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MYCOTOXINS
Mycotoxins are chemical products secreted by fungi as a result of their normal metabolic processes. Moulds themselves can cause pathogenic situations (mycoses) but they can be easily controlled, either by drying or processing of the material on which it is growing or by adding mould inhibitors. Mycotoxins are altogether more insidious. Since they are invisible their presence is not easily detected. However, it is safe to assume that where fungi have become well established, mycotoxins will almost certainly have been produced and have contaminated the host material. Mycotoxicoses (disease situations caused by the mycotoxins) can be extremely dangerous and indeed, often misdiagnosed. General symptoms of Mycotoxicosis: Poor appetite, feed rejection Poor grown rates Reduction in reproductive performance Reduction in milk production Immunosuppression Reduced response to antibiotics for other diseases Poor response to vaccines Increased mortality Softer faeces, diarrhoea Respiratory problems Oral lesions Liver dysfunction Kidney dysfunction Necrosis of alimentary tract Control or eradication of toxins is not as easy task, but a product that can help is Ultrabond Reference / Further Reading Ultrabond - The hidden risk in home grown forage from Mycotoxins... Reducing Mycotoxin... The dangers of mycotoxins in straw rations and bedding... UK observation/testimonial Ultrabond...
MYCOTOXINS
Mycotoxins are chemical products secreted by fungi as a result of their normal metabolic processes. Moulds themselves can cause pathogenic situations (mycoses) but they can be easily controlled, either by...
LUCERNE - IS IT THE NEXT STEP FORWARD?
With the majority of so called experts prophesising that the planet is getting hotter and drier due to global warming, is it time that we thought, in this country, of growing a forage crop that has drought tolerance and is a superb product to feed to high performance dairy cows? Is this just a pipe dream or is Lucerne a crop we should be thinking of growing that fits all these criteria. A growing number of farmers are already growing this crop in the UK with considerable success and reports suggest that by feeding Lucerne (Alfalfa) large dairy herds in the USA, Israel and other middle eastern countries are benefitting considerably. Where would this crop fit into feeding regimes in this country both for dairy and beef herds? Financial benefit and details are well worth considering. We outline some of the many aspects of where the crop would fit in and the aspects of growing and harvesting techniques in the facts below. FROM SEED TO FEED a) Facts Drought tolerant (very deep rooted) High protein forage (18% - 23% Crude Protein) 3 - 5 year ley 4 - 5 silage cuts per year Nitrogen benefit to subsequent crop Ideal grass and maize silage balancer 14 - 20 tonnes fresh yield per annum @ 30% Dry Matter Suitable for dairy, beef and sheep Not for grazing as can cause bloat b) Sowing Must have free draining alkaline soil (pH minimum 6.5 preferably 7) Preferably not too heavy a land Index 2 for both P & K Sow into well cultivated moist seed bed from April to Mid August at latest Won't tolerate weeds so preferable to under sow with spring barley or a timothy / meadow fescue mix to help establishment Sow 10 - 12 kgs per acre Sow 1cm deep either broadcast or in 10cm rows and then roll Best varieties are Daisy or Marshall c) Harvesting May onwards at 5-6 weeks intervals Cut at 8cm stubble length Cut when flowers have set for maximum yield and quality Swath and wilt and harvest when top of swath us dry and middle of swath is still green and moist. Leave it too long and the leaves drop to the ground and you lose nutritional value Low in fibre and sugars so must be treated with a silage additive to obtain correct fermentation Apply fertiliser immediately after cutting to avoid leaf scorch If you need more comprehensive information about any aspect of Lucerne growing and feeding please ring the office where we will put you in touch with our arable agents or alternatively an agronomist that we would recommend.
LUCERNE - IS IT THE NEXT STEP FORWARD?
With the majority of so called experts prophesising that the planet is getting hotter and drier due to global warming, is it time that we thought, in this country, of...
