News
JULY 09 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: THE FIRST TEN YEARS... TRICK or TREAT... HEAT STRESS... MINERALS ... YOUNGSTOCK... THE FIRST TEN YEARS At the end of June we concluded our first ten years of successful trading in an extremely competitive agricultural industry. When, in 1999, Gareth, Gavin and Ken opened up the office for the first time, we all wondered where this journey would take us. Certain people within the trade thought we were unstable of mind to attempt to trade and we wouldn't last 12 months. We now know that some of those people have left the industry so perhaps it was not us who were unstable of mind! Our focussed intentions from the onset were very clear and precise. We wanted to supply products that were of excellent quality and containing quality ingredients so that our farmer customers would be able to produce top quality milk, beef and lamb. So our motto was born - QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION. We searched for a long time to find a supplier who could fulfil our high expectations of fixed formulations and fixed pricing for all our compounds and blends. Only one, SC Feeds Ltd, were willing to agree to all our requests and so a relationship was formed that has flourished over the past ten years to mutual benefit. Over the past 10 years British Agriculture has been through and continues to go through an unprecedented period. Not only the problems associated with BSE, Foot and Mouth and TB, we have also experienced low returns for all products coupled with rising costs. T’was in the year of ninety nine, That Gareth had a dream, To own a company so very fine, So he worked upon a theme. Quality products will be our goal, For farmers to produce the best, And so it proved within the role, Suppliers of goods better than the rest. So as we concluded our first ten years, With a huge ‘thank you’ to one and all, The forthcoming times hold no fears, With customers like you we’ll all walk tall. Throughout this period we have been blessed with numerous customers who have been trading with us since the early days and these, along with all our other customers, have helped us to trade successfully and be a service to the industry within our trading area. Where will the next ten years lead us? We hope we shall prove to be as successful as in the last ten years but we feel this will have to be achieved with fewer livestock farmers. We may have to adjust our thinking and look to new trading ideas and opportunities. We believe we shall still be here in ten years time serving the farming community in Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, North Wales and other counties throughout the UK. Thanks to all our customers, without you we would be nobody, with you we feel we are a force to be reckoned with - THANK YOU! TRICK or TREAT Should You be investing in an additive for your wholecrop or maize ? As you consider your options over the next few months there are 2 facts to take on board 1) The Typical Dry Matter Loss from the maize silage process (from field to cow) is recognised as being at least 20%. These losses at 32% Dry Matter can be represented as follows. Remember that wholecrop is harvested a lot dryer at around 45% so the losses are likely to be greater. So for every 50 acres of maize you have planted, 10 acres are unlikely to ever see the cows 2) Recent figures put the value of maize in a ration at around £100/tonne of Dry Matter So you are unlikely to reduce losses by increasing your yield SO HOW CAN YOU SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THESE LOSSES ? Fill clamp with long ramp in thin layers Roll continuously… no dual wheels Only lengthen chop under 30% DM With a late crop, chop under 1cm Fill in one day or sheet at night Apply Ecocorn with a focus on the top half Use double top and enveloped side sheet Use New Clamp Film under the black plastic Top weight must be consistant Apply Ecocorn Double Action for conventional liquid or Dry application Or The New Ecocorn Varicool for low volume application Ecocorn Treatment … The Facts and Figures from Independent Trials You can reduce typical Energy Losses from £90 down to £45/acre so saving £45 /acre. You can increase Milk Yield By £90/acre (assuming: 18t/acre:25p/L:50/50maize,grass). Cost of treatment £26/acre so a 5:1 return after product cost can be achieved SO give us a call on 01948 661602 for Ecocorn , Clampfilm or just for good advice. Brewers Grains Update Demand remains high for Brewers Grains, and if the lovely weather of late continues we could see demand become higher leading to shortages - if you are interested in Brewers Grains you need to call the office today without delay. Pressed Pulp Reminder Early offer price now available. Contact the office on 01948 661602 to express your interest and place your orders. Click here for more information on Pressed Pulp... Goldstar GOLDSTAR 98 HIGHEST ENERGY FAT ON THE MARKET HIGHER M.E. THAN ENERGISER RP10 CHEAPER THAN ENERGISER RP10 A rumen stable fat in a granular form for high performance dairy cows, made from fractionated palm oil fatty acids: entirely vegetable, without a carrier, 99% fat content! The most competitively priced fat on the market for M.E. and C16 content. Click here for more information on Goldstar... Comments from one of our customers using Goldstar: "I was using energizer RP10, but switched to Goldstar 98 following Gareth Perkin's recommendation We were feeding quality fresh grass along with the Energiser RP10 and producing a reasonable result, we then switched to Goldstar 98 and the milk litres went up. We are now feeding lesser quality grass, and the milk has continued to stay up and the cows are looking really well. We have also noticed that Goldstar 98 makes a much better mix than our previous fat. I would recommend Goldstar 98 to anyone who uses a high C16 fat - and it's cheaper per tonne than its competitors." 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 -...
