Making best use of this year's forages
Published: August 20, 2010
Source : Biotal
Faced with rising purchased feed costs it will be essential that full use is made of forages in dairy cow diets this winter.
Greater demand and reduced supply due to adverse weather conditions globally have combined to increase the price of both energy and protein raw materials in dairy concentrates leading to likely feed price increases. At the same time reports suggest lower than average grass silage yields, however many farmers have taken cereals as a wholecrop forage to increase forage stocks and will look to introduce wholecrop and crimp into rations this winter.
Where faced with a forage shortfall, farmers may also consider feed materials such as moist feeds and straw to supplement forage stocks and reduce the dependence on bought in concentrates.
Whatever the situation faced, it will be vital to get full value from forages and this will require paying close attention to rumen health to reduce the risk of acidosis and promote a beneficial bacterial population to maximise fibre digestion.
One proven way to maximise rumen health is to feed a live yeast such as Biotal SC gold in the diet. Live yeast actively stimulates the rumen microflora to optimise rumen function to stimulate the growth of the best types of bacteria and get the most from the diet. This results in more milk from forage due to better feed intake and feed efficiency.
Biotal SC gold has been shown to maintain the pH at optimal level reducing the negative effects of acidosis and increasing milk yields by up to 2kg/cow/day.
A failure to optimise rumen health this winter could significantly compromise cow performance and lead to increased feed costs
Greater demand and reduced supply due to adverse weather conditions globally have combined to increase the price of both energy and protein raw materials in dairy concentrates leading to likely feed price increases. At the same time reports suggest lower than average grass silage yields, however many farmers have taken cereals as a wholecrop forage to increase forage stocks and will look to introduce wholecrop and crimp into rations this winter.
Where faced with a forage shortfall, farmers may also consider feed materials such as moist feeds and straw to supplement forage stocks and reduce the dependence on bought in concentrates.
Whatever the situation faced, it will be vital to get full value from forages and this will require paying close attention to rumen health to reduce the risk of acidosis and promote a beneficial bacterial population to maximise fibre digestion.
One proven way to maximise rumen health is to feed a live yeast such as Biotal SC gold in the diet. Live yeast actively stimulates the rumen microflora to optimise rumen function to stimulate the growth of the best types of bacteria and get the most from the diet. This results in more milk from forage due to better feed intake and feed efficiency.
Biotal SC gold has been shown to maintain the pH at optimal level reducing the negative effects of acidosis and increasing milk yields by up to 2kg/cow/day.
A failure to optimise rumen health this winter could significantly compromise cow performance and lead to increased feed costs
Source
BiotalMentioned in this news release:
BIOTAL part of the Lallemand group
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