FEEDING
FOCUS April 2017 • Issue 22
Preparing for turnout 2017 Preparing for turnout needs careful thought and attention in order to maintain good herd health and productivity levels. 1. Don’t over-estimate quantity and quality To realistically assess the amount of milk you can produce from grazing, it is important to understand the quality of your grassland and the potential of your management system to utilise forage. The temptation will be to reduce feed bills by cutting buffer feed or concentrate use after turnout. However, underfeeding cows will increase fat tissue mobilisation resulting in poor body condition and increasing the risk of long term health and fertility problems. Average grass growing season March
April
May
June
July
Grass intake (kg/d)
10
10
13
13
12
Milk yield potential (M+litres)
6
6
14
14
10
Exceptional grass growing season March
April
May
June
July
Grass intake (kg/d)
11
11
13.5
16.5
14.5
Milk yield potential (M+litres)
8
8
15
22
17
2. Assess what you are feeding It is important you know the nutritional intake your cows will be getting from grazing as grass quality can be extremely variable.
Spring grass is very different to the silage used through the winter period and tends to have lower dry matter, high energy and high degradable protein content as well as low levels of fibre. Knowing the nutrients your cows are getting from grass will help better balance their dietary needs. Spring grass
Grass silage
Dry matter (%)
18.0
32.7
Energy (MJ/kg DM)
11.8
11.08
23
12.4
Sugar (% DM)
15.0
5.0
NDF (% DM)
38.0
48.4
Protein (% DM)
3. Target feeding Maximising the use of grass can provide a welcome reduction in feed costs. However, ensure this short term gain is not achieved at the expense of long term herd health and fertility. Use a traffic light system to identify which cows will require additional nutritional support at grazing. Red (high risk): calving – 100 days in milk Amber (medium risk): 100 – 200 days in milk Green (low risk): 200 days in milk - in calf Make sure higher risk cows are provided with adequate concentrate supplementation to meet their energy requirements and low risk cows are maximising use of forage.
4. Grass management To get the most from grass, it is important to manage it correctly throughout the season and identify areas of excess or limited growth.
the digestive system. The risk is highest early in the grazing season given the lushness and low mineral content of spring grass, especially if it is rich in nitrogen and potash.
Regularly assessing grass cover is important as it helps to identify when to graze, when to remove cows and when best to cut fields for silage. Grass growth can be monitored accurately using a plate meter, sward stick or cutting and weighing. For a more general assessment, use your boots to gauge grass performance.
It’s essential to have a regular supply of magnesium in the diet either from free access high magnesium minerals (Magnesium Oxide) or preferably mixed into supplementary feed such as in-parlour concentrates for dairy cows.
1300 kg DM/ha
3000 kg DM/ha
4000 kg DM/ha
Cows out
Cows in
Silage
5. Water Providing cows with access to enough water when at grass is an essential nutritional requirement and cows shouldn’t have to walk more than 200 metres to access water supplies. 6. Maintain a supply of vitamins, minerals and trace elements Grass is a poor source of vitamins, minerals and trace elements so it is essential cows are provided with appropriate supplements when grazing. Magnesium is a key mineral supplement that can be added to compound feeds and buffer mixes to reduce the risk of hypomagnesaemia (grass staggers). Vitamin E, iodine, copper and zinc are also supplements that will help maintain a cow’s health and fertility whilst they are at grass. Staggers Hypomagnesaemia (grass staggers) is a metabolic disorder of cattle and sheep caused by low magnesium levels in the blood. Staggers results from an inadequate absorption of magnesium from
ForFarmers offers a range of magnesium products to prevent magnesium deficiency:
Calcined Magnesite or ‘Cal Mag’ (Magnesium Oxide)
The most commonly used and economic source of supplementary magnesium for ruminant livestock. The magnesium in Cal Mag is highly available during digestion. Due to its poor palatability, Cal Mag is normally included in TMR rations, minerals, mineral buckets, compounds, blends or premixes. Typical Mag content 52%.
Magnesium Chloride Flakes
Because of its high solubility, Mag Chloride is normally administered via the drinking water. It can also be added to the TMR diet.
At turn out, dissolve 250 grams of Mag Chloride per 100 litres of water. Alternatively add 100 250 gms/head/day to the TMR diet.
High Magnesium Cattle Buckets
A convenient means of supplying magnesium and other essential minerals and vitamins, in situations where it is not possible to use conventional powdered minerals, e.g. suckler cows, sheep at grass, overwintered animals not receiving ‘hard feed’ and dry cows. 15% mag content.
Allow 1 x 20kg bucket per 15 head of livestock.
Minline Super Mag
In feed mineral. Free access version also available.
100 – 150 g/h/d.
At turn out feed 50 – 60 grams per head per day, commencing about 10 days prior to turn out, to help prevent grass staggers.
For more information about our range of Magnesium products, contact your ForFarmers Account Manager or call 01359 272951