DAIRY NEWSLETTER Technical advice to drive your herd’s performance
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MARKET UPDATE Raw Materials outlook. Sunny but with a chance of Meatballs! Looking at raw materials prices you would normally consider the fundamentals of; too hot / too cold, too wet / too dry Crop forecasts, future planting, and then worry about Fund intervention messing this up.
by about 120%. A US / China more cordial relationship would perversely increase prices, as US levels would firm with increased exports and Argentina would have to pay more for beans to crush.
So where are we now? The World $ price of the major Rm’s used in feeding the UK farm animals are relatively low.
The vulnerability of Sterling to any announcements / rumours re Brexit talks; experts with no particular allegiance to protect forecast that a no deal end would lead to a drop in £ of some 15-20% and as all products are dollar based (including UK grain, this drop leading to even more exports) feed prices into the new year / summer would have to reflect this. A more softer agreement could lead to a firmer sterling which would lower UK grain prices and imported Rm’s for feed.
Argentina has had a very poor soya and wheat harvest but the rest of the world has probably compensated for this with almost record crops in the US in particular. UK crops, although received low rainfall this summer, do not seem to have been as badly hit as feared (although the lack of third and even second cuts is very worrying). So perhaps grain prices here have been a little overdone and might come off.
This uncertainty plus the inevitable re-emergence of fund buying / selling on any ‘concrete’ Brexit news leaves the predicting of future feed movements in the lap of the Gods.
So, the Rm prices in dollars are at the bottom end of where they will be for the next winter. Funds are remaining relatively quiet political events and manoeuvring put this into total confusion.
So, if anybody asks for our opinion of where prices might go, tell them the market has us Trumped!
Trump-led trade restrictions between the US and China mean Argentinian beans are going to China and US beans, going into Argentina for the first time ever. Argentina is the world’s major exporter of soyabean meal; this increases freight costs
Eric Thomas
Commercial Manager - Feed t: 01691 828512 e: eric.thomas@wynnstay.co.uk
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Our Specialist Dairy Team Iwan Vaughan - Head of Dairy Technical Services m: 07990 578548 e: iwan.vaughan@wynnstay.co.uk
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Steve Brown - Ruminant Feeds Product Manager m: 07774 855026 e: steve.brown@wynnstay.co.uk @sirbilly55
Dairy Specialists Ken March - Dairy Technical Specialist - South Wales & West Wales m: 07454 015610 e: ken.march@wynnstay.co.uk Mark Price - Dairy Technical Specialist - Midlands m: 07876 824314 e: mark.price@wynnstay.co.uk
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Martin Hope - Dairy Technical Specialist - South West m: 07502 311181 e: martin.hope@wynnstay.co.uk Alasdair Taylor - Dairy Technical Specialist - Shropshire/Borders m: 07766 302124 e: alasdair.taylor@wynnstay.co.uk
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Rachel Gardner - Dairy Technical Specialist (Trainee) - South Wales m: 07810 444834 e: rachel.gardner@wynnstay.co.uk Nia Davies - Dairy Technical Specialist (Trainee) - Mid Wales m: 07967 654288 e: ndavies@wynnstay.co.uk @NiaDavies28
Calf Specialists Rebecca Davies - Product Manager - Milks m: 07881 093633 e: rebecca.davies@wynnstay.co.uk @richardscalf1 Eimear Diamond - Calf Specialist - South & South West England m: 07881 379008 e: eimear.diamond@wynnstay.co.uk @diamondcalf1
Jess Charlton - Calf Specialist - Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire m: 07990 584740 e: jess.charlton@wynnstay.co.uk @charltoncalf1
Sammy Howorth - Calf Specialist - Lancashire & Cumbria m: 07810 444948 e: sammy.howorth@wynnstay.co.uk @howorthcalf1 Elinor Thomas - Calf Specialist - South Wales m: 07500 979398 e: elinor.thomas@wynnstay.co.uk @thomascalf1 Ceri Davies - Youngstock Placement Student e: ceri.davies@wynnstay.co.uk
C a lf I n iti
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Sandy Wilson - Calf Specialist - West, North & Mid Wales m: 07879 841672 e: sandy.wilson@wynnstay.co.uk @petticoatcalves
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Millie Hendy - Calf Specialist - Somerset & Gloucester m: 07717 495746 e: millie.hendy@wynnstay.co.uk @hendycalf1
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MY NUFFIELD JOURNEY In November 2016, at the Nuffield Farming Trust Annual Conference, I was presented as one of the 2017 Nuffield Farming Scholars. The subject that I chose to study was entitled ‘Increasing Rumen Nitrogen Efficiency in UK Dairy Production’. The last two years have flown by!! In 18 months, I visited 14 countries and boarded 45 flights. With all my travelling done, and the report handed in, waiting to be published, I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts and findings with the industry. In advance of the published article, I am very happy to share with you this introduction to explain my reasons, findings and conclusions from the report. As a dairy farmer working within the feed industry, I was constantly frustrated by looking at unbalanced formulated diets which could be damaging to the health of the cow, the farmer’s pocket and the environment. Crude Protein (CP) is the industry standard figure to express the level of protein within a diet; CP is only a measure of the nitrogen (N) multiplied by 6.25.
Rosendale Dairy, Milk Source, Wisconsin
My report highlights some key conclusion to meet the objectives of my study. The UK dairy industry needs to be proactive in reducing ammonia emissions. Total N farm efficiency needs to be looked at in greater detail but reducing N emissions through lower CP diets will be a great start.
RUMEN NITROGEN EFFICIENCY
Research shows that only 30% of the nitrogen (protein) that we feed ruminants is actually utilised by the animal and converted into milk or meat (O,Donovan et al, 2013). The rest is lost, either in the urine, faeces, or as urea within the milk; this can then be lost as ammonia to the atmosphere. The N contained in urine is very volatile and can be easily converted from ammonia to the more potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, and this poses huge environmental challenges.
As an industry we need to get away from formulation diets to crude protein and feed for the requirement of what the cow can actually utilise, this being Amino Acids. In most UK scenarios there is enough N within the rumen and fermentable carbohydrates are the limiting factor in microbial protein synthesis. We can lower CP within our diets and increase carbohydrates, but first we need to understand fibre and produce lower lactic acid silages. Our UK dairy diets are predominantly based on perennial ryegrass which is either grazed or ensiled, but do we truly understand how the fibre (NDF) within grass brakes down within the rumen, and how does this differ depending on harvest dates through the season? During my time at Cornell University, I came across a new analytical method to measure NDF breakdown.