JULY 09 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: THE FIRST TEN YEARS... TRICK or TREAT... HEAT STRESS... MINERALS ... YOUNGSTOCK... THE FIRST TEN YEARS At the end of June we concluded our first ten...
JUNE 09 NEWSLETTER
PRESSED PULP... MOLASSES... LET US SEND YOU A TEXT THAT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY!! ... FATS - SPECIAL OFFER... GRAINS... SUGARBEET Following on from a Trident Feeds (British Sugar) meeting earlier this month we would like to bring the following to your attention. If you are a buyer of Sugarbeet as a straight, Trident's terms and conditions of trading Sugarbeet have now changed from how they have done so for the past 25 years. It is now to be traded as any other straight, with prices being issued on a monthly / daily basis, and now being subject to market fluctuations. Prices quoted will be for a contracted period and will have to be taken in the month you book it for. Trident will also be charging rent for any tonnage not taken in that contracted month. Rent will start at 25p per tonne for the 1st week following the end of a contracted month, then 50p per tonne for the 2nd week and then £1 per tonne thereafter. So with this in mind, be careful when and whom you buy your Sugarbeet requirements from. Alternatively you could consider buying Citrus or Soya Hulls, as a replacement for Sugarbeet (please see specifications). Artic prices delivered (Cheshire) Sugarbeet £135 October - April 2010 Citrus £113 August - October, £112 November - April 2010 Soya Hulls £108 August - October, £114 November - April 2010 If you wish to have an informative chat with us please pick up the phone and call us on 01948 661602 All prices quoted are correct at time of 05/06/09 and subject to market fluctuations. PRESSED PULP We will shortly be in a position to offer you early order contracts for new crop pressed pulp. This excellent feed, doesn't usually get offered until later in the year, after Trident have secured the majority of dried feed orders. Register your interest with office on 01948 661602 so that you don't miss out when prices are released. MOLASSES Don't Forget The Sugars This Summer! The need for sugars in the feed ration will be decreasing over the coming weeks as cows are put out to pasture and grass comes to the fore of the diet. However it is important to remember that grass quality decreases the further we get into summer as the stem to leaf ratio changes resulting in lower sugars and less energy. Even on good quality grazing grass the ME could drop by as much as 1-2 MJ/kg from spring to summer. However, our molasses supplier TATE & LYLE can help us by supplementing one of our liquids into your herd's diet via a buffer feed. You can remedy the drop in sugars and ensure your high yielding animals continue to get the same energy intake. We recommend our energy rich products TATE & LYLE Cane Molasses, Caneflow and MolaFerm XL as ideal buffer liquids for grazing TMRs this summer. As many of you will recall this time last year we recommended that you look at the use of molasses, and many of you did with great results and cost savings. We still believe molasses are a product to be considered. Call us today for a competitive quote on a very cost effective form of energy. Remember - molasses perform various important roles with rations Promotes high dry matter intakes with no substitution effect Improves rumen fermentation Excellent source of fermentable energy, making it suitable to balance rapidly digested protein sources, such as those contained in grass Binds dusty ingredients and minimises waste Highly palatable So give us a call today to discuss your requirements on 01948 661602. Let us send you a text that will save you Money!! Many of you will not realise that from time to time here at GP Feeds Ltd we get offered "through the trade" various raw materials that are "under the market" in order for quick movement. Along the same lines we will sometimes commit to a set tonnage of material that needs to be moved by a certain date (when we do this it is always at discounted prices). These offers tend to be like buses, you don't see any for days then three come at once! So that we can make the best of these offers we would like to know what feed products you use and also if you have a mobile phone or an e-mail address that is regularly used. Ideally we would like to send out text