Calculating Silage Stocks
The quantity of silage within a clamp can be estimated by multiplying the volume of the silage in the clamp by the approximate density of the silage. The volume of the clamp can be calculated as: Length x Breadth x Height. If a ramp is there, halve it, and measure the length as one distance where the silage is the same height, plus half the distance of the ramp. (Basically turning half of the ramp upside down, and stacking it on top of the other half, to make a square for measurement purposes.) Grass Silage Quality, kgs per cubic metre Silage depth in metres Dry Matter % 2.5m 3.0m 3.5m 20 865 881 920 25 735 772 803 30 658 689 715 35 597 624 646 Multiply pit length x pit width x pit height x kgs per cubic metre as per table ÷ 1000 = TONNES IN PIT approx. If you wish to know the total Dry matter available you should multiply the cubic metres available by the following factors dependant on the dry matter of the silage. Dry Matter % ** 20 multiply by 0.77 = total tonne of dry matter 25 multiply by 0.68 = total tonne of dry matter 30 multiply by 0.60 = total tonne of dry matter The silage density will vary according to dry matter, chop length, crop type, compaction, but grass silage will generally fall in to a range of 600 - 700 Kgs per Cu Metre, maize silage probably 700 to 850 Kgs per Cu Metre. (these values converted to decimals are 0.6,0.7,0.7, 0.85) The overall quantity of silage can then be divided by the number of cows and number of days remaining in winter, or longer if buffer feeding us required, to determine the maximum quantity that can be fed per head per day. When doing this calculation, be sure to allow for any quantities of silage required for feeding any animals outside of the milking herd, e.g. heifers, dry cow etc. ** You need 1¾ tonnes of Dry Matter per milking cow for a 180 day winter. You need 1 tonne of Dry matter per dry cow for a 180 day winter (Plus Youngstock and / or Beef animals) If this table and equations are as clear as mud, please ring one of our agents to assist you in working out you own individual stocks available.
Calculating Silage Stocks
The quantity of silage within a clamp can be estimated by multiplying the volume of the silage in the clamp by the approximate density of the silage. The volume of...
AUGUST 07 NEWSLETTER
FORAGE SAVER BLEND... ADD - F NC... TOP PRODUCTS TO BUY THIS MONTH... FARM OPEN DAY AT: Mr & Mrs A Richardson Higher Green Farm, Byley, Middlewich... CHARITIES' SUPPORT FOR FARMERS AFFECTED BY FLOODING... WINTER CAKE REQUIREMENTS If you've not already done so, now is the time to start thinking about your winter diets. Here at GP Feeds we have been busy sourcing raw materials for our winter blends and compounds. It is always a good idea to get your silage tested so that you can match it with the best products to feed your animals. If you need help with this we can help - ring the office and we will arrange for someone to test your silage and check out your diet requirements. We have the following rations you may like to consider: GPF 18 & 20 Nuts - with a high energy content, sourced from a variety of quality raw materials along with readily available and slow release starch. A good economical ration typically fed to herds yielding 5 - 7,000 litres. Supreme 18 & 20 Nuts - high in energy and is an ideal compliment to good quality silage. Typically fed to herds yielding 7 - 8,000 litres. Supreme HDF 18 & 20 Nuts - high energy rations with 25% starch & sugars. With quality high digestible fibre providing a buffer effect in the rumen. Improves and maintains milk constituents. Typically fed to herds yielding 8,000 litres. Excel 18 & 20 Nuts - as its name suggests it is designed to help high genetic merit cows produce lots of milk. Ultra high energy with 'old fashioned' ingredients. Typically fed to herds yielding in excess of 8,000 litres. All the above cakes are available in blend form. For more details and contract prices fixed through to April 2008 contact the office on 01948 661602, and remember all our products have FIXED FORMULATIONS - nothing changes unless YOU ask us! MOIST FEEDS With the recent wet weather, many farmers had been unable to do anything other than first cut silage, and with cows having been brought inside, many have started to feed their winter stocks of silage. With this in mind it is worth considering looking at moist feeds to replace used silage. Here at GP Feeds, we have many of these options available to us, for example Supergrains, Sticky Orange