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SEPT 05 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: DRY COW MANAGEMENT RISKS... BIOTIN AND HOOF HEALTH... REDUCING MYCOTOXIN... SUPERGRO BEEF 16% PROTEIN NUTS... EXTRAGRO BEEF 14% PROTEIN NUTS... MAIZE CHOP LENGTH Who is determining you cows' health this winter?YOU OR YOUR CONTRACTOR? DO NOT let the contractor chop the maize too short. No Nutritionist can produce an effective ration if the fibre is of little use to the cow. FORAGE SHORTAGE DO YOU HAVE A SHORTAGE OF GRASS SILAGE ON FARM? Any supplement bought to replace grass should still be beneficial to rumen function and help to boost production. (See our forage saver blend later). It will be necessary to get diets short of grass balanced so make sure that you contact your Agent. PROTEIN AND DIET BALANCING Recent published trial work from the USA shows that using more undegradable protein can increase milk yield by 1.5 litres / cow / day. Feeding excess rumen degradable protein dropped milk yield by 2.5 litres / cow /day. Getting diets balanced does pay off. MILK QUOTA Do you need any? We are unlikely to meet quota this year but will we meet it in the next five years? Purchase price is about 5.5ppl. Any year when quota may be reached will have a leasing price close to this: The dairies are also keen to check their direct suppliers have quota or will stop payments. SOMATIC CELL COUNTS We have seen an increase in SCC on a lot of farms this summer. One dairy company league table shows 40% of farmers being penalised for high SCC and their cut off is 250,000 ppm. This is apart from the cost of clinical cases to the farmer. The cows' immune system needs a high supply of antioxidants to enable her white blood cells to fight udder infection. Make sure you are feeding extra mins / vits to your cows. Vitamin E is especially important in helping reduce mastitis cases. Talk to us about your vitamin / mineral package. CS PLUS This product has worked extremely well during the summer when grazed grass affects butterfats. However, many farmers are looking to maximise their fat % in the winter to get maximum value from their dairy contract. Contact us about the use of CS Plus in Winter diets if butterfat % is one of your priorities. FORAGE SAVER BLEND Our Forage saver blend 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. It is a similar price to Trafford Gold per unit of energy but with no wastage! BEEF CATTLE WINTER FEEDS SUPERGRO BEEF 16% PROTEIN NUTS EXTRAGRO BEEF 14% PROTEIN NUTS RING US! TO QUOTE FOR YOUR CUSTOM BLEND YOU TELL US WHAT YOU WANT OR ASK US TO BALANCE YOUR FORAGES FOR YOU. We know that all farm situations are different and therefore 'one blend' will not fit into all farms: i.e. differing cow yields, types of forages, amounts of forages, forage quality, etc. Getting the right blend will improve performance in terms of yields, quality and cow health. A properly balanced blend can be worth up to 5 litres per cow. We will supply you a FIXED FORMULATION with QUALITY RAW MATERIALS to suit your individual situation. All of our blends are produced in a coarse blend form with accurate computerised weighing of all materials, which are mixed thoroughly in the mixer before being held in bulk bins. WE SUPPLY TIPPED OR BLOWN, 5 TONNES TO 29 TONNES,MINERALISED and MOLASSED or not!
SEPT 05 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: DRY COW MANAGEMENT RISKS... BIOTIN AND HOOF HEALTH... REDUCING MYCOTOXIN... SUPERGRO BEEF 16% PROTEIN NUTS... EXTRAGRO BEEF 14% PROTEIN NUTS... MAIZE CHOP LENGTH Who is determining...