messages that will be short and to the point (we will not bombard you with texts) and relevant because we will only text the people that have told us they use that particular product. If you reply to the text great, and if you don't then nobody will chase you. We see this as a "win win" situation as we get to hopefully sell more product and you only get texts that are relevant to your business and you will get an offer that is under the market - and we all know that with current milk prices you cannot afford to miss a bargain. In order for the above to work, someone from GP Feeds will be calling you over the summer to ask you about what feeds you use. The questions should only take 2 - 3 minutes to answer. Also if you supply the information when we phone but then at a later date change your mind we can easily remove you from the texting / e-mailing list. Feel free to contact us on 01948 661602 if you do not want to wait for us to ring you. FATS - SPECIAL OFFER The PDF oils market is on fire at present. PDF oil makes up the majority of fats. Megalac has gone up £70/t in the last 2 months. We have bought forward Goldstar and CS Plus until September, both of these products are EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS - you won't find them available through anyone else. GOLDSTAR 98 HIGHEST ENERGY FAT ON THE MARKET HIGHER M.E. THAN ENERGISER RP10 CHEAPER THAN ENERGISER RP10 A rumen stable fat in a granular form for high performance dairy cows, made from fractionated palm oil fatty acids: entirely vegetable, without a carrier, 99% fat content! The most competitively priced fat on the market for M.E. and C16 content. Click here for further information... CS Plus CS Plus 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 raising BUTTERFATS in particular, whilst improving milk yield, maintaining cow condition and helping with fertility. Click here for further information... Grains There is a large demand for grains at present. We have loads available if grass becomes short, due to the weather - as grains are...
JUNE 09 NEWSLETTER
PRESSED PULP... MOLASSES... LET US SEND YOU A TEXT THAT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY!! ... FATS - SPECIAL OFFER... GRAINS... SUGARBEET Following on from a Trident Feeds (British Sugar) meeting...
MAY 09 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: FATS... FEED FOR THOUGHT - SUMMER COMPOUNDS... AMINO PRO-TEK... SILAGE... CLAMPFILM... SILAGE ADDITIVES... MINERALS... A word in your ear if we may As mentioned in the recent newsletter from Nantwich Vets, "the weather seems to have taken a nasty turn for the worse. Suddenly it's very wet and cold. Classic 'Staggers' weather. Hopefully you are all doing everything to prevent this as quite often these cows present with four legs in the air. If you think your cows are more nervous or hyperexcitable than normal then you might have subclinical 'hypomag' levels in your cows. It would definitely be worth increasing magnesium supplementation either in the parlour, down the barrier or adding magnesium chloride flakes to drinking water." As mentioned in last month's newsletter and recommended by Nantwich Vets, we are able to supply many forms of magnesium supplements. So give us a call if you are looking for: Magnesium Minerals Calmag (Agma) Mag Chloride Flakes Rumag Aqua Tecmag 4 They also mention that Dry cows are best looked after using a specific dry cow diet, even if out at grass. For this we recommend our Excel Pre-Calver Rolls. Fats There are many fats on the market today which all claim to benefit the modern dairy cow. The question is - which one is right for you? Here at GP Feeds we have a number of fats available. We choose to sell only the best available on today's market, and the ones below are both EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS - you won't find them available through anyone else. BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - GOLDSTAR 98 - HIGHEST ENERGY FAT ON THE MARKET A rumen stable fat in a granular form for high performance dairy cows, made from fractionated palm oil fatty acids: entirely vegetable, without a carrier, 99% fat content! The most competitively priced fat on the market for M.E. and C16 content, click here for more information... MAXIMISING ENERGY AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY CS PLUS CS Plus 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 