Me at Cornell University, New York State
The key objectives of my report were to research and evaluate how to formulate low protein diets and maintain, or increase, production through increasing rumen N efficiency and capturing more of the N we feed by converting it into a saleable protein product. This reduces the need to purchase expensive protein inputs which can be one of the highest costs on a dairy farm. Having a balanced diet would increase cow health and fertility, as well as increasing environmental sustainability by reducing the risk of ammonia emissions. During this study I travelled to the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, Dubai, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, visiting research institutions, meeting dairy nutritionists and consultants, along with visiting dairies from large housed herds, to fully grass based herds.
Large Dairy Unit in Wisconsin
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WYNNSTAY AGRICULTURE
DAIRY NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2018
NDF and its digestibility plays a huge role in determining dry matter intake (DMI). A faster disappearance of the NDF fraction within the rumen, because of the increased rate of digestion or passage, will reduce physical fill in the rumen over time and promote higher feed intake. This shows that digestibility of NDF can influence performance of growth and milk yield even if NDF levels are similar in diets. NDF can be broken down into three ‘pools’. NDF which hasn’t been degraded within 240 hours will be classified as uNDF (undigestable NDF), with the remainder digestible, and is available for the rumen microbes. This can be broken down into two further pools; fast pool and slow pool. Certain time points of degradability, depending on the feed material, will determine the pool within each forage. The report emphasises the need for more accurate feed analysis of our forages to help understand our fibre, and how it changes through the season. If we understand our fibre we can increase fermentable carbohydrates within the diet and assist in achieving higher microbial protein yield. This can help increase rumen N efficiency and reduce secreted N.
Discussion group meeting in South Victoria, Australia.
Wherever I’ve been across the world, I realise that efficiency of production comes from homegrown forage. We need to realise the potential of your own farms to produce feed and increase DM yields before purchasing feed in the form of forage or concentrates onto farms. Looking at soil management and health can improve DM yields and reduce farm input costs. As a proud UK dairy producer, I am determined to improve the public perception and environmental sustainability of UK dairy farming and hope this report will assist in addressing some of these issues for both farm and industry. The report will be published shortly so keep an eye out!!
Grazing cows in Taranaki, New Zealand
RUMEN NITROGEN EFFICIENCY
To further increase environmental sustainability of dairy farming we need to look at increasing feed efficiency to get more out of what we put in. Looking at management and breeding policies is key to achieving higher feed efficiency. During my time in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I visited a 6,000 cowherd, milking crossbreds on an all-year-round indoor system. The herd had the influence of 2/3 Holstein genetics and 1/3 US Jersey genetics. Here I found two herds differing genetically and producing similar yield at very different efficiency rates (See Table 1). The crossbred herd achieved lower yields but equal MS output from 2.5kg less DM/cow.
Measurement
Crossbred
Holstein
Weight (kg)
630
800
Milk Butterfat (%)
4.2
3.6
Milk Protein (%)
3.4
3.1
Yield (litres/cow/day)
38
43
Milk Solids (kg/day)
2.9
2.9
Head of Dairy Technical Services
DMI (kg/day)
24.7
27.2
e: iwan.vaughan@wynnstay.co.uk
Iwan Vaughan m: 07990 578548
@maesmochnant
Table 1: Comparison of crossbred and Holstein herd production outputs
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WYNNSTAY A revolution in early life nutrition Wynnstay ELIXIR is the first in a range of Energized Calf Milk products to revolutionise the way we feed calves. ELIXIR has been designed to support LifeStart objectives of:
NEW
Many farmers already realise the benefits of calf milk replacers and are successfully feeding a higher plane of nutrition, however, if we are to achieve even higher growth rates increasing the amount of calf milk replacer is only half the story. With ELIXIR we have evaluated the nutrient requirements of the calf to develop a new milk replacer specifically formulated to ensure that the calf receives a balance of vitamins and minerals to ensure optimal development whilst supporting the health of the calf. The formula is closer to that of natural milk with 10% more metabolizable energy.
17% OIL
PROTEIN
WYNNGOLD™ CALF INITIATIVE
Your local calf specialist will support you with regular visits within the WYNNGOLD™ Calf Initiative and, as part of the value added service, they can weigh your calves and set up a monthly report to track growth rates and monitor performance of individual calves.
If utilising the WYNNGOLD™ Calf Initiative you will have the opportunity to be a part of a benchmarking group with other farms in your area. Figure 2. shows results via a Monthly Average Benchmark DLWG.
Figure 1. shows a simple representation of calf growth to be seen with points clearly distinguished as either above or below the target DLWG. Those calves which are below the target may have been subject to illness and allows you to specifically monitor that animal to ensure the appropriate treatment is undertaken and the benefits of these improvements will be visible in the next report.
Calves must gain 800g of growth each day for two year old calving, your local Calf Specialist will include suggestions on how to improve factors such as colostrum protocol, feeding, hygiene or housing management to aid in improving this DLWG.
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
for more information on our new calf milk replacer, feeding protocols and calf team support, please contact your local calf specialist
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WYNNSTAY AGRICULTURE
DAIRY NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2018
FRESH COW REPORTS The transition period is the most critical time in a cow’s lactation due to its lasting effect on the subsequent lactation. It can be one of the biggest bottlenecks on farm and one of the best places to find opportunity for improved herd performance. Wynnstay DTS Fresh Cow Reports help discover where problems may be occurring. By looking at Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s), the report identifies any strengths and weaknesses of the transition period and, therefore, can help with management decisions on what areas could be improved. By using DairyComp305 to create Fresh Cow Reports for dairy farmers, multiple aspects of early lactation are monitored on a monthly basis. From this, bottlenecks can be highlighted and more informed decisions can be made to improve management. Any changes can be periodically monitored in terms of herd level cow responses in production and cow health.
During the time after transition a cow will be at her most venerable to be sold and is at a significantly higher risk of death due to a poor transition, for reasons such as fresh cow diseases or poor production. By looking at how many cows have died or are being sold is a way to determine how successful the transition programme is, with a lower number leaving the farm being an indication to a successful transition. This can be linked to last year’s calving pattern, looking at this shows how many animals have calved each month over the past year and allows us to be able to see if there are any patterns or correlations with other herd events, such as overstocking or seasonal management changes.
