Dairy Update
Spring 2023
In this issue: DairyPlus feeds raising yields on farm Improved milk yield and health at Woodhousehill Nut size and palatability driving results at Baltier, Newton Stewart 2l yield improvement in just 10 days at Burnside Farm, Lochmaben DairyPlus compounds and blends
Dairy Plus FEEDS RAISING YIELDS ON FARM
Six months ago, to coincide with the start of the winter season, we launched DairyPlus, our new range of dairy compounds, blends and meals. With thoughts now turning to spring, and turnout on the horizon for many farms, we’ll soon be adding to the range with some seasonal compounds for grazing animals (see page 4.)
feeds themselves have been through a rigorous R&D process and although we were confident that they would deliver, it’s really rewarding to hear positive feedback from our customers and to see them performing so well. The range includes options for every dairy system, with compounds for robots, as well as high starch, fibre and protein options. We can also create bespoke blends and meals to suit a farm’s raw materials and production requirements; these can include our Maxammon cereals, our sustainable grain treatment proven to improve feed efficiency by +5%. New to the summer season are some grazing products, formulated again using NutriONics (see page 4 or speak to your Dairy Specialist for more information.)
David MacKenzie, our ruminant director commented on the success of the range and how it’s been received on farm: “as a company we have continued to invest into our infrastructure to support Scottish agricultural and in particular our dairy offering. Our new dairy range is gaining the predicted output in the parlour with performance meeting the expectations of leading Scottish dairy farmers.“ Caitlin Palmer, our dairy technical nutritionist was part of the team that formulated the range of feeds and is delighted to see it performing so well on farm; “DairyPlus was our first range of products to be formulated with our dynamic rationing programme, NutriONics, and designed to complement Scottish forages. It works by taking into account
Caitlin Palmer
how individual components perform once eaten by the cow and how they interact with each other. This is a much more accurate and precise method of rationing and ensures that nutritional requirements are met efficiently and that nutrients are not wasted.” She continued, “The programme and the
IMPROVED MILK YIELD AND HEALTH AT WOODHOUSEHILL
Andrew Millar at Woodhousehill Farm, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Lockerbie runs a herd of 125 cows, currently milking 110. The herd, whose milk is sold to Arla on a liquid contract - is predominantly Holstein Friesian, with a mixture of homebred and bought in cows and heifers.
DairyPlus Robot 18 nuts are fed through the robot and these are formulated to ensure a high amount of good quality energy is available for milk production and this also promotes milk protein production. Cows are fed a PMR (partial mixed ration) of grass silage, Maxammon barley, Maxammon wheat, Ultimate 35 blend, SuperMol Andrew’s cows are now up to 33 litres, from 27-28 litres in the summer. molasses, Invergold moist grains, Grampian Maxammon minerals and Glucose Aid from a mixer wagon at the feed rail. Alkacid has also been used to minimise the risk of acidosis. The issue of digestive upsets is now minimal, whereas previously a cow or heifer would have been treated weekly. “The first cut had been silage high in lactic acid and that was causing a lot of problems. The silage inclusion was reduced and the
Significant investment in the business was made over 2021-2022 when a 120 cubicle shed and slurry lagoon were built on a greenfield site. Two Lely A5 robot milking machines were installed and with provision for the future, a base was built for a third robot. The shed includes a calving box and a bedded area for newly calved cows and any lame cows. The new set up was fully operational in May 2022. “We had been using feeds from another supplier and over the summer of 2022, the cows hadn’t been milking well, had digestive upsets and were just not looking well. No solution had worked for us.” says Andrew. Andrew has known our ruminant sales development manager, Stuart Cameron for years and gave him the opportunity to look at the herd and their diet. Stuart formulated a new diet with our NutriONics rationing programme, having analysed the farm’s silage and looking to effectively meet the requirements of their milk contract.
addition of Invergold moist grains has provided a ration that is a bit kinder to the stomach.” says Andrew. “With the cows in better health, they are better able to deliver milk and realise their potential.” says Stuart. “We have now introduced fourth cut silage and with that, further reduced the lactic acid issue.” Stuart meets regularly with Andrew and John Alexander from Ark Vets to monitor the health and performance of the herd. Stuart commented “with the cows in better health, they are better able to deliver milk and realise their potential.” Andrew’s cows are now up to 33 litres, from 27-28 litres in the summer. “Our protein is at 3.2% and butterfat at 3.8%. Butterfat had been at 4.3-4.4%, however we are getting much more milk.” says Andrew. “Stuart has helped turn things around, the cows are looking better and they are milking well.” commented Andrew.