raising BUTTERFATS in particular, whilst improving milk yield, maintaining cow condition and helping with fertility, click here for more information... Feed For Thought - Summer Compounds As you will see, we have a full compliment of summer products of the highest quality available to you. If you feed your cows a compound during the summer it is worth making sure that the product that you are using is fit for the purpose that you are trying to achieve. When feeding a cake, you should ensure it is of the best quality on the market - this is what we supply. Fixed formulations, no substitutions is our promise. In these uncertain times of volatile raw material markets, and with the least cost formulation rationing done by many of our competitors and all the other jiggery pockery that goes on in our industry, you can be sure, that from us, what we say is what you will get. Who else gives you that promise but actually stands by it - only we do! Excel 16 Nuts (4.5% Oil, 16% Protein, 7.5% Fibre, 7.5% Ash) HE Supreme HDF 16 Nuts (3.6% Oil, 16% Protein, 9.5% Fibre, 7.8% Ash) Supreme 16 Nuts (4% Oil, 16% Protein, 8.3% Fibre, 7.5% Ash) Elite Summer 15 Nuts (4% Oil, 15% Protein, 10% Fibre, 7.5% Ash,) GPF 16 Nuts (4% Oil, 16% Protein, 13% Fibre, 7.5% Ash) Rich Dairy 16 Nuts (3.8% Oil,16% Protein,13.5% Fibre,7.7% Ash) Amino Pro-Tek In order to maintain high yields in the Spring producers need to fine tune the overall ration, but this must be cost effective. One route that has worked well for many dairy farmers is to add Amino Pro-Tek to the diet. This is a sugar mineral complex that is non GM and fits in well to most feeding regimes. It works in the rumen and enables better use to be made of the protein in home grown forage, but especially in conjunction with high protein spring grass. We have in previous years seen improvements in milk yield of 1.8 to 2.5 litres per head per day in average and high yielding herds where Amino Pro-Tek has been included. Apart from increases in yield, it has also reduced blood ureas and improved fertility in some dairy herds. Please click here for more information... Silage With the weather hopefully set to improve many of you are getting prepared for silaging. How many of you would have preferred to make better silage than you did last year? We all know the weather wasn't everyone's friend last year but there are many things which can contribute to making better silage. Repair your pit(s) - make any necessary repairs Check & clean channels - making sure they are clean and working properly so that effluent is flushed away properly Check gateways to the fields - any excess mud picked up on the way into the field can cause contamination later on Service machinery & additive barrels - if using your own equipment make sure its in full working order. Cleaning out any remnants of rain water or last year additive will also reduce contamination Contractors - if booking a contractor make sure he is fully aware of how you want your silage doing - remember you're the one paying the bill - a good relationship is crucial to get the silage you want! The ideal silage dry matter is 27%, but how can you reach this. The tips below may be of some use: Try to cut when dry - the best time is usually after 12pm once the sun has had a chance to dry up the dew. Don't cut too low - setting the rakes and tedders correctly to avoid the ground will reduce spoilage from contamination Roll the pit between loads as you fill to ensure there are no air pockets. If rolling in the evening do no more than an hour and cover every night. 20 minutes is all it takes for the oxygen to be used up, before the lactic acid fermentation kicks in to start making good silage. Never roll the morning after as this will squeeze out the carbon dioxide and sucks in fresh air, starting the butyric fermentation leading to poorer quality silage. Seal the clamp properly - consider using CLAMPFILM to suck all the excess air out before top sheeting and weighing down. Remember - getting it right now will have a good impact on how it should feed later in the year. Clampfilm 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...
MAY 09 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: FATS... FEED FOR THOUGHT - SUMMER COMPOUNDS... AMINO PRO-TEK... SILAGE... CLAMPFILM... SILAGE ADDITIVES... MINERALS... A word in your ear if we may As mentioned in the...