The three main aspects of the Fresh Cow Reports are;
Transition Fertility
Production
A poor transition can also lead to reduced production post calving. This can be highlighted as a ‘broken box’; cows achieving significantly less milk yield than expected in early lactation. This can put into context the number of cows that transition poorly and can really highlight the extent of any transition issues on a herd level. It is also important to look at the shape of lactation curves and production at every stage in lactation as this provide an opportunity to pick out where any problems may be occurring.
We can easily run a Fresh Cow Report with you on your farm, all we need is access to your NMR/CIS files. We can then create the report every time you have a new recording, which allows for benchmarking how effective transition is. Please get in contact with your local Dairy Specialist for further information on what is fully included in the report and the benefits it can bring you to have your own Fresh Cow Report on your farm.
Rachel Gardner
Dairy Technical Specialist (Trainee) m: 07810 444834
e: rachel.gardner@wynnstay.co.uk
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FRESH COW REPORTS
By looking at the above points, and many other aspects, Fresh Cow Reports give an overall perspective to how well cows are transitioning and persisting through lactation, giving a breakdown in different areas. From this, it is easy look at the positive aspects of the transition and if any problems are occurring, where they potentially are occurring and, therefore, help with management decisions needed.
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EXTENDING DEPLETED FORAGE STOCKS It’s been a difficult season to say the least! The drought of 2018 has had a drastic effect on forage stocks which have been reserved for winter feeding with Dry Matter (DM) yields of grass on farm estimated to be down up to 50% compared to 2017. This, coupled with the wet and cold spring, when last year’s forage stocks were depleted, many farmers have fed a quantity of their winter forage as a buffer over the summer. Forage stocks are going to be tight this winter, therefore, a strategy needs to be set in place early to manage them.
How much forage do you have? If you haven’t done so already, you need to evaluate the forage you already have stored. Although later cuts of silage haven’t come into the clamp yet or the maize silage harvest, it is essential to act quickly and estimate stocks which haven’t been harvested yet and adjust calculation after harvest. Be reserved on estimated maize silage harvest as crops are very variable and thinner than usual. A study by Cornell University in 2016 showed that maize silage grown under drought conditions has a lower lignin and uNDF content meaning the plant is far more digestible, we need to take this into account whilst rationing. Calculating forage stocks on a DM basis and evaluating requirements of forage DM from now until the spring to include the milking herd along with any other stock on the farm including dairy young stock and beef animals. Working on estimated DM intakes for the winter we will be able to have an estimated requirement for forage to give us an idea of the shortfall and be able to sway management decisions early.
rumen balance and less slug and aggressive feeding. Any excess dairy youngstock or beef animals on farm, should be considered for the sale depending on how your forage stocks are looking. It is going to be important to target your best forage to the cows that need it this winter, so grouping cows based on performance could be an option. However, we need to ensure that we do not loose condition on late lactation cows and do not underfeed the cows through the dry period, or milk yield will be depressed going into the next lactation.
FORAGE STOCKS
Clamp management will be more important this year as we cannot afford waste, keeping a clean level surface on the face of the pit is important to minimise wastage and spoilage. Although tempting, any spoilage on the shoulders and top of the clamp should not go into the mixer wagon and should still be discarded. Purchasing forage may be an option to extend forage stocks but, with stocks low and prices rising, what could be the alternatives to feed to extend forages? Everything needs to be costed out on a DM basis with the quality of the raw material taken in to account. Moist feeds are in short supply with loads being unreliable.
There is no room for passengers this year, although the price of cull cows has dropped, these cows are eating valuable forage and should be culled early. Culling any poor performing, lame and high SCC cows is critical to do now. Reducing stocking rates can increase overall feed efficiency, due to a greater
High fibre/ forage extender dry blends are an option, premixing with water the night before feed out at a rate of 1:1, will give you a 45% DM moist feed which can bulk up the diet but also add moisture to many dry forages being fed this winter. 8
WYNNSTAY AGRICULTURE
DAIRY NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2018
The cows’ health and rumen function is critical, running low forage diets can put the cows at risk and unbalance the rumen. Working to figures such as 21% NDF for forage and 0.25% bodyweight of uNDF is critical to ensure rumen health. New NDF analytics coming from Cornell University can be essential to understanding out forage and fibre this winter. Adding hay or straw to diets can be a great option to add fibre to diets, although prices can be expensive. NIS (nutrionally improved straw) can be a great tool in increasing uNDF and slow pool NDF without affecting intakes and performance. Due to a possible early maize silage harvest, thinking of sowing westerwolds, italian ryegrass or forage rye after the maize and harvest in late April/early May could be an option for forage in late spring or as a buffer next summer when rebuilding forage stocks will be a clear focus. Any management decision or purchase needs to be calculated with the return on investment in mind. It is going to be an expensive winter with higher feeding rates likely in line with higher raw material prices. Purchased feed costs, including forage, per litre will need to be monitored, this could be 2-4 ppl higher this winter due to higher raw material costs, higher feed rates and purchasing forage. Rising milk prices will help cover this cost, but depending on your own personal situation, looking to reduce stocking rates further and culling more cows may be a financially better option if there is no forage available.
FORAGE STOCKS
Please contact a member of the Dairy Technical Team to assist you in your forage management this winter.
Iwan Vaughan
Head of Dairy Technical Services m: 07990 578548
e: iwan.vaughan@wynnstay.co.uk
@maesmochnant 9
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WHOLE FARM UTILISATION IS A VITAL PART OF PROFITABLE DAIRY PRODUCTION With ever tightening margins in milk production, rising capital costs, competition for land use from other sectors of agriculture and political uncertainty, there is an ever growing need to maximise margins from your farmed land. Combine this with heightening environmental pressure and the challenge becomes ever greater. Now is the time to develop systems to utilise your farmed area and infrastructure to its full potential and in a year like this - with one of the toughest growing seasons in recent years - it brings into sharp focus the importance of adequate amounts of good quality forage.
By analysing this figure there is the opportunity to maximise the utilisation of the farm. Depending on stocking rate, it will often be more cost effective to maximise the production of bulk in the form of digestible fibre and buying in starch and protein. This is where cropping decisions coming into play depending on farm layout, soil type, rainfall and altitude.
By taking a step back from the intricacies of day to day cropping decisions and looking at the overall objective of your farm, decisions can be made to best utilise the resource that is your farmed area, based on soil type, rainfall and farming system.
WHOLE FARM UTILISATION
It all starts with planning. Are you growing crops that best suit your needs? Are you growing crops that can achieve target yield and quality on your farm? They sound simple questions, but cropping decisions are fundamental in the total production capacity of the farm and can often be overlooked.
