How Clydesdale Dairy keeps their system running smoothly with MAGNIVA® Platinum silage inoculant.
At Clydesdale Dairy in North Otago, Francois and Shelley Tillard run a system five, year-round milking operation where reliability is everything. They are milking around 750 cows over the season across their 206hectare farm. Alongside the home farm, they also lease a runoff where they grow maize, wheat, pasture and winter crops to support their operation. Since arriving on the property in 2014, and becoming 50:50 equity partners in 2022, the Tillard’s have continued to refine their feeding system, including the use of their composting barn and feed pad, where silage forms a key part of the diet.
The couple rely heavily on high-quality silage to keep their system performing. Maize plays an essential role throughout the season — fed from May to August. Francois and Shelley feed maize for its energy profile which fits into the milking cow diet well. In the springer diet it is used to lower the DCAD, which has contributed to reducing clinical milk fever cases. That’s why consistency of silage matters. For the last five years, Francois and Shelley have used MAGNIVA® Platinum on their maize silage, and the improvements have been clear.
The Tillard’s have seen a major reduction in heating of their silage stacks. Especially during the warmer months of spring, there is a significant decrease in wastage on the stacks. The silage stays cooler, ferments well, and holds its quality right through the whole feedout period. “The maize silage looks fresh every day when we are feeding it in the barn” says Francois. With a high-producing herd, the consistency in their maize stack gives the couple a peace of mind.
To see the MAGNIVA® difference for yourself, get in touch with your local Nutritech Area Manager.