REDUCING MYCOTOXIN
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites that are produced by various moulds such as aspergilus, penicillium and fusarium and they are synthesised during the production, transportation and storage of food materials under certain environmental conditions. Detectable levels of almost 300 potentially toxic metabolites secreted by moulds contaminate some 25-40% of cereals and cereal products worldwide. Basic management practices such as using mould resistant crops, rotating fields, using good agricultural practices, the accurate application of pesticides and insecticides, avoiding damage to grain, removing damaged grains, controlling environmental conditions in storage and decontamination processes during storage all come into play.How do you know if you have a problem? Look for an unexplained drop in performance, when everything else seems fine, including hygiene, management and diet. Testing is difficult since mycotoxins may be localised hot spots in the feed Look for the signs that include: REDUCED DRY MATTER INTAKES REDUCED MILK YIELD POOR FERTILITY ABORTIONS POOR GROWTH OF YOUNGSTOCK SCOURING. They might occur in the whole herd or a group of animals or two individuals Sporadic occurrences that may last a few days to months. MYCOTOXIN RISK ASSESMENT Forages and feeds (Tick if applicable) Are you feeding high dry matter forages? Is there any soil contamination of your forage? Is there evidence of spoilage or heating in any feeds? Were there any unusual pre- or post-harvest weather conditions? Has poor performance coincided with any dietary changes? Herd health and performance Has there been any inconsistency of milk yields? Are your cows showing symptoms of acidosis? Have you noticed any inconsistency in dung quality? Do you have any other unexplained concerns? If you have ticked any of the above then it is possible that your herd may be facing a mycotoxins challenge and you should take action, as follows: Mycotoxin Action Plan Consult your vet and/or your feed advisor Eliminate any other possible causes of the problem Remove (or minimise the use of) any suspect or contaminated feeds Ensure the total diet is geared to a fully functioning rumen and a healthy cow Add Mycosorb at the rate recommended by your feed advisor Ultrabond The confidence from our in vitro work has been confirmed with results on farm, feeding Ultrabond showed an average response of between 1 to 2 litres per day.
REDUCING MYCOTOXIN
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites that are produced by various moulds such as aspergilus, penicillium and fusarium and they are synthesised during the production, transportation and storage of food materials under...
DRY COW MANAGEMENT
We recently held a course in Bangor on Dee, in which the main discussion topic was DRY COW MANAGEMENT. In it we discussed the RISK FACTORS IN THE DRY PERIOD and we have listed them below for you to consider. Tick if they apply to you One group of cows for the whole dry period Heifers and cows on transition for less than 21 days Inadequate vitamins and minerals in the diet Out of sight out of mind Diet short of effective fibre Diet lacking in energy and protein Weight loss before calving Forages too high in specific mineral: e.g. potassium Pre-calving diet different from post-calving diet Poor cow comfort Inadequate clean water Inadequate feed space Unpalatable stale feed presented to cows Feed not available around the clock Lame cows Cows too fat or too thin WHAT IS YOUR SCORE? 12 TICKS - VERY HIGH RISK 8 TICKS - MODERATE RISK 6 TICKS - BELOW AVERAGE RISK 4 TICKS - LOW RISK The risk is not just milk fever, but mastitis, lameness and infertility. The dry period is a critical time in the management of the modern dairy cow. It is essential that the cow is properly prepared for the subsequent lactation. During this period the cow will rebuild her mammary tissue, replenish her body reserves, and condition her digestive system to achieve high intakes in early lactation. MASTITIS 50% of clinical mastitis develops in the dry period If the immune system is poor, then likely to get infections: poor vitamin and mineral status Excessive weight effects liver and immune system post calving Mastitis secondary effects of milk fever, da, whites, acidosis and lameness. DRY COW MANAGEMENT AND LAMENESS SARA (sub acute rumen acidosis) is linked to pre/post calving diet causing laminitis. Horn growth poor in dry period linked to hormone changes Supplements such as protected copper, protected zinc and biotin will improve horn growth. Infections such as mastitis, whites all can contribute to laminitis DRY COW MANAGEMENT AND INFERTILITY Dry cow diet promoting high intakes will increase intakes post calving, reduces liveweight loss at peak yield. Evidence of more than 50Kg (1 condition score) liveweight loss reduces infertility. Good dry cow diet stops dry cows losing weight Follicle development in dry period linked to egg quality at service Link with mineral availability in dry period in areas of mineral lock up) e.g.: copper) Reducing retained cleansings and risk of whites very important in fertility Calf survival linked to vitamin E, selenium and iodine. At this time of year, the dry cows most neglected are the far off ones. They need some effective mineral supplementation if they are to calve down with adequate levels. The easiest way is to feed quality mineral buckets. We recommend our: VITALMIN DRY COW BUCKETS They are high in protected copper, zinc and selenium, Vitamin A. D3 and E. Supplements for the close up period are either: EXCEL PRE-CALVER ROLLS (Which contain high spec minerals and vitamins) orEXCEL DRY COW MINERALS as part of a TMR mix.