Define the demand It is all about supply and demand, which is dictated by stocking rate. By calculating the Dry Matter Intake (DMI) of all stock on your farm over a twelve month period, total Dry Matter (DM) demand can be determined. Purchased feeds then plug the gap between what the farm can grow and the demand. By calculating the amount of feed purchased, the ME that they have brought onto the farm, and the milk and growth produced from that over a given time frame, it soon becomes apparent how much DM production and ME you have grown on farm. Calculating this figure as a whole farm figure is more powerful than converting it to milk from forage, because milk from forage per cow can be skewed by herd demographic changes. The challenge is to increase this by soil and crop management, cropping decisions and animal nutrition. 10
WYNNSTAY AGRICULTURE
DAIRY NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2018
TIPS TO MAXIMISE WHOLE FARM UTILISATION Focus on the end user - the cow Grow what the cow needs by focusing on the demands of the cow. This is one of the most fundamental parts of maximising whole farm utilisation. Cows live off digestible fibre and nutritionally, it is one of the biggest variables in rationing. Wheat grain is wheat grain, whether it is grown on farm or bought in. Similarly, protein levels can be tweaked easily to plug any gaps, but what is harder to control once the clamps are full is the amount and quality of fibre to feed. Good quality digestible fibre is the number one goal of forage making.
Consistency Consistency in terms of supply, consistency in quality throughout the year and consistency from one year to the next are all vitally important. All too often a farm has some cracking first cut silage, but it’s gone in a few months and you are left with poorer quality late season silage to try and build the same ration with. This is not good for the cows or the farm business, both of which need a consistency to operate at full potential. The desire to provide consistency should dictate cropping area, having a rocket fuel forage to feed for a short time can be more detrimental than having a mediocre one for a sustained period in terms of rumen health and management change. The need for consistency should also dictate cropping choice, whether you can reliably grow an adequate supply of maize on a marginal site, or consistently get good silage from a river meadow. Seasonal and annual ration plans, including youngstock can form the backbone of cropping budgets and will highlight shortfalls.
Maximise yield In almost all situations, maximising crop yield will be the most cost effective approach. This is not the same as maximising cut volume with grazed grass but measuring production for the whole year. Annualising field production is vital when looking at overall forage budgets and farm utilisation. Can you afford to take a 0.5kgDM yield per ha knock on maize yield if it means you get a second crop in good conditions in the autumn? When focused on this, double cropping and short-term catch crops or one year grass leys often look far more favourable where they can be managed correctly through to feed-out.
Every farm’s situation is different; whether it is stocking rate, stock type, layout or topography, the demand on one farm can be different to the demand on the neighbours. Make a plan for what suits you and look at a wide range of options, such as cereals, legumes and brassicas alongside or instead of reliance on grazed and conserved grass.
Fully cost out cropping choices Finally, and most importantly, all forage should be costed out through to the point of feeding, not just harvest. With weigh scales on feeders that record everything it is easier than ever to find out exactly what you are feeding. Alongside variable costs, allocate proportions of fixed costs to specific crops to ascertain whether they are fully justified in your cropping plans. It may come to light that it is more effective and efficient to directly purchase certain proportions of your energy, protein or fibre demands than trying to grow them. Consider where crop production sits alongside the nutritional demands of your stock, within the limitations of your specific farm along with the correct allocation of costs. This way, decisions can be made to maximise your land base, increase profitability and business sustainability in the long-term.
Mark Price
Dairy Technical Specialist m: 07876 824314
e: mark.price@wynnstay.co.uk
@m_priceo 11
WHOLE FARM UTILISATION
Stay open minded to crop choice
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DAIRY NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2018
MEASURE WHAT MATTERS When it comes to herd and farm management metrics, there are a plethora of figures that can be generated and compared. Commonly measured metrics are Milk from Forage, Pence Per Litre (ppl) Purchased Feed Costs, Feed Rate per kg of milk sold and Margin Over Purchased Feed. All of these and the many more figures that can be generated, have a place and can highlight some bottlenecks on farm, but when benchmarking, or using to make certain management decisions, they can be very misleading.
Metrics that work for all Although metrics need to best capture what is happening on farm, we are all selling the same product, all have to compete for land and all buy the same feed and fertiliser, so metrics must be relevant to every system. Many high yield per cow systems, won’t use milk from forage, at the same time, many grass based systems won’t use margin per litre, opting for margin per cow figures. With all dairy systems essentially operating in the same market, we must use metrics that are applicable to all, to be truly representative of farm performance. Below are three key metrics that I believe do the best job of capturing farm performance.
Margin over all feed per day
Forage utilisation (L per Ha)
Margin over purchased feed per litre or margin over purchased feed per cow can both be misleading in a couple of ways; it is dependent on cow numbers and yield, when all that really matters is the hard count of how much money you make. Also, it ignores one of the most variable and undervalued costs on farm - forage costs. When forage can cost £130/DM and makes up the biggest proportion of the ration, it needs to be factored into feed costs accurately. By simply working out the total cost of the ration as fed and the margin made over that cost in milk sales as a total for the day/month, on farm comparisons can really highlight weaknesses and opportunities. This figure is dependent on accurately costing forage, which can often be more complicated than it sounds once feed shrink, refusals and feeding inaccuracy are calculated.
Milk from forage, although being a good guide to feed use and forage quality, tells you nothing about how well the land is being utilised, or the profit achieved on farm. For example, on a farm with a low stocking rate, it will often be more profitable to milk more cows on a set farmed area, increasing purchased feed and reducing forage fed to that cow. This would see a reduction in milk from forage and an increase in overall farm profitability. Also, if poor silage is made, it will be cost effective to buy feed in to maintain milk, reducing milk from forage, but mitigating any loss in profitability. What is vital on every system is making the most milk out of your farmed area. This is where Forage Utilisation per Ha comes in. By simply working out milk sales generated from farmed land, we capture how productive the land is, how well forage or grazing is managed and how well the herd is managed. If you decide to increase feed rate to capture marginal litres, or reduce feed rate to reduce feed purchase costs, this figure will remain a true reflection of forage and herd management.
By taking average herd exit price from heifer rearing costs/ buying costs, we can work out the herd depreciation. If calculated on a pence per litre basis or per cow in the herd, it can really highlight the value in well bought or reared heifers against poor ones, along with the value of longevity and timely culling. It also highlights the importance of good heifer rearing and puts into context the savings made when trying to rear heifers cheaply. When done on herds that have invested in heifer rearing, it really shows the payback and is a better metric than simply heifer rearing cost per head/per litre. The old adage of ‘measure to manage’ will always ring true, but make sure you are measuring what really matters on farm. If you would like these figures calculated for your business, please get in touch with a Wynnstay Dairy Specialist.
