VOLAC WILMAR Volac Wilmar market a range of products containing rumen- protected protein targeted to improve the efficiency of milk production. The range of supplements includes:


Mega-Pro– a combination of rumen-protected fat for energy and rumen-bypass protein, uniquely balanced according to research recommendations.


Megalac Plus – offers all the benefits of standard Megalac protected fat, plus a source of protected methionine targeted to improve milk yield, fertility and milk composition. Methionine is one of the first limiting amino acids required for milk production and has an essential role in the processing of fat by the liver. Megalac is the most highly proven


fat supplement on the market and is a key ingredient in formulating balanced rations.


Mega-Flax – contains rumen bypass protein in combination with rumen-protected fat and a concentrated source of omega-3 fatty acids from linseed, targeted to specifically increase fertility along with milk production. Mega-Flax is an energy-dense product containing rumen- bypass protein to help balance the additional energy.


Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients Ltd, Fishers Lane, Orwell, Royston, Herts. SG8 5QX Tel: 01223 208021 Email: enquiries@volacwilmar.com Web: www.megalac.com


Volac Ireland, Church Street, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan, Ireland Tel: 049 43 34755 Email: infoireland@volac.com


Future Developments in Dairy Production By C.S Mayne, C. Ferris and D. McConnell, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute


The objective of this article is to review trends and developments in UK dairy production over the last twenty years, to highlight current challenges for the sector and to consider future developments in production systems. At the outset it is important to note the strong growth projected in global dairy product consumption, driven by population growth and diet change. In this context, global dairy demand is projected to increase from 500 million tonnes in 2010 to 1043 million tonnes by 2050 (FAO, 2009). Consequently, most economists are predicting a positive outlook for milk prices globally, in the medium term, although with the likelihood of significant year-to-year volatility. Within the UK there is also opportunity for increased production to meet UK consumer demand, with approximately £980m of dairy products imported annually, with significant deficits in cheese (£857m) and butter £122m (Defra, 2016).


Trends in UK Dairying Dairy Herd Structure and Profitability The major trends in UK dairying over the last number of decades can be summarised as follows: • Reduction in herd numbers (35,700 herds in 1995 to 13,200 in 2015)


• Increase in herd size (72 cows/herd in 1995 to 142 in 2015) • Increase in milk yield/cow (5400 l/cow in 1995 to 7900 l/cow in 2016) • Reduction in total milk output over the period 1980-2010 (15.4 billion litres in 1980 to 13.4 billion litres in 2010) • Increase in total milk output from 2010-2015 (13.4 billion litres in 2010 to 15.1 billion litres in 2015)


The number of dairy herds has reduced to almost one third over a twenty year period, whereas herd size has doubled, with the current


average dairy herd around 142 cows (145 in England, 137 in Wales, 224 in Scotland and 114 in Northern Ireland; DEFRA, 2016). Whilst the total UK dairy herd has reduced from 2.6 million cows in 1995 to 1.9 million cows in 2015, milk yield/cow has increased by over 2500 litres over the same period, with the current average herd yield around 8000 litres/cow (DEFRA, 2016). Structural change within the UK dairy industry has been driven


by low farm profitability, with relatively low milk prices throughout the period from 1995-2009. Increases in milk price from 2010-2014 resulted in significant increases in profitability followed by major reductions during the downturn in 2015 and 2016. The increase in herd size has been accompanied by a significant increase in labour efficiency with milk yield/annual work unit increasing from 300,000 litres in 2005 to 425,000 litres in 2013 (Eurostat, 2017). Nonetheless labour productivity on UK dairy farms remains below that achieved on Dutch and Danish farms (IFCN, 2017).


Feeding and Housing Systems The major changes in feeding systems in recent years have involved increased reliance on housing and increased use of concentrate feed. In a survey of GB dairy herds, March et al. (2014) reported that 8% of dairy herds were housed full time, 37% of herds had all cows housed for at least part of the day during the summer period, 31% of herds used traditional outdoor summer and indoor winter systems, while only 1% of herds did not house cows at all. Data from Promar Milkminder recorded herds indicates that whilst


milk yield/cow has increased from 7500 litres to 8200 litres over the period 2004-2017, concentrate feed use increased from 2.18 to 2.7 t/ cow over the same period. Consequently, there has been no change in


FEED COMPOUNDER SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 PAGE 45


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