Pudding, amongst many others. As you would expect these products are in great demand and supply is very tight both now and will continue to be for the winter. Supergrains are available in rigid and artic loads for August / September. This superb product, will replace some of the forage already used and make the silage still to be made more palatable. With increasing milk price, milk litres is the key to a profitable future. Brewers Grains are currently sold out for spot, and with production for the coming season expected to be lower, we advise you to consider booking your moist grains winter requirements now. If you need moist feeds contact the office today on 01948 661602 to discuss your requirements before they run out. FORAGE SAVER BLEND This product is designed to help extend what forage you may have. It has high levels of rumen friendly fibre from Sugarbeet and Citrus Pulp. Its starch levels are higher than Wholecrop. With a high sugar level to compliment grass, maize and wholecrop. A protein level that is higher than most forages. It can be fed to all classes of Ruminant livestock. When fed Feed at 2kgs per animal per day, it replaces 10kgs of average quality silage and when fed at this rate it will save over 60 tonnes of silage per month on a 100 cow herd plus followers. More Information on FORAGE SAVER BLEND... Forage saver is readily available - ring the office on 01948 661602 to place your order This is certainly a product to be considered, with many moist feeds selling out fast. FOR PRICES AND DETAILS OF FIXED PRICE CONTRACTS CONTACT THE OFFICE ON 01948 661602 ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH BUTTERFATS? Our top selling fat, with the recent wet weather this product will keep those butterfats up. With the weather continuing to be a pain, many farmers have been struggling with their butterfats. Here at GP Feeds we have just the right product to help - CS Plus (exclusive to GP Feeds) is a product designed for raising butterfats, improving milk yield, maintaining cow conditions and also helps with fertility. More information... HIGH CELL COUNTS Are you suffering from high cell counts? If so do not fear GP Feeds are here, we have a mineral designed to help combat this very problem - GPF HIGH TBC MINERAL. For more information please contact the office on 01948 661602 and speak to Gareth. For a competitive price on minerals ring the office on 01948 661602 MOLASSES Do not overlook molasses, this could be the year that they fit into your diet. Very competitively priced against other raw materials. Promotes high dry matter intakes and improves rumen function. Don't worry about storage as we have a tank scheme to suit everyone - ring the office today on 01948 661602 for more details. Competitive tank schemes available. Interest free over 3 years ring the office on 01948 661602 to discuss your needs. TOP PRODUCTS TO BUY THIS MONTH MOLASSES The only raw material that's down in price. A good replacement for liquid lactose, which is in short supply due to the current liquid market. Molasses helps to promote high dry matter silage intakes (i.e. first cut silages which are now being fed) and improves rumen function. Very competitive tank schemes available, interest free over 3 years. SUPREME HDF 16 NUTS Our best summer selling cake. Excellent source of proteins and energies from different types of quality raw materials. Competitively priced for today's market. Also available in 18%. GP FEEDS MINERALS A must for every diet. We have seen outstanding results by supplementing minerals of the right quality and quantity. Don't buy your usual minerals until you have spoken to GP Feeds. Very competitively priced. MOIST FEEDS Take a look at our most popular four above and ring the office today to place your order. RING GP FEEDS ON 01948 661602 TO PLACE YOUR ORDERS TODAY ADD-F NOW NON-CORROSIVE One of the best known and respected of all silage preservatives, Add-F, is now available in a non-corrosive formula from us, called Add-F NC (for non-corrosive). More information... FARM OPEN DAY Farm open day at: Mr & Mrs A Richardson Higher Green Farm, Byley, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 9NJ On Thursday 6th September 2007 (12 noon - 6pm) Mr & Mrs Richardson, GP Feeds and DeLaval invite you to Higher Green Farm's Open Day. "I am pleased to...
AUGUST 07 NEWSLETTER
FORAGE SAVER BLEND... ADD - F NC... TOP PRODUCTS TO BUY THIS MONTH... FARM OPEN DAY AT: Mr & Mrs A Richardson Higher Green Farm, Byley, Middlewich... CHARITIES' SUPPORT FOR...