Mark Price
Dairy Technical Specialist m: 07876 824314
e: mark.price@wynnstay.co.uk
@m_priceo 13
MEASURE WHAT MATTERS
Herd depreciation
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TRANSITION MANAGEMENT - “PLACE YOUR NAME HERE”
“If our fresh cows have a problem on our dairies, that problem has a first and last name and it’s place Your name here
Experiencing health problems with freshly calved cows? • • • •
Ketosis Metritis Retained placenta Milk fever
As Dr. Gordie Jones, DVM, said when he spoke at a Maryland Dairy Convention, Dr. Jones explained that the single most important phase of production is a phase many dairy farmers fail to manage: The Transition Period. To get the balance right, two things are needed, sound nutrition coupled with good stress-free housing. So where do we start?
Dry Period It is necessary to have a minimum of 21 days and some prefer a 42 day period. Either is fine, provided you do not allow the cows to gain or lose weight during this period and that you have dried them off at condition score 3/3.5.
Body Condition Scoring (BCS) At drying off, the ideal is a BCS 3, on a 1 to 5 scale. This should remain the same throughout the transition period. Look at your cows eight weeks before drying off, assess their condition and adjust feeding to arrive at the right BCS on drying off. Cows that loose 1 BCS in transition had greater incidence of milk fever, ketosis, D.A, retained placenta than cows that maintained their BCS in dairy transition (Kim and Suh 2003). Over conditioned cows carry a higher risk of ketosis and fatty liver.
Diet The diet should be designed to maximise intakes and should be a controlled energy diet rather than a high energy diet. Feeding a low energy diet pre-partum results in increased DMI post-partum, increased milk yield and alleviation of Negative Energy Balance (NEB)” (Huany et al 2014).
TRANSITION MANAGEMENT
Dry Matter Intake (DMI) is crucial during the dry period, allowing both time and space for feeding is essential, low DMI will lead to fat mobilization, ketosis, impaired liver function and poor immune function. Dr. Gordie Jones’ “Goldilocks” diet is generally accepted as the standard high fibre diet, an example is: • • • • •
5kg Dry Matter (DM) whole crop cereal 3.5kg DM chopped straw 3.5kg DM grass silage 75g calcined magnesite 1.25kg specialized dry cow mineral
The diet should be supplying a crude protein content of 1314%, with a starch level of 12% and an energy density of 10mj/kg/dm. Within the Dry Cow mineral, due to the suppression of the cow’s immune system at this time, it is recommended that a high level of vitamin E be fed, 2000iu’s, along with selenium; shortages of these two minerals have shown to cause 14
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DAIRY NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2018
retained placentas, fresh cow mastitis or elevated somatic cell count (SCC). Additionally, it is now well proven that both Protected Choline and Protected Methionine are essential for transitioning cows well. • Rumen Protected Choline decreases fatty liver, increases milk production, decreases Reactive Oxidation Species (ROS) and serves as a methyl donor for methionine regeneration • Rumen Protected Methionine is required for protein synthesis, DNA, and is the start (Codon) of every protein generated in the body. Importantly Protected Methionine plays numerous rolls in cell structure, protein synthesis, milk production and embryo viability. White (2016) Nutritionists should target an MP flow of 1,300g per day in close up cow diets. Van Saun and Sniffen (2014) Adequate MP benefits are: • • • •
Improved disease prevention Improved reproduction performance Improved milk component yield Improved colostrum quality
It is also important that the feed fence is never empty as this will compromise the cow’s immune system and lead to metabolic disorders post calving. Always aim for 5% refusals for the transition cow fence, and ensure they are pushed up throughout the day. Also, be mindful of feeding rates, they differ for heifers and cows. Pre-partum feeding rate for a heifer is 66g/DM/min and, for a cow 95g/DM/min, and very little difference post calving; 78.8g/DM/min for a heifer and 106.7g/ DM/min for a cow. So, feed space is vitally important for the heifers to ensure they have time to eat to maximise both yield and growth.
Stressors:
TRANSITION MANAGEMENT
• Minimize cow movements, especially five to seven days prior to calving • Regrouping a cow can be compared to the most stressful event in our lives • Over-crowding in a close-up pen decreases yield • Primiparus cows: 2.95kg/d increase in yield (1st 83DIM) when stocked @ 80% v.120% • For each 10% increase in close-up stocking density above 80% there was a 73 kg/d decrease in milk yield
Attention to detail and you can put “Your” name on the plate above the transition pen!
Ken March
Dairy Technical Specialist m: 07454 015610
e: ken.march@wynnstay.co.uk
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FEEDING FOR BEST PERFORMANCE Feeding for best performance revolves around better understanding a cow’s nutritional demands, and how feed is broken down and used in the digestion system. Feeding for more defined targets such as metabolizable protein (MP) and dynamic net energy (DyNE), amino acid (AA) requirements and understanding the exact energy available from forages and NDF fractions will maximise performance, benefiting cow health, farm business finance and the wider environment.
BCS loss
First ovulation after calving
< 0.5 unit
30 days
0.5 to 1.C unit
36 days
>1.0 unit
50 days
Making good quality forages is fundamental to feeding for best performance. It is then important understanding how these forages are digested in the rumen, particularly regarding NDF. This will then determine the correct raw materials to balance the ration with to meet cow requirements for optimum performance, health and financial return. Home-grown forage makes the backbone of any diet and will be the most economical way to feed your cows. Poor quality silages will increase reliance on purchased feeds and decrease margins. Getting silages regularly analysed is crucial to maximizing herd performance. Regular forage samples will allow for more precise feeding and timely adjustments to be made regarding the dry matter (DM) of forages, minimising imbalances in the ration or overfeeding raw materials.
The amount of NDF in the diet will be a limiting factor in terms of DMI. A cow can consume between 1.2 -1.4 % of her BW in NDF e.g. 640 kg cow would be able to consume up to 7680g (Hibma, 2015).
Rations need to be targeted at the type of cow you have and what you are trying to achieve within the limitations of your system. For example, if lying times are insufficient due to poor cow comfort, diet changes alone will have a limited affect on milk yield compared to improving cow comfort and shed design.
