Over the past year, Wynnstay’s Dairy Technical Team has collaborated with the University of Nottingham's Centre for Dairy Science Innovation to implement a soya-free diet for the university’s dairy herd. The work conducted at the university’s farm has shown that dairy cows can thrive on this optimised, soya-free diet, not only increasing milk production from forage but also maintaining high milk quality.
A successful turnout requires careful preparation to prevent health issues and ensure animal well-being. A gradual transition from winter feed to lush pasture is essential, allowing the rumen to adapt and prevent digestive upset.
Mineral supplementation, particularly magnesium, is crucial during the spring grazing period amongst other seasons to avoid deficiencies like grass tetany, also referred to as grass staggers. Well-maintained pastures with adequate grass and water, coupled with close health monitoring, contribute to a smooth turnout, minimising stress and maximising health and productivity.
A survey carried out by Wynnstay and Alltech involved the mycotoxin analysis of fresh maize silage from farms across England and Wales.
Several samples were collected and analysed using the Alltech 37+ mycotoxin test which identified the differing types and concentrations present in the maize silage. The results also predicted the milk yield reduction and somatic cell count increase as a result of feeding contaminated maize silage.
Fluctuations in weather conditions across the UK have correlated with high levels of mycotoxins present in maize silage, particularly that of Fusarium mycotoxins. The contamination of animal feeds and forages can negatively impact cow health and performance.
QLF have a range of molasses products available with varying protein levels and sources, in this article QLF look at ration options to ensure livestock farmers take the maximum benefit from the increase in maize availability, for their stock.
Rearing heifers are a sizeable investment to a dairy enterprise, with rearing costs not being recouped until the cow reaches their second lactation. Studies carried out by AHDB show that on average 17% of milking heifers exit the herd before their second lactation (AHDB, 2023).
Quantifying the level of mycotoxin contamination in your feeds is always difficult, as there are >400 different species of mycotoxins, all with varying levels of toxicity, and they may not be in every part of the silage clamp or TMR that we sample! Generally speaking, any plant with a flowering head (such as maize or wheat) could have developed fungi in the field, under stress conditions such as drought or wet weather, which produce the ‘in field’ mycotoxins on the plant. When harvested, the mycotoxins remain in the silage, and in some cases, further mould/fungi growth in the clamp can lead to more ‘storage’ mycotoxin production.
The past eighteen months in the dairy sector have been a rollercoaster, featuring unprecedented volatility in milk prices and significant fluctuations in the costs of feed, fuel, and fertiliser.
In an ever-evolving dairy sector, understanding the latest market trends and strategies is paramount.
Good ventilation systems are essential to reduce respiratory disease in the first months of a calf’s life.
It is estimated that the cost of pneumonia per sick calf is £42.26, with an additional cost of £29.58 per calf for the in-contact group. In turn, this reduces feed efficiency, growth rates, organ development, future milk production and an increased mortality risk before calving.
The basic requirements of a calf can be condensed into seven key words. These combine to form the points on the YoungStock Signals diamond. All six points need to be satisfied in order to achieve optimum health, welfare and production.
Manipulating photoperiods and light for the milking cows is a fairly well researched and discussed topic. However, often we forget to consider the benefits this could have for dry cows.