DRY COW MANAGEMENT
We recently held a course in Bangor on Dee, in which the main discussion topic was DRY COW MANAGEMENT. In it we discussed the RISK FACTORS IN THE DRY PERIOD...
AUG 05 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: * GOLDSTAR - NEW EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT... DRY COW MANAGEMENT... FEEDMAX - New product to the market to replace Trafford Gold, Brewers Grains and Supergrains... BIOTIN AND HOOF HEALTH... BEEF CATTLE, VITAMINS & MINERALS... MEGALAC EXCLUSIVITY CONFIRMATION... NEW STAFF We are very pleased to announce that as of 1st August we have two new members of staff joining the GP Feeds team, they are: JESSICA MILLER - lives near Kelsall, Tarporley and will be covering the Cheshire and North Shropshire area. Jessica has a strong agricultural background and a deep knowledge of livestock, having earned a distinction in nutrition at Harper Adams University, she was a keen member of the South East Holstein Club and recently joined the Western Holstein Society. Jessica regularly shows stock at various local and national shows, and is the only person ever to have won the Showmanship Championship at two consecutive national shows in 2003 and 2004. Jessica will be an asset to the industry and we wish her well in her new role. ALWYN HUMPRHREYS - lives near Wrexham and will be covering North Wales, South Cheshire and North Shropshire, and brings with him a lifetime of experience. Alwyns background comprises of Animal Nutrition, Rationing and has his own unique forage solutions. Alwyn has joined the company as he had tried the rest and now wanted to be part of the best feed company in the local area. We wish Alwyn well in his new role and are very pleased to have two very experienced, professional individuals joining the GP Feeds team. DECLARATION TICKETS We would like to share something with you, we as a company were officially reported to trading standards by a local Cheshire compounder for putting MEGALAC on our declaration tickets. The compounder complained that MEGALAC was not a product but a marketing name, and that we should be declaring it on our declaration tickets as either 'calcium salts' or 'protected fats'! We informed trading standards that MEGALAC is a patented product of Volac International Ltd, to which the trading standards officer agreed with ourselves, and we are correct to use its name. We believe the reason this local compounder complained was that they wanted us to be like sheep and follow the rest, hiding what protected fats they are using under the umbrella of 'calcium salts or protected fats'. Which in itself opens up a whole can of worms, with the amount of low grade, cheaper, inferior calcium salts and protected fats that there are on the market. We at GP Feeds are proud to use MEGALAC in our diets, as we believe it is the best energy fat on the market today. We promise you, the farming community, that we at GP Feeds will never lower our standards and follow the flock of sheep down the proverbial spiral stairs of low grade products as our competitors do. Please see our MEGALAC EXCLUSIVITY CONFIRMATION, can your feed supplier supply you this document? BANGOR ON DEE COURSE LAMENESS, INFERTILITY, MASTITISAND THE ROLE OF DRY COW MANAGEMENT Thank you to all of you who attended the course hosted by our nutritionist on the 2nd of August at the Buck House Hotel. I think you will all agree that it was a great beneficial,'thought provoking day'. From the feedback we have had already, we will definitely be holding another course in and around the Middlewich area, in the next few months. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our Agents are very happy to pop out and visit anyone on farm to discuss your nutritional requirements, simply phone us or them, (all numbers listed on the contacts page) to arrange a convenient time. Watch this space for more excellent courses in your area. FIRST PRIZE AGAIN FOR GP FEEDSAT NANTWICH SHOW 2005 Thank you to all of our customers and prospects who came to see us in our marquee on Nantwich Show day! We were very pleased to see you all and hope that you enjoyed the day (and your beef roll!) We were awarded FIRST PRIZE for the third year running for the BEST AGRICULTURE STAND. The Judges comments were, 'that we had a very nice atmosphere in our marquee, with a clear professional approach and pleasant manner'. We think that his comments sum up GP Feeds Ltd in general. CONGRATULATIONS to our prize draw winners. The actual number of Excel Pre Calver Rolls in the jar was 707. 