Understanding the different fractions of NDF within the forages and raw materials fed to cows will influence how efficiently cows can be fed. This is especially important in early lactation when intakes are deficient compared to energy demands. The quality of NDF in the diet will determine how much energy can be gained from fibre and the percentage NFC (non-fibre carbohydrates) that can be fed to increase energy density while maintaining healthy rumen conditions. Better understanding of the fast, slow and undigestible fractions of fibre in different forages and how these can be matched will allow diets to be better balanced for optimal performance.
FEEDING FOR BEST PERFORMANCE
Stage of lactation and accurate bodyweight are going give the parameters to work to and will give a more precise understanding of dry matter intake (DMI). Capturing this information is vital in modeming the cow’s energy partitioning and nutritional demands. Feeding for best performance is then more targeted to the cows that have the potential to achieve high yields.
More accurate dietary modelling will increase feed efficiency and allow you to better meet the cows’ requirements (Linn, 2012). Dry Matter Intakes will determine energy balance, influencing lactation performance in terms of production and fertility.
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Because of the economic value of feeding more homegrown forage, it is important we accurately know how much energy we can expect from forages, how much a cow is physically able to eat, and how quickly it will be broken down and the effect this will have on the rumen. Fibre is broken down into three groups: Fast Pool – digested within less than 30hrs Slow Pool – digested within 30 – 240hrs Undigestible – the material that remains after 240hrs that can’t be digested and used as energy. Energy content of the fibre is calculated backward from what proportion of the fibre remains undigested after 240hrs (Jones, 2016)
Can methionine alleviate the stress during transition? If fibre as well as amino acids can be more precisely used within a diet and better understood, milk output per cow and herd margins can be improved.
Feeding the correct concentrations of protected amino acids lysine and methionine pre, and for the first three to four weeks post calving, has been associated with the potential to reduce metabolic issues (Seymour, 2016). It is recommended that the energy contribution from body weight loss be factored in when feeding protected AAs to fresh cows as this will be more precise (French, 2018).
affect how well she can utilize the feed available. Mixing procedures, building design and stocking density are further going to influence the time budget of the cow and her DMI.
40-60kg of body fat and 25kg of lean protein tissue can be metabolized by the cow 6 weeks post calving to cope with the period of negative energy balance (Seymour, 2016). Amino acids will be mobilized for energy post calving, as well, and maybe more so, than for supporting milk protein synthesis (Schwab, 2018). Intakes and levels of propionate are not able to keep up with energy demand. The increase in mobilization of body tissue places great oxidative stress on the liver. Methionine and its association as a methyl donor can help increase very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels removing more fat from the liver. Helping to reduce the risk of ketosis and maintain intakes.
Using software such as DairyCOMP can be used to run reports to assess the performance of your herd and identify areas of improvement. Using this data will help make management decisions that can justify financial investment and returns.
Feeding a high performing dairy cow more precisely is going to have an economic return as it will help drive performance more accurately, reducing wastage and ensuring energy requirements are met without compromising health.
Dairy Specialist (Trainee)
However, environmental factors are then going to severely
e: alasdair.taylor@wynnstay.co.uk
Alasdair Taylor m: 07766 302124
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FEEDING FOR BEST PERFORMANCE
Current thinking on AA balancing in transition cows is that getting the concentration of lysine and methionine correct in the diet will have more of a direct influence over cell function, improved immunity and reproduction, rather than just milk production alone (French, 2018).
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DAIRY FARM MINERAL AUDIT Background
Forage Mineral Report
Although minerals only account for about 5% of total ruminant nutrition they have a disproportionate role in supporting energy and protein yielding nutrients required to maintain animal health, fertility and production. Of the ninety two naturally occurring minerals in the earth’s crust, around twenty are considered to be essential for life, with fifteen described as mineral elements. To be classified as a mineral element it has to be an essential nutrient included in skeletal development, water balance, catalysing metabolic processes and cell division necessary for growth and development. In short, mineral elements can be considered to be rather like the “governor” that controls the speed of a steam engine. When minerals are in short supply the “governor” is retarded and the engine fails to operate at maximum efficiency, and so it is with livestock. The other concept important to mineral nutrition is the relationship or “balance” between elements. In terms of animal production, balancing minerals is as critical to ensuring satisfactory outcomes as overall dietary intake.
The report presents forage mineral analysis data divided into seven major minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride and sulphur) and eight trace elements (manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, iodine, selenium, iron and molybdenum). The classification of essential minerals as either “major” or “trace” is dependent on how much is needed by the animal. Major minerals are expressed in percentages and trace elements in mg/kg. The scale of the difference between “major” and “trace” minerals is illustrated by the fact that calcium is 100,000 times higher than selenium. In addition to the fifteen essential minerals the report also includes: • Cation-anion balance which is important for determining how much water a cow drinks and the efficiency with which it is transferred into milk. It also provides an indication of the optimal balance between the electrolyte elements (potassium, sodium, chloride and sulphur) which is important for both minimising hypocalcaemia (milk fever) in the cow at calving and also ensuring the right conditions are in place to support milk production. • Boron is on the waiting list of being accepted as an essential trace element. While essentiality has been demonstrated in plants, no evidence has been published to show its role in farm livestock although work is in progress. • Aluminium is included primarily as a marker for soil consumption. While not essential for cows, a high level can be potentially damaging to cow health. • Lead is a potentially toxic element which can disrupt ruminant health and production. It tends to be an issue in those parts of the country where lead mining had historically occurred including parts of Wales, Cumbria, Derbyshire and Cornwall. • Relative copper antagonism is an indication of the extent to which those minerals that can “lock up” copper, such as molybdenum, iron and sulphur, combine to suppress copper uptake. This measure cannot be used for formulation purposes but does provide a measure of the “risk” of copper “lock up”. • Soil Contamination Index, as the name suggests, reports the level of soil that has been picked up when grass has been cut and harvested. This Index is determined by measuring titanium; which is a non-essential mineral incapable of being absorbed by the roots. Actions to minimise soil contamination of forages is important as soil can interfere with silage fermentation and introduce high levels of iron and aluminium that can be adverse to animal health.
DAIRY FARM MINERAL AUDIT
Forages exert a significant influence on the mineral composition of ruminant diets. Consequently a knowledge of the mineral status of forages is necessary when formulating balancing concentrates and supplements. This is particularly important when grass or silage is the primary forage, due to the high variability in mineral status. Grass is a remarkable plant in that it will take up any mineral element from the soil which is in a soluble state whether it needs it or not. This action is much less pronounced in alternative forages such as maize and wholecrop silage. However, the starting point in determining forage mineral status is an analysis report, as shown here.
