FIRST CUT GRASS SILAGE ANALYSIS
RESULTS FROM TROUW Results from over 700 first cut grass silage samples analysed by Trouw Nutrition GB suggest the forages could provide the basis for efficient diets this winter but will require careful balancing. Ruminant Technical Development
Manager Dr Liz Homer says the first cuts reflect the growing season but many farmers cutting earlier in the season have produced some good quality forage. “Following the cold winter and spring we
would expect to see higher D value forages with better energy content and this is what the analyses show,” she comments. Dry matter is slightly lower but still
within the target range. The fermentation characteristics of pH, ammonia nitrogen and VFAs indicate well-fermented crops. Overall feed value is better than last year with improved crude protein and similar ME content and D value. NDF levels are similar to last year but with a lower lignin content. Dr Homer says that NDF levels in pre-cut grass were generally higher this year and fewer silages have low NDF content this year. “Last year low NDF and structural fibre
was one of the factors blamed for clamp slippage, so hopefully we will see more stable clamps this year as a result, which will make for easier feeding out.” Dr Homer says the more detailed
NutriOpt Dairy parameters explain how silages will perform in the rumen and indicate how diets will need to be balanced to optimise rumen health and production. “Dynamic Energy, which is a more
accurate measure of the energy actually available to the cow, is very high this year at 6.7MJ/kgDM. This means a cow eating 10kgDM of the average silage could produce M+9.4 litres from forage, almost a litre more than from the same period last year. However, to achieve this, the diet will have to be carefully balanced.” The other issue that will affect production
from forage is rumen health and Dr Homer warns that although feed quality is excellent in many cases, it will be essential to monitor acid load and fibre index closely. “Our analysis shows there are high
levels of both rapid and slow fermentable carbohydrates in the silage and care will need to be taken to avoid tipping cows over the edge and increasing the risk of acidosis. This problem will be made worse due to the low fibre index.” She says care will need to be taken if
adding rapidly fermentable energy sources like cereals. In many cases a well-balanced diet will require the addition of structural fibre, perhaps fermented wholecrop or less digestible later grass cuts. In addition after maximising energy and microbial protein from the rumen, feeds high in bypass starch and protein can be included to complement the high fermentable sources in the forage to meet desired production levels.
Dry Matter %
Crude Protein % D Value % ME MJ/kg Sugars % NDF % ADF %
Lignin g/kg Ash % Oil B %
Average 2018
31.2 15.9 70.6 11.3 2.3
45.1 30.5 26.3 8.8 4.3
Average 2017
31.3 15.0 70.4 11.3 2.2
44.2 29.9 40.0 7.9 4.2
“This initial analysis gives some
encouraging news for dairy farmers. The objective now should be to focus on making high quality forage from the remaining cuts while ensuring sufficient dry matter is produced to optimise forage intakes. Then, with careful supplementation it should be possible to formulate cost effective diets for the winter.”
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN MONOGAS T R IC F E ED
PRODUCTION Following on from the recent investment in their Ruminant Harvest Mixes facility, Holmes Chapel based Massey Feeds has announced a £750,000 investment in a new pig and poultry feed line, allowing them to more effectively meet the demand for feed south of the Mersey. “The investment in a new grinder and
mash bins is based on the system in use at our other mill in Preston,” commented Managing Director Kynan Massey. “We have been really impressed with the quality of feed produced there and farmers have been pleased with the results too, both nutritionally and physically. “As we wanted to expand the monogastric
feeds in the south of the region to meet the growing demand for quality pig and poultry feeds, it made sense to replicate a system which we were both familiar with and which was proven to produce high quality feeds for pigs and poultry.” The system is based on post-mix grinding
which has benefits for both production and feeding. Materials in the mill such as grains and pelleted raw materials remain free-flowing, unlike ground ingredients which can get stuck in bins. Most importantly, post-mixing grinding also produces a better particle size for mashes and a more consistent quality in pelleted feeds, which are important for animal intakes and performance. Mr Massey explained that the new line
also benefits from the latest safety features including those which help prevent fire or explosion, making it a safer environment for our operators. Output is also increased and the line can now produce 36 tonnes per hour
of layer mashes.” “The investment will allow us to meet
customer requirements efficiently and meet the growing demand for high quality monogastric feeds. Working with farmers in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria and the North West, we have seen exceptional results on farm with the feeds produced from the equivalent facility in Preston and it is an exciting opportunity to now offer similar high quality feeds across the Midlands and North Wales. While we will be producing a standard range of pig and poultry feeds which will cover most systems and situations on farm, the facility also allows us to produce bespoke tailored rations to meet specific customer requirements to drive high performance from their pig and poultry units,” Mr Massey concludes.
REVISED WASTE FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE CONFIRMS FORMER
FOODSTUFFS ARE NOT WASTE On 14 June 2018 the revised Waste Framework Directive (EU) 2018/851 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. As EFFPA (the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association) called for, the new waste legislation includes an exclusion for substances destined for use as feed materials (Article 2(2,e)). In recital 8 it is explained that this change should avoid the situation where substances already covered by feed legislation are unnecessarily included in the scope of waste legislation. This confirms that when former foodstuffs are placed on the market as safe feed materials, they cannot be downgraded to waste based on interpretation of the by-products criteria by competent environmental control authorities. EFFPA President Paul Featherstone:
“We welcome this legal recognition that makes clear that former foodstuff processing is part of the food production chain. There can no longer be any confusion about the fact that we are genuine feed manufacturers who source materials that have not been considered waste at a previous stage”. The amendment is also relevant in the
light of the new definition of “food waste” (Article 3(4,a) – food waste is food that has become waste), as food is prevented from becoming a waste when it is used in feed. EFFPA welcomes the announced work on food waste monitoring in the Member States, which should see former foodstuff processing as part of national food waste prevention measures. The Member States have until 5 July
2020 to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the revised Waste Framework Directive.
FEED COMPOUNDER JULY/AUGUST 2018 PAGE 43
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