APRIL 09 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: SPRING / SUMMER COMPOUNDS... SPRING / SUMMER CUSTOM BLENDS... GET PREPARED FOR SILAGING... FATS... MINERAL MARKET UPDATE... EASTER ORDER DATES... Grass Staggers (Hypomagnesaemia) Now is the time when many farmers are assessing the weather with a view to turning out. Now is also the time to bear in mind Grass Staggers and ensure your animals are fully prepared for all that lovely fresh grass. What is it? Grass staggers occur when the intake of magnesium is exceeded by its output. Clinical signs can appear very quickly and often no signs are apparent other than a dead animal. Cows do not store magnesium, so are therefore reliant on their daily dietary intake. It is a disease common in lactating cows and occurs in the spring because of rapid growing grass, it can also be seen in the Autumn when there is a late flush of grass. Ryegrasses are particularly quite low in magnesium, whilst slower growing forages particularly clovers and other broad-leaved plants have much higher levels. Beef and sheep can also be affected. Signs to watch out for: Nervousness and restlessness Loss of appetite Twitching of muscles - particularly face & eyes Grinding of teeth Staggered gait Convulsions Paralysis A reduction in milk yield may also occur before an attack Sometimes an attack can happen so quickly no signs are seen Prevention Here at GP Feeds, we have several products to help prevent the onset of grass stagger, ranging from minerals to liquids. Whichever route you choose to take, treatment should be started at least 2 weeks prior to turnout. All our dairy compound feeds have higher levels of magnesium in them, ready for turnout. Getting ready to turnout? Talk to us about Magnesium products. (Even if you've already turned out it's still worth giving us a call.) Hi Mag Minerals From £545/t Cal Mag (Agma) £455 / tonne Mag Chloride Flakes £523 / tonne (price based on 10 bag delivery) Rumag Aqua 37.5p/ litre (min delivery 1000 litres) Tecmag 4 40.5p/ litre (min delivery 1000 litres) All prices subject to delivery area Prices valid until 30th April 2009 SPRING / SUMMER COMPOUNDS Elite Summer 15 Nuts (4% Oil, 15% Protein, 10% Fibre, 7.5% Ash)... HE Supreme HDF 16 Nuts (3.6% Oil, 16% Protein, 9.5% Fibre, 7.8% Ash)... Excel 16 Nuts (4.5% Oil, 16% Protein, 7.5% Fibre, 7.5% Ash)... SPRING / SUMMER CUSTOM BLENDS YOU TELL US WHAT YOU WANT OR ASK US TO BALANCE YOUR RATION 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, grass, buffer feeds available, 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. RING US TODAY ON 01948 661602 FOR A QUOTE OR ALTERNATIVELY VISIT OUR BLEND CALCULATOR or if you need a bit of help we will gladly send an INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT FREE OF CHARGE, to sit down with you and devise a full feed plan. GET PREPARED FOR SILAGING Spring, will soon be upon us and before we know it many of you will be looking to do your first cut of silage, so now is the time to book you additive. We recommend Ecosyl, which is the world's most proven inoculant: 15 dairy trials & 19 beef trials 40 intake, digestibility & ME trials More than 200 independent fermentation trials, across a wide range of dry matter from direct cut (15% DM) to well wilted (over 50% DM) Sold worldwide in more than 20 countries First product to get FDA (Federal Drug Administration) recognition for its fermentation claims in the USA First inoculant to get approved for milk yield improvement claim in Canada Approved for milk yield improvement by the DLG govenering body in Germany Awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2007 ECOSYL ULV (ULTRA LOW VOLUME) Cost £1.28 per tonne (until 30th April)... ECOSYL 66 Cost £1.28 per tonne (until 30th April)... DOUBLE ACTION ECOSYL Cost £2.10 per tonne (until 30th April)... CUT SILAGE WASTE - USE CLAMPFILM... Use CLAMPFILM with the right additive and get the best results from your silage. Fats There are many fats on the market today which all claim to benefit the modern dairy cow. The question is - which one is right for you? Here at GP Feeds we have a number of fats available. We choose to sell only the best available on today's market, and the ones below are both EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS - you won't find them available through anyone else. BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - GOLDSTAR 98 VERY HIGH ENERGY FAT... CS Plus... Mineral Market Update Currency Currency volatility continues to have a clear impact on the raw material markets, this has been more noticeable in products like Magnesium chloride flakes that are traded in US dollars ($), bought into Europe as euros (€) and then sold in the United Kingdom as pounds sterling (£). Phosphates Last year's high prices for phosphates have started to fall back helped in part by reduced demand in the monogastric sector due to phytase enzymes and also by a reduction in the levels of phosphates in ruminant minerals. Vitamins Some market stabilisation has seen prices decrease for products like vitamin E and Biotin over the last few days; the prices for these high value products have been very volatile with small changes in the currency rates having a profound knock on effect. Calcined Magnesite (magnesium) Had we been talking about the cost of this product last year we would have been citing increases in energy costs, high demands for this product in the steel markets, and the reduction in exports from China as reasons for increased prices for this product. Fast forward to a few months later, and although there are limited exports from the Asian markets, the prices of crude oil have fallen considerably and the steel producers have reduced manufacturing outputs as the world economy has slowed down but there has been no reduction in prices. Outlook In a majority of cases the cost of mineral supplementation should fall going into summer 2009 however the effects of the weakened currency still need to be taken into account and has the potential to upset the applecart at any time. GP Feeds Minerals Minerals are a must for every diet. Here at GP Feeds we pride ourselves on...