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Why have a Forage Mineral Report? Balancing diets for minerals is as important as ensuring major nutrients (starch, protein, fats, etc.) are meeting dietary specifications. Having a Forage Mineral Report is the starting point for providing information on: • formulating balancing mineral supplements using a mineral formulation program, which incorporates standard mineral values for alternative forages, feed materials and concentrates • determining the “pressure” on copper availability from antagonists (molybdenum, iron and sulphur), which can be incorporated into a formulation program • establishing the “balance” between key elements including: • Calcium : phosphorus – important for energy utilisation and bone development • Potassium : magnesium – crucial for nervous health and animal contentment • Potassium : sodium – essential for water balance and forage palatability
DAIRY FARM MINERAL AUDIT
• how well balanced the fertiliser regime is; grass reflects lime and fertiliser levels in soil over the course of a growing season and can highlight the need for soil testing • how healthy the soil is; soil fertility, not only measured in available nutrient levels but also in terms of biological life, is a key influencing factor in providing a sufficient and balanced nutrient supply. When soil life is compromised by severe compaction, conditions change in the soil which allows more iron and molybdenum to be taken up. Both these elements increase “oxidative stress” in cattle together with reducing the absorption of copper and other elements • what the degree of soil contamination is: as already stated, the presence of soil in silage is not desirable either from a fermentation perspective or increasing the iron level, which is a risk factor for cow health A Forage Mineral Report provides valuable nutritional data not only for establishing the correct mineral supplementation, but also information which can improve agronomy and harvesting practices to grow more grass of better nutritional quality.
Steve Brown
Ruminant Feeds Product Manager m: 07774 855026 e: steve.brown@wynnstay.co.uk
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HOOF HEALTH A Trait of Major Economic Importance Today’s dairy cow deals with some significant challenges in meeting the expectations of the modern dairy industry. Some of these challenges include the demands associated with unprecedented levels of production, the expectation of high reproductive performance, the use of high energy rations, and being exposed to other stresses on a modern dairy farm. The length of a cow’s productive life in a herd directly affects the profitability of the dairy business. Hoof health has become an important factor when evaluating lameness and the affect it has on productive life. Studies generally show that up to 40% of Holstein cows will suffer from some form of lameness, and most farmers report that lameness is the biggest problem they deal with in their dairy herd management programme. Hoof problems not only cause pain and distress to the dairy cow, but also have this economic impact on the business. The average cost of an incidence of lameness, in terms of labour, veterinary and medical attention, reduced milk yield, fertility and culling is in the region of £180; which, on an average farm, could equate to a financial loss of £15,000.
Dairy cattle lameness is multi-factorial and results in cows leaving the herd prematurely. Control of lameness and the associated large economic loss is dependant on a comprehensive herd management and breeding programme which address these issues. Studies have shown that 88% of lameness cases involved the foot while only 12% involved the leg. Even though the rear feet carry only 40% of the animal’s weight, it has been reported that 86% of all lameness cases involve the hind feet and that 85% of the hind feet cases involved the outside claw. This pattern of lameness indicates that more than just nutrition and management errors are responsible for lameness disorders.
Traditionally, most of the emphasis in the selection of dairy cattle has been based on milk yield per cow, but efficiency of production is also determined by longevity, fertility and health factors. Cow longevity is determined by many genetic and non-genetic factors. Non-genetic factors include building design, stall size, ration, bedding type, and cow time management. Genetic factors include the genetic capability for high production, the functional conformation necessary for a cow to express her productive and reproductive potential, and the general health and body condition necessary for proper immune function to resist metabolic disorders such as mastitis and lameness. Many cows never have the opportunity to express their full genetic potential because they don’t live in an environment that maximises the non-genetic factors. Therefore, if a cow is not provided with the ideal environment, care, and housing that is necessary to maximise her genetic potential, she will likely leave the herd prematurely.
While improved biosecurity, regular foot bath, early detection and improved hoof trimming techniques can all limit the economic cost of lameness, any long-term strategy needs to include the breeding of cows that simply have fewer foot problems. We are now at a point that the research which has been put in place for many years is now proving to be instrumental in the way we can access tremendous data in hoof health. It is only logical that when making future breeding decisions it is important to use positive bulls for hoof health. Adding positive hoof health as a criteria to your sire selection is just the first step of many steps a dairy producer can take to improve overall hoof health in the herd. Selecting for resistance to hoof lesions can contribute towards the longterm improvement of hoof health. Heritability for hoof health is over 15%, but higher than other diseases like mastitis so the projections for a more dependable breeding value is high.
HOOF HEALTH
It is important to not solely rely on genetics to cure all lameness, as management plays a key role in hoof health and productive life, but taking a more serious approach when adding hoof health to the dairy mating plan will mean significant economical benefits. Genetics will hold the key for long-term success as we now have many breeding programmes focusing on hoof health.
Martin Hope
Dairy Technical Specialist - South West m: 07502 311181 e: martin.hope@wynnstay.co.uk
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TESTIMONIALS
James Paddock
James Paddock and family milk 180 cows on a fully housed, three times milking, grass silage-based system in West Shropshire. As new entrants into dairying, the focus is on profitability and by working alongside Wynnstay Dairy Technical Services for nutritional support, they are achieving success. With milk yields continuing to rise through the mid to high 30’s on a flying herd system, the goal is continual improvement in herd performance. By employing rationing techniques that lower crude protein and focus on metabolizable protein, there is real scope to do so. Accurate modelling, accuracy of feed management and regular, reliable silage sampling are the key to success on such a system. By accurately predicting and modelling outcomes, we can supply enough MP and energy to satisfy the seemingly insatiable demand of the high production dairy cow, whilst maintaining and indeed enhancing rumen health and reducing nitrogen waste.
