‘
Remember introducing a buffer feed will deliver more litres, cost effectively
Reducing bottlenecks and improving intakes
Step back and ask yourself - what is holding cows back from eating one more mouthful of feed? Here are a couple of examples. Too heavily stocked? Then consider cow spaces in a barn, will reducing stocking density actually increase overall yield, improve cow health and result in the same milk in the tank without any more feed. The answer is usually yes. Too low feed rails? Lifting these rails can be an easy solution to increasing dry matter intakes, or pushing up twice more in a day giving 1kg more dry matter intake - both simple, quick solutions which in turn will result in higher production from current feed levels which will subsequently drive the return from those marginal litres.
’
Table 2 Grazing herd supplemented with buffer* April
DMI from grass (kg) Milk from grass (litres) Buffer DMI (kg) Buffer cost (£)
Milk production (litres) Cost ppl of buffer
Income gain (milk 25ppl) Source: Advanced Nutrition
11 12 9
0.99 30
0.18 5.21
May 13
15 7
0.75 30
0.2 3.72
*Buffer based on grass silage, whole-crop wheat plus maize meal or maize silage.
I anticipate making more from grazed grass will be high on the spring agenda for many, at least for a % of cows in the herd, low risk, pregnant, late lactation cows, whether or not you roll out a rotational grazing or set stocking system. Remember introducing a buffer will deliver more litres, cost effectively. See table 2. Keeping fresh cows in until PD +ve will ensure a good start to lactation as well as ensuring the cows have the best chance possible of
June 16
18 4
0.44 30
0.27 2.96
getting back in calf and these cows will, therefore, have increased return - £6 a day for every reduced day open and similar figures to above for return on yield. However, turning later cows out with buffer feed will keep production up and will also help milk quality to give the return on investment.
Alternative feeds
Producers can look for alternative sources of feed to help reduce feed costs. However, they still need to show a return in production. A feed ingredient may sound good value, but may not result in improving performance. Therefore, before making any buying decisions it’s essential to compare two feeds for dry matter, energy and finally, protein. Use the equations in table 3 on each feed to compare overall value, for example, potatoes vs barley, brewers’ grains vs grass silage.
Since the main component of the diet in any system is
forage, it’s not too early to start thinking how to step up your silage making this season and improve clamp quality. With DM losses run- ning at up to 30%, there will be plenty of scope. First off, make sure you cut and harvest at the optimum time. Cut between 11am and 6pm, wilt as quickly as possible, condition within two hours of cutting, leave at the height of a mobile phone, clamp within the next 10 hours. Treat with an additive, pour a 20% salt solution over the top of the clamp and apply at 1 litre/m2
. I’ll be
offering some further key pointers to quality silage making in the next issue.
Table 3: How to calculate a feed’s key components Dry Matter (DM)
Energy
Price per tonne fresh weight/1000 = price per kg fresh weight/% DM = price per kg DM
Price per kg DM/ ME of feed in MJ/kg DM
= price per unit energy Protein
Price per kg DM/protein in %CP /kg DM = price per % protein
THE JOURNAL APRIL 2015 81
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