MARCH 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


Specialist delivers a rationale for dairy


ration preparation “Cows need consistency”


by DAVID SCHMIDT ABBOTSFORD – A dairy


industry adage says there are three Total Mixed Rations (TMRs): the one the nutritionist prepares, the one put into the mixer and the one cows actually eat. Diamond V technical specialist Tom Oelberg of Iowa offered some practical tips to align those three rations at the 2017 BC Dairy Expo in Abbotsford on January 25. TMR creation starts at the silage bunker. Silage that includes corn, especially high- moisture corn, should have a consistent grind. When removing silage, operators should keep the bunker face clean to reduce spoilage. Silage should be cut from the face and put into a pile to improve consistency before being loaded into the mixer wagon. The face should lean in slightly so it won’t fall on the equipment or operator during loading. If combining silage and haylage, Oelberg recommends blending the two to further improve consistency. “Cows need consistency,”


he says. “To maximize production, you need a consistent ration and consistent feeding times.” What happens in the mixer


is critical. Since vertical mixers are “not good at grinding and mixing feed,” Oelberg stresses the need to replace worn augers, kicker plates and knives. “The mixing efficiency on


vertical auger mixers depends on the condition of the edge on the auger flighting and on the condition of the kicker plate, shoe or deflector,” he states.


When loading, ensure the


mixer is standing on level ground so grains and other dense materials do not slide to the back. All ingredients should be loaded into the centre of the wagon to ensure even distribution. A mixer should not be


over-filled as this reduces mixing efficiency and can result in spilled or wasted feed. Under-filling can also be an issue as this results in some feed being pushed off the augers. Adding ingredients to the


mixer in the right order will boost mixer efficiency. Bulky, fluffy ingredients such as hay or straw should be put in first, followed by dry, denser feeds like cottonseed and premixes. Wet byproducts such as rumen bypass fats should be added next, followed by haylage and corn silage. Liquids, including whey, molasses and water,


Order Your Online


Joe Bachmann of Bachmann Dairy Farm accepts the #AgSafetyChamp of the Year award from AgSafe executive director Wendy Bennett during the 2017 Ag Gala in Abbotsford in January. The Bachmann brothers were singled out, says Bennett, because they ensure that every individual doing work on their farm is well aware of all the safety precautions, regardless of the cost. CATHY GLOVER PHOTO


should be added last. While many farmers do not add liquid to their mixes, Oelberg recommends it, saying they reduce sorting by cattle by binding smaller


particles to larger forage particles.


Once all ingredients have been added, the operator should run the mixer at high speed and ensure it runs long


enough to ensure complete mixing. An extra two to four minutes spent mixing the ingredients will pay off with a more consistent TMR, Oelberg says.


25


1-866-820-7603 or 1-403-462-1975


BAUMALIGHT.COM


Specializing in performance, Baumalight has a wide range of hydraulic motors to provide an exact match to your carriersflowwhichiscriticalforbestefficiency.Call


Specializing in performance, Baumalight has a wide range of hydraulic motors to provide an exact match to your carriers flow which is critical for best efficiency. Call today or watch us explain it online!


R ROLLINS “Serving British Columbia proudly since 1946”


Machinery Limited


AG CENTRE: Chilliwack 44724 Yale Road West Chilliwack, BC V2R 4H3 604-792-1301


HEAD OFFICE: Langley 21869 - 56th Avenue Langley, BC V2Y 2M9 Toll Free 1-800-665-9060


Toll Free 1-800-242-9737 www.rollinsmachinery.ca


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52