APRIL 09 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: SPRING / SUMMER COMPOUNDS... SPRING / SUMMER CUSTOM BLENDS... GET PREPARED FOR SILAGING... FATS... MINERAL MARKET UPDATE... EASTER ORDER DATES... Grass Staggers (Hypomagnesaemia) Now is the...
MARCH 09 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: FORAGE EXTENDERS ARE YOU SHORT OF FORAGE?... CALCULATING SILAGE STOCKS ... TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK As we move from February into March what a topsy turvey months it has been. Government bailing out banks (again), outrageous pension payments for some individuals and a milk price drop in our sector for some. For those of you who have had a milk price drop, the knee jerk reaction is to cut all your inputs. This could include feeds. But if you take a moment and think about your own individual situation, with a clear head, things are probably not as bad as they have been. As one customer said to us - 'recession, what recession, it's just everybody coming down to our level' - what a sobering thought. If we look at what we can do for your business, some farmers tell us that they are on average £2000 worse off a month at present. Let's put that into real terms: £2000 ÷ 30 days in the month = £66.66 per day, spread this over 180 cows = 37p per cow per day worse off. With a milk price of 26p you only need a 1.4 litre increase per cow per day to recuperate that £2000. Easy words, we hear you say, not for us. The easy reaction to any milk price drop is to try and cheapen your feed inputs, whether that is by less feed or feeding inferior products. This will just make matters worse, fertility will suffer, feet problems will occur etc and this will eventually lead to less milk being produced per cow. If you use a quality product like ours, target the high yielders properly with a bespoked blend or compound and also feed the lows correctly, i.e. not over feeding as many do, you will get back that 1.4 litre minimum and probably produce more milk litres per cow. This would put you in a better position than you were. We have the products, the nutrition and the 'Will' to help you achieve your goals - do you? Please pick up the phone and together let us take your business forward, remember we are only a single phone call away - 01948 661602. FORAGE EXTENDERS ARE YOU SHORT OF FORAGE? Calculating silage stocks the quantity of silage within a clamp can be estimated by multiplying the volume of the silage in the clamp by the approximate density of the silage... With all this mind we have the following products available now to help extend your silage stocks. Stockfeed Potatoes (Stone free & clean) Brewers Grains - After being in short supply for most of the winter product is now more easily available through us. Fodderbeet (Stone free & clean) Pressed Sugar Beet Pulp (Agbag) QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION Contact Gareth or Rachel (Office) 01948 661602 Fax 01948 871776
MARCH 09 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: FORAGE EXTENDERS ARE YOU SHORT OF FORAGE?... CALCULATING SILAGE STOCKS ... TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK As we move from February into March what a...
FEBRUARY 09 NEWSLETTER
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: 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 Low quality forage 'Roughing' it approach Mouldy feeds Wrong diet formulation Excel Pre-Calver Rolls (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 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...
FEBRUARY 09 NEWSLETTER
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...