SEPTEMBER 06 NEWSLETTER
Forage Update Following on from our August newsletter and the fantastic response we had on moist feeds, here is an update to let you know what is still available: SUPERGRAINS We will shortly be in a position to offer a fixed price until April 2007. Please see product details below and see if this will fit with your winter feeding programme. This is an excellent production ration, so book now to secure your tonnage requirements. See specification here >> BREWERS GRAINS No tonnage available at the moment until May 2007, but please if you do require tonnage for this winter let the office know and we can contact you if the situation changes and tonnage does become available. See specification here >> STICKY ORANGE PUDDING Tonnage still available until April 2007, please see specification. Again take a little time to see if this product fits your feeding criteria and if so, do not delay in securing your tonnage requirements for this winter. See specification here >> DOUBLE PRESSED APPLE PULP Now sold out until further notice. If you do think you require this product please contact the office and let us know your interest and we will ring you if tonnage does become available. We believe the odd feed load will become available. See specification here >> PRESSED PULP Officially sold out, but we do believe there will be the odd feed loads available, when the factories open in October. Please let the office know of your interest and we will contact you when tonnage becomes available. Don't miss out ring us today with your interest. See specification >> ONE PRODUCT THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE IS OUR OWN FORAGE SAVER BLEND A blend of raw materials especially to extend your silage stocks. It has high levels of rumen friendly fibre from Sugarbeet and Citrus Pulp. Its starch levels are higher than most Wholecrop. Contains high sugar levels to compliment grass, maize and Wholecrop. The protein levels are higher than most forages. See specification here >> ROUXMINATE We can now offer a fixed price until April 2007. The most competitively priced molasses product on the market. Limited tonnage available, so don't delay, if you require molasses this winter, this is the product for you. Ring today and don't miss out! See specification here >> HAVE YOU ENOUGH FORAGE FOR THE WINTER Following our August newsletter and the fantastic response we had on moist feeds it is obvious that a lot of you are very worried about forage levels for the coming winter. With most of the current milk buyers offering incentives for a level production and big reductions in your price if you don't meet the targets, it is imperative that you produce the milk to target to avoid these reductions. With summer conditions forcing valuable winter silage stocks to be fed this has been one way of helping to keep the milk level, however a losing battle is being fought on a lot of farms and silage stocks are dwindling fast. Is this also a reason why the value of dairy cows is so high with demands to keep milk levels up cows are having to be bought? Whatever the reason, the situation is not good and with alternatives such as brewers grains, pressed pulp, double pressed apple pulp etc fast selling out what other alternatives are there to consider? Sowing a cover crop after maize harvest (or even after wheat harvest) of quick growing ryegrass, for example, is now recommended to keep pollution of the barren land during winter. This is also an ideal opportunity for extra forage during the autumn and spring for grazing or ensiling before ploughing again in the spring. We have available a special grass mixture for the situation for about £23 per acre. For more information on this alternative forage booster please ring the office. DOUBLEACTION ECOCORN Description: Maize silage additive, containing Lactobacillus plantarum strain MTD/1 inoculant and potassium sorbate, a feed and food approved preservative. Application: Available for liquid or dry application, each can or bag treating 50 tonnes of forage. Liquid - one can is mixed in 100 litres and applied at 2 litres/tonne. Dry - apply at 400 grams/tonne forage. Benefits: Due to their susceptibility to aerobic spoilage, good clamp management is essential with maize. This, along with a suitable additive, should ensure success. Conventional silage additives are designed to improve fermentation and will not deal with aerobic spoilage. In fact, they may actually make it worse as the better a silage ferments, the more likely it is to heat up on exposure to air at feedout. With DoubleAction Ecocorn you have reduced aerobic spoilage from potassium sorbate, a chemical preservative effective against a wide range of yeasts and moulds, the microorganisms that cause aerobic spoilage. In addition, you have improved fermentation and animal performance from the well proven MTD/1 silage inoculant, as in Ecosyl - all in a single, easy-use pack. Availability: Immediately With fresh grass readily available you should consider using