This months linked article's:
- ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY...
- CLAMPFILM - LAST YEARS PRICES HELD!...
- MAGNESIUM REMINDER...
- EASTER ORDERS...
- FATS...
- YEAST - RA25...
- NEWSDESK...
Another Success Story
We would like to share a another success story with you all.
Following on from a farm visit by Gareth just before Christmas, a meeting was held with a Sandbach farmer, his vet and nutritionist. The results of this meeting concluded that the feed being purchased from one of our competitors was of a high moisture content and the starch and protein combination were not synchronised to meet the requirements of the dairy herd. Problems arose from acidosis feet as well as a lack of bulling activity and disastrous PD sessions with the vet.
Gareth was asked to establish a feed programme recommendation. After taking forage samples and mineral analysis of all the silages, he went back for a further meeting with the vet and nutritionist with a recommendation for improving the dairy herd health.
Today we are delighted to tell you that the customer, has seen an improvements in herd health, is now producing 2 litres per cow extra, has less feet problems, and bulling activity is the best it has ever been on this farm.
The farmer now says, he looks forward to the PD sessions, as the results are very positive and in line with that, that GP Feeds predicted would happen.
Within our feed plan, we have eliminated the competitors diet recommendation of using a 'bolt on' additive pack as it had little benefit and was costing the customer a fortune. With a balanced diet supplied by GP Feeds, the extras were just not needed and the saving to the customer was nearly £500 per month.
GP Feeds have targeted the right raw materials and have improved the profitability of the herd, for this customer.
It has worked for our Sandbach farmer, so why not let us do the same for you.
If you are having stock feeding issues on your farm, have a simple look at your delivery tickets and check the moisture content. For example, a lot of competitors have a moisture content of around 14% - 15% - this equates to 85% - 86% dry matter. Our compounds are between 10% - 11% making them 89% - 90% dry matter. This means that you are buying between 3% - 5% added water with some suppliers than you would with GP Feeds. On a product costing £200 per tonne this represents a large cost to your business and a shortfall in the value for your dairy cows.
Of course it goes without saying you are guaranteed a fixed formulation with us - as the company motto goes: QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION.
Please give us a call to establish the potential for your dairy herd and the financial benefit to your business.
Clampfilm - Last Years Prices Held!
The secret as all farmers know is an 'air tight clamp is a safe clamp'. An anerobic fermentation is essential for making good silages, it is this fermentation process that uses up the oxygen in the clamp sucking the CLAMPFILM onto the surface of the silage, and in effect 'vacuum-packing' the feed. Normal black silage sheeting is not flexible enough to contact the silage in every dip and hollow, and is also oxygen permeable and therefore rarely forms a complete seal.
CLAMPFILM is a low cost tough 40 micron sheet with very low oxygen permeability, it is laid directly onto the silage which sucks it down to create a secure seal - eliminating top and shoulder waste. Once in place, side sheets are pulled over and a normal silage sheet weighted down on top. CLAMPFILM is stout enough to withstand walking on as it is laid, it can also be pulled back and reused during the season to allow 2nd and 3rd cuts to be added to the clamp.
We have customers who have used it over the last few years and have again already placed there orders for this year. One of the many comments we received about this product is that they have had no waste at all with using CLAMPFILM. Very quick and easy to unroll and spread CLAMPFILM eliminates the time-consuming and laborious salt spreading that many farmers use to overcome the 'top-waste problem'.
CLAMPFILM is available in:
- 5m (16ft) x 50m (162.6ft) x 9kg
- 7m (23ft) x 50m (162.6ft) x 13kg
- 12m (39ft) x 50m (162.6ft) x 21kg
- 16m (52ft) x 50m (162.6ft) x 28kg
Use CLAMPFILM with the right additive and get the best results from your silage.
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 increase the levels of magnesium in our compounds as standard 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.
Easter Orders
This year Easter falls at the beginning of April (2nd - 5th April). As this is usually one of the busiest times of the month can we please ask that orders required for week commencing 29th March are booked with the office no later than Tuesday 23rd March and orders required for week commencing 5th April are booked with the office no later than Monday 29th March.
There will be very limited deliveries on Good Friday with normal delivery
service resuming on Tuesday 5th April.
Fats
Fats are an important part of the modern dairy cows diet. Prices are currently on fire, due the palm oil market, we still have some product bought very well - call the office now to discuss your needs.
CS PLUS - EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS
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.
GOLDSTAR 98 - EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS
Highest ME & C16 product available on the market today.
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
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".
If you are looking to increase milk yield this is the product for you
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.
Yeast - RA25
RA25 is a concentrated live yeast aimed at performance orientated farmers. It enhances cellulytic bacteria and stabilises the pH value in the rumen. It also contains Protected Selenium and Zinc.
Acidic forages, high starchy cereal intakes and unbalanced diets can cause depressed pH levels in the rumen, which in turn will lead to acidosis. This can then lead to depressed appetites, effecting milk yield and quality in dairy cows and live weight gain in beef animals.
By adding RA25 to the feeds can rapidly restore pH levels and cost effectively improve performance and health.
Feed rates:
- Dairy cows 25grams per cow per day - half the usual rate
- Beef 4 grams per 100kg LW
BENEFITS FOR DAIRY COW:
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BENEFITS FOR BEEF:
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NEWSDESK
| COMMODITY | COMMENTS | PERIOD | 29T BULK TIPPED (CHESHIRE) |
| Hipro Soya | Crops look very good in South America / USA.
Prices remain volatile due to the £ against the $, and
the leeches - oh we mean speculators! |
March ASA April ASA May ASA June - Oct |
£289 £282 £254 £236 |
| Rapemeal | Very tight on the spot. Forward pricing will
have to compete with Bi-Ethanol plant Distillers. |
March 7th - 30th April May - July Aug - Oct |
£POA £159 £139 £126 |
| Bi-Ethanol Plant Distillers | At present no firm prices or spec - but will
have to compete on price with Rapemeal. Price quoted is only
an indication. |
May | £145 |
| Biscuitmeal | Spot loads available at very competitive prices,
depending on product - call the office for more details |
Spot |
£105 |
| Sugarbeet | Depending on product, trading around £118/t
- Call the office for an up to date price. |
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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