PRACTICAL ADVICE
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.
Coccidiosis Control in Milk Fed Calves
Clinical and subclinical coccidiosis in calves can result in significant financial losses, as a result of poor health, ill thrift, lost condition and weight, and severe cases death. Even under rigorous hygiene regimes, calves may be exposed to the coccidiosis causing protozoan parasites soon after birth. This is because the coccidia oocytes shed by infected [...]
Benefits of Good Transition
Some of the biggest opportunities to increase production efficiency and reproductive health come from supporting dairy cows as they “transition” from late pregnancy to early lactation. Whilst many traditional systems have taken a “hands off” approach to the transition period it is now generally considered to be the most critical time of the year, with [...]
Feeding Fodder Beet
Fodder beet is becoming a major wintering crop for dairy cows, particularly in southern regions of the country. This seems to have been driven by the potentially high yields achievable (20-30 t DM/ha) and its high energy content (bulbs 12 -13 MJ/kg DM; leaves 10-11 MJ/kg DM). However, some farmers have had issues when grazing [...]
Facial Eczema risk peaks between March and April despite cooler nights
Data collected by Assure Quality since 2005 highlights a marked elevation in spore counts during March and April, even though air temperatures start to decline. Although cooler nights have traditionally signalled the end of zinc dosing for many farmers, what these graphs (below) show us is that there is still a significant risk of disease [...]
Nutritional strategies to help maintain production and body condition in late lactation
Although we’re aware of the importance good management over the next three to four months has on next season’s production, working out the optimal time to dry off can be far more challenging. This month’s article discusses some practical considerations to consider when deciding on when to dry off. Assessing condition scores (CS) of your [...]
Maize & WCC Silage Making
High dairy payouts have encouraged more use of maize and whole crop silages, to increase milk yields by balancing diets, filling feed gaps, maintaining pasture cover, extending lactations, and increasing condition on cows. Silages need to be made and conserved well, and used efficiently to generate increased profits for dairy farmers, as they are not [...]
