We are frequently asked by publications to help provide insight into essential and prevalent issues. These include animal nutrition features written by our technical specialists. Practical advice that works made available to you. Sit back and have a read.
Cereals provide tremendous flexibility for silage makers – they can be sown in autumn or spring and can be harvested at a range of growth stages from boot stage (before seed head emergence) to ‘cheesy dough’ stage (when the cereal grain has the consistency of soft cheese). Cereals have the potential to be ensiled into […]
Some of the most significant opportunities to increase production efficiency and reproductive health come from supporting dairy cows as they transition from late pregnancy to early lactation. While many traditional systems have a hands-off approach to the transition period, it is now considered one of the most critical times of the year, with as much […]
Nutritech Area manager Steph Paul and her husband Alister Paul who manages “Marydale” (the beef fattening unit for Beaumont Station) receives the Silver Fern Farms Plate to Pasture Beef supplier award for the Lower South Island. Congratulations you guys – P.S you both scrub up well!
Biotin (Vitamin H or B7) is an essential water-soluble vitamin. It is naturally present in some feeds and can be synthesised by rumen microbes. Usually, ruminal biotin synthesis supplies sufficient biotin for biological functions, however, diets containing high quantities of grain may reduce the natural synthesis of Biotin by the rumen. Biotin for hoof hardness. […]
Lameness is now widely considered one of the top three health issues on the farm, costing the industry millions of dollars every year. To give our team a greater insight into some of the causes of lameness, we invited Fred Hoekstra to deliver a presentation on lameness at our recent National conference. Our team found […]
After ten years in the making, Nutritech is proud to launch a new silage inoculant technology that significantly improves both the quality and aerobic stability of maize, wholecrop and other silages that are prone to heating. Using MAGNIVA®Platinum it is safe to open stacks at 2 weeks rather than waiting 6 weeks for any inoculant […]
Facial eczema is caused by a toxin, sporidesmin, which cows eat when grazing pastures high in fungal spores. Trials conducted at AgResearch by Dr Neale Towers calculated the effect of low doses of sporidesmin on milk yield. Over a three week period, production across the herd had dropped by as much as 25%. For a […]
Heat stress can significantly impact cow health and production. It can lead to reduced feed intake, rumination, rumen function, milk yield and milk fat and protein levels, and increased respiration rate and risk of acidosis. While many of us are aware of practical solutions for heat stress (such as providing shade, increasing access to water […]
Last season was a challenging season for many, with very wet conditions in some areas and extremely dry conditions in others. Grass silage demand soared, and in most cases there was not enough feed to go around. Now that we have an opportunity to replenish our supply of grass silage, it is a good time […]
Silage quality is made up of not just the nutritional quality of the crop when it is cut, but also the fermentation and hygienic quality. Managing air is a critical step in reducing damage and losses in silage caused by these ‘bad bugs’ or spoilage organisms that thrive on air. Getting rid of the air […]
