Dairy farming is one of the most technically advanced industries in agriculture, which not only relies on automation and superior management but also the skills of a good nutritionist, veterinarian and labour.
Add in the complexities of interpreting key data from robotic and parlour software, heat detection monitors, and ensuring the health and welfare of individual cows to match production levels and it comes as no surprise that dairy farming is a stressful business.
However, help is at hand with Davidsons Animal Feeds’ Dairy Tech team, who not only provide nutritional advice but also management support and advice to a growing number of milk producers – without additional cost.
And, by utilising the most efficient, specialised manufacturing facilities in Europe, all feed is made to order and produced from high-quality raw materials, ensuring unique products for dairy and young stock.
Through their extensive experience across all areas of nutrition and consultancy, Dairy Tech specialises in all types of management required on family farms to large-scale robotic or rotary operations.
With their team qualified in all parlour and automated milking system software, they can provide individual-focused, data-driven support to achieve optimal productivity in milk yields and solids combined with improved herd health.
Such has been the success of Dairy Tech at Towerhill farm, Kilmaurs, that Andrew McFadzean has not only seen improved herd health and fertility but also margins.
“We’re definitely better off working with Davidsons when their advice has a huge impact on the profitability of the farm,” said Andrew who works with his father James and grand-father, also James.
“We installed three robots here in 2012 to milk 170 Holsteins, and James Bendle, who we work with at Davidsons, can log into our system to see how the cows are milking and identify any potential health challenges we may have in the future. He’s more than a nutritionist; his advice is incredibly important and valuable to the health of our cows and our business.”
Andrew added that James is on farm at least once every four weeks, checking the quality of the feed which is provided in a total mixed ration and the health of the cows. He will analyse the grass to ensure maximum nutritional value before it is harvested if requested and every six weeks once it is in the pit.
Andrew added that James encouraged the farm to go for a more multi-cut approach to silage production to improve the overall quality of the ration, which in turn has resulted in more milk produced from forage.
Rather than concentrate on high milk yields, Towerhill sells up to 80 heifers in milk every year privately from their 170-cow Holstein herd. Hence, the herd comprises mostly young cows and fresh heifers which produce on average 30 litres per day. Fertility is key to this enterprise which nutritionist and advisor James Bendle has been able to bolster by encouraging the use of ventilation fans in the cow shed.
Andrew added: “James is so switched on. He’s not just interested in selling feeds, he comes with a whole farm plan for the business. When he comes here, he’s straight out of the car and in to see the cows.
“Two years ago, he encouraged us to install ventilation fans in the cow shed which would reduce the stress on the cows on exceptionally hot days and it has. We’re now seeing improved fertility and drier beds which have resulted in less mastitis and lameness,” said Andrew.
Most heifers calve at 24 months too, after James’ advice to use a starter cake and then a single rearer feed when there is limited feed bin storage at Towerhill.
While all calves are fed cows’ milk for up to 56 days in individual buckets, they are introduced to a rearing cake at a couple of days old until they are served, which Andrew said has resulted in reduced rearing costs and improved growth rates.
“When James started, we were using the same cake to feed the rearing calves as the milking cows and we have seen a positive change in growth rates by introducing a specific rearing cake for the cows.
“We know the job is being done right when James is on board and their feeds are competitively priced. Our heifers are healthier and more productive, and we feel more confident with the nutrition of our cattle because of James’ advice. He also knows if we are about to run out of cake or meal, without us having to constantly check the bins.
“Dairy Tech comes with added value of James’ experience and that of Davidsons supplier partnerships, with companies such as Zinpro UK and Lallemand Animal Nutrition, should he feel the business would benefit from specialised advice.
Further south, Karl Stephenson who runs a 350 flying-cow Holstein herd at High Pow, Wigton, says working with Dairy Tech has not only boosted fertility and milk yields but also enabled the business to reduce its reliance on bought-in feeds.
“Our milk yields jumped 3kg per cow when we started working with Sam Hodgson of Dairy Tech,” said Karl.
“He encouraged us to keep our high-yielders inside and let the low-yielders out to grass during the day. He also advised us to cut our grass at an earlier date to improve the quality of the silage, so we now produce four better quality cuts of silage which, combined with a better balanced diet devised by Sam, have vastly improved fertility.”
Add in 3kg per head per day of Davidsons Performance Dry Cow nuts three to four weeks before calving, and cow health has also improved.
Karl added: “It used to be that 30-35% of the herd was in calf at any one time, but those figures have jumped to 50-60%. And, by providing more energy to the ration, cows are producing milk with increased levels of protein, which have risen from below 3.0% to 3.3%P.
Such has been the improvement in fertility that Karl now uses sexed semen, moving away from a flying herd, a practice which he would never have considered in the past.
Now, cows are seen coming into heat at 20-30 days post calving, but are not served until 50 days onwards.
Ironically, feed costs have been reduced since Karl started working with Dairy Tech, who advised increased reliance on better-quality forages.
“I would find it very difficult to move to another supplier when Sam provides such a high level of goods and service and his attention to detail is second to none.
“We’ve tried independent nutritionists before, but Sam is on top of his game and with his advice, not only have we seen the health and welfare of our cows improve, but our milk yields have gone up and our feed costs have come down by producing more milk from better quality forages,” Karl said.
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