Mr Aled Saunders
Ten years ago, Mr Aled Saunders of Maes-Lan, Alltwalis, Carmarthen decided to change the way he thought about feeding protein to his dairy cows following a visit to Cremona, Italy with his nutritionist Ken March of Wynnstay, where they saw cows averaging 42L on 16% CP diets. At Maes-Lan Farm they are milking 210 cows, yielding an average of 9,100L per cow at 4.1% fat and 3.4% protein. Herd performance is reflected by Aled’s excellent herd fertility, current pregnancy rate is at 30%, with heat detection at 68%, compared to national averages 18-20% and 50-60% respectively. One of the ways in which Aled is achieving this is by meeting the cows demands for Metabolizable Protein (MP) and not crude protein. Feeding for MP through high quality raw materials with a correct amino acid profile results in a lower crude protein diet and reduces the crude protein excess. By reducing excess nitrogen (crude protein) that gets converted into urea in the liver and raises urea levels in the blood as well as milk, she has more energy available which she uses for fertility, milk solids as well as milk yield, as her diet is now better able to meet her demand for MP. Nitrogen excretion is also significantly reduced. The outcome has been a healthier, more productive and ultimately more profitable herd. 21
TESTIMONIALS
On a restricted land base and with ever increasing overheads, every cow must be profitable, which means herd health must not be compromised when searching for more milk. Low protein diets, rationed to MP with adequate fibre supply provide the answer and unlock further potential in profitability for Whitton Farm
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RE-SEEDING AFTER MAIZE Grass after maize could boost much needed forage stocks In a year where forage shortages are a major concern, it is important to utilise every acre to maximise forage opportunities and minimise the reliance on costly boughtin feed. With an expected early maize harvest, there is the potential for producers to reseed rather than keeping the ground out of production until next spring which could bolster forage stocks.
Keeping the ley down for two years? If you are not 100 % sure of your rotation then use Tower. It is a two-year ley made up of 100% Italian Ryegrass which is quick to establish and produces a bulky silage. It is a good quality high yielding crop which is winter hardy and again will establish at 3 degrees rather than the standard 5 degrees, which is the case for many other grasses.
Maize is a costly crop to grow requiring a heavy input of N, P and K. It typically requires between 50-150kg N/ha, 110235kg P/ha and 20-115kg K/ha, compared to grass which only requires around 30-60kg N/ha. With early maturing maize varieties such as Reason expected to be harvested up to two weeks sooner than usual, there is the opportunity to get a grass crop in the ground, which can make the most of the remaining nutrients.
If we have a warm and moist autumn, then Tower will grow quickly and could provide either late grazing this season or early spring grazing and first cuts. However, this is weather dependent, and despite the shortage of grazing this year, farmers need to avoid poaching as this can cause long-term damage. After maize harvest grass reseeding is simple, as little working down is required. One pass with the discs to ensure a fine and firm seedbed is usually sufficient prior to drilling. If reseeding with a long-term ley, it is important to remove weeds before establishment, during which time it is possible to achieve 100% weed control. For short-term mixtures however, the grass will establish at a quicker rate than any weeds, so herbicide applications won’t be required.
While there are situations when it wouldn’t be suitable to plant ryegrass, such as when the current maize crop has been sprayed with nicosulfuron, there are other options including winter rye which could provide forage within a short time frame.
RE-SEEDING AFTER MAIZE
Home-grown forage will always be the cheapest feed available and while conditions during the growing season have been unprecedented this year, there are still potential options to bolster forage this year and in preparation for next year.
Grass as a catch crop In any situation, producers should avoid leaving maize stubble exposed after harvest. The site can experience significant nutrient losses from leaching during poor weather conditions, leading to soil erosion. Reseeding with a grass ley will provide long lasting benefits, including utilising the existing nutrients in the soil. Short-term grasses such as Westerwold or Italian Ryegrass can provide an early bite at the start of spring, or alternatively, can offer a quality first-cut silage. These grasses are vigorous and extremely quick to establish, even at lower temperatures of 3˚C. This enables the ley to get going before the winter period leading to earlier spring growth. While only short-term these species are very productive which means that weather permitting, growers will be able to take a high yielding and excellent quality cut of silage before preparing the field for the next crop.
Adam Simper
Grass and Root Seed Product Manager m: 07808 901179
e: a.simper@wynnstay.co.uk
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WEED CONTROL Planning ahead is a top priority for weed control Grass availability remains the hot topic, with the dry conditions experienced in June, July and August hampering grass growth and quality. Controlling weeds should, therefore, be a top priority for producers during autumn reseeding, to maximise forage potential. Controlling weeds in established grassland will easily pay back through increased milk production from forage, 10% ground cover from docks represents 10% loss in yield, but planning ahead and attention to detail is important to achieve the best results. It is about getting the basics right and understanding what is required for effective weed control. Perennial weeds must be at the correct stage of growth and in active growth to translocate sufficient chemical into the root.
Correct application is key One of the fundamental principles of weed control which is often overlooked, is the need to make sure a lethal dose of product is delivered to the plant. By definition, a sub-lethal dose will not kill the weed. Many perennial weeds of grassland have large root systems, and if the dose of chemical which makes it down to the roots is sub-lethal the weeds will simply regenerate and the whole process will have been a waste of time.
Weed control in new leys Not enough thought is given to planning weed control ahead of time when reseeding. When the conditions are right for grass seeds to germinate, they are also ideal for weeds to flourish. Often the best time for herbicide applications is during establishment, when it is possible to achieve 100% control, something which becomes increasingly difficult as weeds become more established.
To be successful, the right product needs to be applied at the right rate under appropriate conditions. There needs to be sufficient leaf area on the target weed, for example docks need to be 10 inches across. Generally, applications should be made when weeds are healthy and actively growing. In late summer perennial weeds such as docks and creeping thistles will often have flowered and produced seed. If such plants are topped and the regrowth sprayed two weeks later, control can be extremely effective. The plants are moving assimilates into the roots for storage to survive the winter and consequently will draw more chemical down as well.
In a new ley docks and chickweed can be quite damaging and ten plants/m2 can reduce the population of ryegrass seedlings by 50%. In established grass every 1% increase in ground cover by weeds will result in a 1% decrease in grass growth and, therefore, control of weeds such as docks, nettles and thistles is vital. For example, in a grazing sward and with 10% weed infestation, grass yields could improve from 10t DM/ha to 11t DM/ha through correct herbicide applications. As a result of increased grazing availability and subsequently increased stocking rates, this could produce a return on investment (ROI) of as much as 14:1.
• Using the extra silage energy to produce milk produces a 10:1 R.O.I. • Using the extra grazing energy to produce milk gives a 14:1 R.O.I* • Using the extra grazing energy to replace concentrate gives a 5:1 ROI* *Note: R.O.I calculated based on a concentrate feed cost of £210/t and milk price of 28ppl
Dr Simon Pope
Crop Protection Manager m: 07990 578545
e: simon.pope@wynnstay.co.uk
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WEED CONTROL
Weed control – R.O.I
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