This months linked article's:

• FORAGE EXTENDERS...
• HEAT STRESS...
• WHY CHOOSE GP FEEDS?...
• MAIZE EYESPOT...
• RAW MATERIAL REVIEW - WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT...

FORAGE EXTENDERS

With the weather still glorious for many, it is playing havoc with some farmer's silage stocks. If you think you may be short for winter you may want to consider the following products.

Brewers Grains

Demand remains high for Brewers Grains, and if the lovely weather of late continues we could see demand become higher leading to shortages. With England now out of the World Cup, production at the breweries, have been cut by a staggering 50% - if you are interested in Brewers Grains you need to call the office today without delay.

Forage Saver Blend / Nuts

This product is designed to help extend what forage you may have. It has high levels of rumen friendly fibre from digestible fibre sources. Its starch levels are higher than Wholecrop. With a high sugar level to compliment grass, maize and wholecrop. A protein level that is higher than most forages. It can be fed to all classes of Ruminant livestock.

When fed Feed at 2kgs per animal per day, it replaces 10kgs of average quality silage and when fed at this rate it will save over 60 tonnes of silage per month on a 100 cow herd plus followers.

Typical analysis: Dry Matter 88%, Protein 16.5%, Fibre 12.7%, Oil 4%

Limited tonnage available at 'below' market price.

Supergrains

Supergrains are a natural moist co-product from the manufacture of grain spirit at the Cameronbridge Distillery. It is a highly nutritious feed for all ruminant stock, being rich in natural protein, energy and yeast residues. Supergrains are principally comprised of the non-starch parts of wheat grains, which have undergone a cooking stage as part of the distillation process, which greatly enhance the digestibility of the product.

Pressed Pulp

We would suggest that you register your interest with us for pressed pulp. With silage stocks going to be tight this winter pressed pulp will be high on everyone's radar. We can provisionally book your tonnage requirements to ensure you don't miss out (subject to price of course)

HEAT STRESS

Now is the time to be keeping a watchful eye on your herd for HEAT STRESS.

Heat Stress can have a damaging affect on:

• Feed intakes
• Reduced milk production
• Other health implications

Heat Stress is triggered by not only temperature but also humidity. When the Temperature Humidity Index reaches 72 or above - problems may become an issue.

What to look out for:

• Elevated breathing - look at individual cows breathing, if more than 40% have faster breather this could indicate a problem
• Reduced Dry Matter intake - usually between 8 - 12%
• Reduced milk litres - usually between 5 - 20%
• Reduced butterfat levels

How to reduce Heat Stress:

• Increase fresh water availability - especially in the collecting yard and also when the leave the parlour. Cows can easily drink 100 litres of water a day. High yielding cows are more prone to heat stress due to higher feed intakes, so will drink more water.
• Keep an eye on the temperature - when it gets above 26?C intakes often reduce, try buffer feeding early morning or late evening when temperature are generally lower. You could also consider feeding smaller amount but more often to prevent feed heating up and reducing intakes further.
• Look at the ration - make changes if necessary. High quality forages digest faster so produce less heat. Also consider enriching the cows diet with fat to make it more energy dense.
• Minerals - salt and other essential minerals can be lost during heat stress - make sure you are feeding adequate mineral levels.
• Provide shade - especially for higher yielders and dry cows. Keep them out of the midday sun and allow them out at night.
• Ensure there is enough ventilation in the collecting yard.
• Increase airflow in the housing by removing parts of side panels and roof ridges to increase air exit points.
• Reduce walking distance to the parlour, and also time spent waiting in the collecting yard.

WHY CHOOSE GP FEEDS?

If you are interested in our feeds but a little unsure, pick up the phone and talk to us. We are sure we will be able to answer any questions you may have. Our service is reliable, and using our predictive order system we give you a call well before you run out, so you need never have any supply issues again!

Remember we offer:

• Fixed Prices
• Fixed Formulations
• Friendly reliable service
• Practical farm advice from well respected nutritionists
• Products that do the jobs they are designed for

Don't forget we sell a full range of products including amongst others:

• Blends (fixed formulations and prices)
• Compounds (fixed formulations & prices)
• Fats (including high C16 fats)
• Youngstock feeds (full range to suit all requirements)
• Beef Feeds
• Sheep feeds
• Straights (including, Rape, Soya, Maize, Biscuitmeal etc)
• Silage additives (both acid and biological)
• Moist feeds (including Brewers Grains, Supergrains, Pressed Pulp, Draff etc)
• Molasses (you name it we can sell it)
• Minerals (want a customised mineral no problem)

Remember with GP Feeds you are first and foremost a customer not merely tonnage to fill our mill, and as the motto goes 'the customer is always right'. With this in mind what you ask for, you get. We don't change things around to suit us, this we feel is worth pointing out, especially in the volatile markets we are currently seeing today. Our rations are created on quality raw materials, not merely analysis and regular ingredient changes.

Don't forget if you are looking for something not listed, it doesn't mean we can't supply it - call us on 01948 661602 as we can source most products.

MAIZE EYESPOT

For those of you growing maize, the following article is well worth reading.

Maize Eyespot first hit the UK in September 1998, in the south west with devastating effects, yield losses of up to 75% being reported. Since then it has been present most years over a wider area but with less severe effects due mainly to the influence of the weather. Some agronomists recommend spraying with flusilazole as late as possible was the best way to head off the detrimental effects of this disease. The latest possible application was the end of June or early July when maize plant leaves are at the 8 or 10 leaf stage.

It is caused by a fungus that affects the green part of the maize plant. It is commonly associated with continuous maize and reduced tillage. Many UK crops will have this disease lying dormant just waiting for the right conditions to develop. To germinate the fungal spores require cool (10 - 12°c) wet conditions in August or September or earlier if conditions are cool.

In mature plants serious damage can occur within a week with a complete kill in 2 to 3 weeks. The crop should be harvested as soon as practical after the first signs are spotted so the crops needs to be monitored constantly. The main route to elimination is to get rid of the spores that are lying on the ground waiting to be dispersed again in the spring by wind and rain splashes. Either burying the plant residue or ploughing the ground deeply and quickly after harvest stops the spread the following spring.

Make no mistake this devastating disease is spreading up from the south west and can cause complete loss of the maize crop if not controlled. For further information and advice please ring the office where we can send you some technical advice from Ecosyl Products or alternatively put you in touch with the appropriate agronomist.

RAW MATERIAL REVIEW - WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT

• Soya Hulls & Citrus - for August onwards looks a good buy at present.
• Sugarbeet - British Sugar are still holding off, with their new crop season prices. The feeling is, that they will take full advantage with the lack of forage stocks on farm, when it comes to pricing Sugarbeet and associated products.
• RA25 Yeast - still the cheapest yeast you can buy from us.
• Maize Gluten (EU) - now readily available, but prices still look dear against other proteins in the market.
• Soya - China buying and speculators playing, makes this a very volatile market. Take your pick price wise on the day.
• Rape - is in the short term dominated by the burnt out factory in Germany, leaving the EU short of product, hence the current prices.
• Fats - PDF oils & palm are down in price, should see some discounting in August - watch this space!

QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION

Contact

Gareth or Rachel (Office)
01948 661602 Fax 01948 871776

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