass silage has a low Omega-6:Omega-3 ratio of 0.3:1. Wheat whole crop and maize are much higher at 4:1 and 11:1 respectively. This means that more Omega-3s may be needed to redress the balance when they are fed. This can be achieved by feeding Omega Gold, which is high in two essential Omega-3 fatty acids, Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic (DHA).

Glucose blend is included to enhance liver function and the hormonal, nervous and enzymic systems to increase overall animal performance.

Benefits

  • High in Omega-3s to improve fertility
  • Specific fat profile high in C16:0 to support butterfats
  • A high energy content to encourage milk yield
  • Designed to maintain body condition
  • High glucose sugars to sustain milk yield
  • Promotes optimal liver function
  • Contains high quality salmon oil rich on Omega-3s, especially EPA and DHA

Omega Gold and cow fertility - facts and figures

  • Infertility in the UK dairy industry cost around £350 million per annum
  • Around 40% of embryos are shed within 20 days of fertilisation
  • Conception rates to 1st service have dropped from 55% to less than 40% in the last 20 years
  • Feeding quality fish oil at between 40 and 80 grams per day triggers the growth of dominant follicles in the ovary which enhances progesterone and strengthens heats
  • EPA / DHA suppresses prostaglandin production improving maternal recognition of pregnancy
  • EPA / DHA are stored in the uterus if fed 21 days pre calving and improves conception after calving
  • Trials show EPA / DHA can improve bulling and conception

GOLDSTAR 98 - EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS - £795/t

A rumen stable fat in a prill form for high performance dairy cows, made from fractionated palm oil fatty acids, entirely vegetable, without a carrier, 99% fat content.

Goldstar 98 is produced when palm oil is fractionated for use in human food. The fatty acid profile shows a C16 content of 98%. In the rumen Goldstar 98 is 'protected' from breakdown and therefore not utilised by the bacteria but absorbed by the animal.

Most high C16 products available to the dairy farmer have a content of around 85% palmitic acid (C16). With a content of 98% Goldstar 98 is able to provide substantially more C16:0 just when the cow needs it most.

The unusually high levels of C16 in Goldstar 98 means that the cow is presented with a readily available supply of the major saturated fatty acid present in milk. This can have a significant beneficial effect on butterfat levels and so farm profitability.

Benefits

  • Highly concentrated source of C16 fats - 98%
  • 100% fat in the dry matter
  • Can help maximise butterfats
  • Goldstar 98 contains about 20% more energy than calcium-saponified fats
  • Goldstar 98 is naturally rumen stable
  • Goldstar 98 is unsaponified and fully biologically available
  • Goldstar 98 is a pure vegetable energy source
  • Uniformly small particle size for excellent digestibility
  • Highly palatable

Feeding

Goldstar 98 can be applied as a top dressing or as an ingredient in the feed mixture.

  • Early Lactation: 1st - 4th week after calving. 300 - 400g/cow/day
  • Peak Lactation: 5th - 6th week after calving. 400 - 500g/cow/day

MEGALAC - ring the office for a competitive price

Megalac is a rumen-protected fat, combining natural plant oil (palm fatty acids) with calcium.

Calculated ME = 33.25 MJ/kg DM

The calcium protects the fatty acids, preventing them from breaking down in the rumen and enabling them to pass intact to the acidic (pH 2.5) lower gut for digestion. The combination of rumen protection, high digestibility in the lower gut and high efficiency of energy use explain Megalac's high Net Energy of Lactation (NEL) value. Rumen protection also allows higher levels of energy to be fed without disrupting the rumen, whilst reducing the risk of acidosis.

Product benefits

  • Improved milk yield
  • Improved body condition score
  • Improved fertility

No other feed ingredient provides more energy for milk production than Megalac.

A proportion of the energy from any feed is lost in faeces, urine and gas (methane). Inefficiencies in the use of the energy in feeds causes further losses, as heat. It's the energy remaining from total energy intake after these losses - net energy - that is used for maintenance and production purposes. Different feeds lose different amounts of energy.

Trial work by Drackley (1999) showed Megalac to be highly digestible (96%), while studies at the United States Department of Agriculture (1991) showed Megalac to have the highest measured NEL value (6.52 Mcal/kg DM) of any feed ingredient tested, meaning that very little energy is "lost".

Price has risen considerably again in the past couple months due to the Palm Oil market. WE ONLY SELL THE TRUE McCOY. Call the office for a very competitive price.

NEWSDESK

COMMODITY COMMENTS PERIOD 29T BULK TIPPED (CHESHIRE)
Hipro Soya
Spot Soya remains firm, due to the currency, speculators etc. Forward are easing a little, on the back of large crops and good weather.
 Feb
March
ASA April
May - Oct
 £282
£281
£276
£231
Rapemeal
MARKET WITHDRAWN FOR FEB & MARCH DUE TO HIGH SALES - WE STILL HAVE SOME LOADS AVAILABLE - CALL THE OFFICE FOR PRICES.
Rape for April onwards is in line price wise against Soya.
 Feb - March
April
May - July
Aug - Oct 		W/D
£161
£138
£130
Soya Hulls
Feb & March up in price following Sugarbeet price increases. Still good value.
 Feb - April
May - Oct		 £114
£98
Citrus
Probably still the bargain for digestible fibre, as it has been all winter.
 Feb - April
May - July
 £109
£111
Sugarbeet
Up in price by £4/t from 1st Feb.
Some of the crop has frost damage, which will lead to less tonnage being available.


PRICES ARE INDICATIONS ONLY DUE TO THE VOLATILE MARKETS, FOR UP TO DATE PRICES PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE ON 01948 661602

QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION

Contact

Gareth or Rachel (Office)
01948 661602 Fax 01948 871776

 

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