1st prize of 1 day foot trimming tuition was won by Mr Johnson of Tarporley. 2nd prize of ½ day free nutritional advice was won by Mr & Mrs Darlington of Whitchurch. Well done RUMEN CONDITIONING, COW HEALTH AND FERTILITY Recent work emphasises the importance of keeping the rumen full of production forage during the last 3 weeks of the dry period. Concentrates that supply minerals, trace elements, vitamins and DUP are required - e.g.: GP Excel Pre-Calver Rolls Forage dry matter intake after calving has been shown to be directly related to forage dry matter intake before calving - and not related to concentrate intake in the dry period. This keeps the rumen full and stretched and after calving it can expand to fill the gap in the body cavity left by the calf. GOLDSTAR We would like to introduce you to our new EXCLUSIVE product! 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 >>
AUG 05 NEWSLETTER
This months linked article's: * GOLDSTAR - NEW EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT... DRY COW MANAGEMENT... FEEDMAX - New product to the market to replace Trafford Gold, Brewers Grains and Supergrains... BIOTIN AND HOOF...
BEEF CATTLE, VITAMINS & MINERALS
Vitamins are biological compounds, which are active in extremely small amounts. Vitamins of concern in beef cattle nutrition include: Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Vitamin E. They are usually reported in international units (IU's). Fresh forage is a good source of Vitamins A,D and E. Vitamin content of well preserved hay is initially high, but declines over time. Silages usually contain low amounts since the fermentation process destroys most of the vitamins. Grains usually contain relatively low amounts of these vitamins. Vitamin A is essential for normal growth, reproduction and maintenance. Insufficient Vitamin A is associated with lowered fertility in both bulls and cows. Vitamin D is required for proper development of bone. Vitamin D deficiency in calves results in bowing of the leg bones (rickets). In older animals bones become weak and easily fractured. Vitamin E and /or selenium causes nutritional muscular dystrophy, commonly called white muscle disease. This may be prevented by proper dry cow management and adequate levels of Vitamin E and Selenium. ARE YOU FEEDING ADEQUATE VITAMINS AND MINERALS TO YOUR CATTLE?
BEEF CATTLE, VITAMINS & MINERALS
Vitamins are biological compounds, which are active in extremely small amounts. Vitamins of concern in beef cattle nutrition include: Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Vitamin E. They are usually reported...
BIOTIN AND HOOF HEALTH
Hoof disorders in cows is recognised as being a major problem by farmers and vets.It is well known that biotin improves hoof strength in pigs and horses and now there is mounting evidence that equal findings apply to cattle. Many studies have shown how biotin improves the strength of hoof horn and, could result in improved healing of sole ulcers. Biotin has been shown to influence the differentiation of epidermal cells into hoof horn. In addition it boosts the production of keratin and it stimulates the production of intracellular cementing substance. Intracellular cementing substance is a vital component of non- tubular horn, such as is found in the white line and this is perhaps why biotin supplementation has a major effect on white line disease. We have been including biotin into rations, at the farmers request now, for some time. The recommended amount of biotin supplemented into a mineral is: 10 - 20 mg/ per cow per day which equals 2 - 4p per cow per day or an extra £3 per tonne as a finished compound / blend. Please do not hesitate to contact us, should you require further information.
BIOTIN AND HOOF HEALTH
Hoof disorders in cows is recognised as being a major problem by farmers and vets.It is well known that biotin improves hoof strength in pigs and horses and now there...