the following products to keep butterfats up. ORDER NOW BEFORE PRICES RISE. CS PLUS EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS CS PLUS (maintains condition score) is a specially formulated fatty acid blend processed with a selected glucose preparation into a free flowing dust-free meal. CS PLUS has been designed for raising BUTTERFATS in particular, whilst improving milk yield, maintaining cow condition and helping with fertility. The blend of protected and slow release fatty acids - C16, has been put together to maximize synergistic effects on net energy yield and milk quality. The unsaturated: saturated ratio is close to 3:1. The glucose blend enhances liver function and hormonal, nervous and enzymic systems to increase overall animal performance. More information here >> GOLDSTAR 98 EXCLUSIVE TO GP FEEDS GOLDSTAR is a rumen stable fat in a prill form for high performance dairy cows, made from fractionated palm oil fatty acids: entirely vegetable, without a carrier, 99% fat content. More information here >> COMMODITIES REVIEW The burning question at present is whether or not US Corm products i.e. Maize Gluten and Maize Distillers will be allowed to be shipped into Europe after having been tested for B10 in the USA (B10 Maize is a GM Maize not yet ratified by the European Union) its use is banned in the EEC. The shippers have not got a programme in place to ship Gluten to the UK after September, (before the new crop maize harvest begins in the USA). This has prompted many Compounders to take alternative cover i.e. more Rape, Grain, Wheatfeed, Citrus, Soya Hulls and Biscuitmeals etc, causing unusually tight supplies and rises in prices. Another contributing factor was the drought in the UK and Europe which has caused considerable reductions in their cereal and oilseed crops, as well as increased feed usage...
SEPTEMBER 06 NEWSLETTER
Forage Update Following on from our August newsletter and the fantastic response we had on moist feeds, here is an update to let you know what is still available: SUPERGRAINS...
AUGUST O6 NEWSLETTER
CONGRATUALTIONS to Mr C Hanselman of Whitchurch, who won our prize draw at Nantwich Show of a weekend for two at Carden Park. Forage Special With the continuing drought, most farms will be short of forage stocks this autumn and winter, so we at GP Feeds have been working very hard to secure the procurement of 'moist feeds'. With the various options we now have available to you, we are sure we have something to suit everyone's needs. Please find overleaf the product details, typical analysis and feeding recommendations, of what we have to offer you. Please take a little time to peruse the following, as there is a lot of information for you to digest. Some of the products are short term (Double Pressed Apple Pulp available September to December 2006). For most of the others, we can offer a contract for feed loads right through from September to April 2007 (whilst stock last). We have also included three liquid products, two that can be used with straw and maize, again to try and save some of the forages you have. Prices are subject to delivery areas and load sizes, so please after you have read this month's newsletter if you require any further information please give the office a ring on 01948 661602 and we will be happy to discuss your requirements and let us help you through this autumn / winter. BREWERS GRAINS SUPERGRAINS DOUBLE PRESSED APPLE PULP STICKY ORANGE PUDDING FEEDMAX ROUXMINATE Straw can be used to help substitute when other forages and grass are in short supply. Since straw is of relatively low nutritive value it must be fed together with an appropriate liquid feed to balance it for energy and protein therefore, improving its feed value considerably. With this in mind we can offer the following products to help. TECMOL SYRUP PROMAIZE SWEET FORAGE SAVER BLEND Remember if you need any further information on any of the products mentioned in this months newsletter please ring the office on 01948 661602 GP FEEDS WINS AGAIN! For the 4th Year running we have won 'Best Stand' in our category at Nantwich Show. When we asked the judges why us again? They replied that they like the professionalism and innovative approach we have to the dairy industry along with the friendly family atmosphere we were portraying and the comfortable ambience that was generated from our marquee. Once they had tasted our infamous beef bap - which was fed on our feeds from start to finish, they could really taste the difference - we felt we could win. Unlike some of the other exhibitors at the show, it was felt there was an unwelcoming and colditz like approach to farmers and prospects, it left the judges in no doubt who should win. Thank you to all customers and prospects that visited us at the stand, you made it a most enjoyable day for all.
AUGUST O6 NEWSLETTER
CONGRATUALTIONS to Mr C Hanselman of Whitchurch, who won our prize draw at Nantwich Show of a weekend for two at Carden Park. Forage Special With the continuing drought, most...