Dairy

dairy Precision feeding can help extend grazing period

Increase milk from forage and achieve margins through precision feeding

Rocketing feed and input costs mean many dairy producers will be looking to extend grazing periods and make more use of forage this summer, but if margins are to be achieved it is crucial that grazing is balanced with the correct nutritional supplementation, says UFACUK.

With high production costs putting extreme pressure on margins, the temptation is to consider ways to reduce feed costs, but producers are reminded it is vital that grazing is measured and managed, so it can be balanced with the correct buffer feeding, to maximise DMIs and margins.

“Don’t over-estimate the nutritional supply from grazing alone. While purchased feed prices continue to rise, so too have milk prices,” says UFACUK ruminant technical manager Mike Chown.

“Rather than thinking ‘what can I save if I cut something out of the ration?’, consider what returns you will get if you spend a little more, or indeed, what do you risk losing if you cut something out,” he adds.

Mr Chown says the promotion of efficient use of grass by precision feeding can help increase milk from forage. He advises farmers to focus on what they want the cows to achieve, and consider how they can harness seasonality benefits alongside the nutritional supplementation required to support grazing.

“We want cows to graze efficiently and to milk in a way that can achieve those best returns, through a combination of good quality milk and hitting the profile,” he explains.

“To maximise forage DMIs, we first need to know what we are feeding, so we should regularly analyse all forages, and balance them with the correct nutrients, such as structural fibre, sugar, starch, rumen protein, by-pass protein and rumen inert fatty acids,” explains Mr Chown.

“We must ensure speed of break down in the rumen is matched, while at the same time, paying attention to acid loading and rumen pH. This will optimise rumen microbes to promote fibre digestion and intakes, most costeffectively,” he adds.

£21m Digital Dairy Chain opens

The South-West of Scotland and Cumbria will become the “go to” region for future investment in high-tech dairy processing.

This is according to project leads at the £21 million Digital Dairy Chain, which was officially launched this week near Dumfries.

Led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) from its Barony campus, it will see partners across South-West Scotland and Cumbria focussing on developing a fully integrated and traceable dairy supply chain.

Aligning with Scotland’s Strategy for Economic Transformation, it is planned that the Digital Dairy Chain will eventually lead to the creation of more than 600 jobs and generate £60m a year of additional value.

It will do this by attracting large dairy processors to the region, supporting investment in industry-focussed research and development and by turning South-West Scotland and Cumbria into a “magnet” for tech companies.

Supported by £21.3m from the UK Government’s Strength in Places Fund, the Digital Dairy Chain’s initial focus will be on the use of sensors and data from