NUT SIZE AND PALATABILITY DRIVING RESULTS AT BALTIER, NEWTON STEWART
Graeme Penrose manages the dairy operation at Baltier Farming Company, Newton Stewart. A herd of 760 cows are milked through a 50 point Westphalia parlour, with 320 higher yielding cows milked three times daily and the remaining 440 are milked twice. Supported with nutritional advice from Arol Hyslop, our DairyPlus High Protein 20 nuts are fed to yield in the parlour, ranging from one to nine kg. “We find that the cows are only in the parlour for 10-11 minutes on rotation. With the Harbro nuts, we find that their intakes are better due to the nut size, palatability and physical quality, yield has definitely increased.” says Graeme. “Nut size and quality means that it is all consumed, each cow gets the correct amount of feed, therefore bringing benefit to yield. There is very little dust and this helps keep the feeding troughs clean. The feed very much suits our parlour.” DairyPlus High Protein 20 is balanced with good levels of DyNE (dynamic net energy)
Birkhill Mill, Lanarkshire
help us out as soon as possible.” “The drivers are very good, they know what they are doing and they do it right. If there is excess in the blower for the bins, they know how and where to leave it, meaning it is in clean condition and no waste.”
to ensure efficient nutrient utilisation and rumen function. Balanced energy and protein sources complement on farm forages and by products. This and other dairy compounds are formulated using our NutriONics programme. The whole herd averages 35.4 litres and has an annual yield of 12,000 litres. Butterfat is 3.8%, protein 3.4%, the somatic cell count is 110 and Bactoscan is 8. Graeme also complimented the customer service team and transport at Birkhill Mill, Lanarkshire for their timely orders, notifications and deliveries. “We get a text notification with the delivery day and time and are always told if there are any changes. On the occasion that we might be running short, they always try to
2L YIELD IMPROVEMENT IN JUST 10 DAYS AT BURNSIDE FARM, LOCHMABEN
A move to our feed has rewarded Roy McKelvey of Burnside Farm, Lochmaben with an increased yield, rising two litres over a 10 day period.
protein are now sitting at 4.4 % and 3.5% respectively. After four to six weeks on the new feed regime, Roy was commenting on how well the cows had performed. “I think it has been a great move, with a big improvement in yield and quality . The more milk protein we produce, the more money we get.” says Roy. “The cows have a good shine on them. The yield has gone up two litres, they are maintaining their milk and I am more than pleased with it. That cake can produce milk.”
Roy is currently milking 125 Friesian x Holstein cows achieving a yield of 8000- 8500 litres and supplying his milk to Lactalis for cheese production. The herd, which is calved all year round, had been on another supplier’s parlour compound feed when a price increase came in. Roy took the opportunity to try our DairyPlus HS 18 Nuts in October 2022 supported with nutritional advice from Arol Hyslop. Roy’s key requirement was that yield and quality were maintained. Butterfat and
Arol Hyslop
Dairy Plus COMPOUNDS AND BLENDS We have some great compounds and blends for the season ahead with options to suit every system. Our range includes:
DairyPlus Robot 18 Designed for robot herds
DairyPlus Classic 18 Maximises use of raw materials to give a cost effective compound • Good levels of digestible fibre content to support butterfat percentage • Useful if high feed rates are required DairyPlus High Protein 20 Designed to be fed alongside lower protein forages or Partial Mixed Rations (PMRs) • 20% protein • Balanced with good levels of DyNE to ensure efficient nutrient utilisation • Good levels of bypass protein balanced with rumen fermentable proteins DairyPlus Energy 18 Designed for high yielding herds or where the Partial Mixed Ration (PMR) is lacking energy sources • High DyNE - high amount of energy for milk production • High NDIP levels - provides high levels of metabolisable protein that the cow can utilise for milk • Slow fermentable fibre sources stimulate good rumen function and support butterfat production
• High DyNE with energy from 3 cereal sources providing rumen degradable and bypass energy for milk production and milk protein • High glucogenic energy - supports fertility and encourages return to positive energy balance • Contains Evo - aromatic natural additive to promote robot visits. Trials show Evo can increase yield +8%
DairyPlus HS 18 (High starch) Designed for the highest yielding herds
DairyPlus HDF18 Designed to be fed alongside high lactic acid silages or high starch Partial Mixed Rations (PMRs) • Balanced energy sources with high digestible fibre content to support butterfat percentage • Good levels of starch to keep driving milk production • Stimulates good rumen function • High starch compound, maize provides bypass starch • High DyNE - high amount of energy for milk production • Protected protein sources - provides a good amino acid balance which drives milk production
Summer grazing compounds
Designed to nutritionally complement grass, maintaining rumen health to promote efficiency and production.
DairyPlus Graze 15 Designed for early and mid-season grazing • Good levels of starch to aid the utilisation of protein from early grass • High fibre level to maximise yields from grass • Fully mineralised with high levels of magnesium to prevent grass staggers
DairyPlus Summer 16 Designed for high yielding dairy cows grazing grass, with or without buffer feeding • High quality starch to balance the rapidly fermentable protein in grass therefore driving milk production • Digestible fibre sources to ensure good rumen health and therefore help reduce the risk of milk fat depression • Syntek is included to increase buffering action to reduce the risk of acidosis and it increases bypass protein to better balance the rumen to drive milk yield
Blends As well as our standard blends we can also create bespoke blends and meals using NutriONics, our dynamic rationing programme to complement a farms’ raw materials. They can include our Maxammon cereals that improve feed efficiency +5% . Whether you’re a current customer or have never dealt with us before, we’d be delighted to give you a quote for a blend or meal to complement your ration. Get in touch: caitlin.palmer@harbro.co.uk
Stuart Cameron: 07766 903072 Arol Hyslop: 07785 287831 Billy Andrew: 07771 641656 David Allan: 07766 903068 Caitlin Palmer: 07788 316315
Find out more about our DairyPlus compounds, blends and meals, scan here, call 01888 545200 or speak to your Dairy Specialist:
harbro.co.uk
Please email us at marketing@harbro.co.uk if you no longer wish to receive information from us.
100% Recycled Fibre
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator