Planning ahead is the key ingredient for success. Below we outline a number of key tasks that farmers must address to ensure that they are ready for the New Year.

Silage Analysis

Favourable weather conditions created excellent autumn grazing conditions across the country, enabling many farms to bulk up silage stocks and reduce the risk of fodder deficits this winter. Despite this, it is essential not to become complacent, therefore we recommend that every farm establishes the quality and supply of silage in order to ensure that all animals are fed for optimum performance. Simply measure length x width x height (metres)/1.4 to give an accurate assessment of fresh tonnes of silage in the pit.

Cow Body Condition Analysis

Cow body condition analysis is one of the most important jobs to be completed on farms at this time of the year. We recommend that farmers segregate under conditioned cows, especially first time calvers and those carrying twins, and supplement appropriately. A simple mix of soya and a barley or oats blend will fit most situations with the ratios and feeding levels dictated by silage quality and cow condition.

Dry Cow Mineral Supplementation

Dry cow supplementation is essential for this time of the year. With a feeding recommendation of 100 grams per head per day, it is important that an increased amount of feed per day is given to cows who started their dry cow supplements late. A dry cow should receive a minimum of 6kgs of dry cow minerals in advance of calving in order to ensure that she is adequately replenished and prepared for calving and next year’s lactation.

Click here for more information or take a read of our brand new 2019 Welmin Brochure.

Housing Hygiene 

With herd sizes increasing, the pressure on calving facilities and calf housing has become intense on many farms. If you suspect that cryptosporidium is a problem on your farm, it is important to ensure that the disinfectant you use addresses this hazardous threat. Steam cleaning is also a very useful tool in the fight against this parasite. It is highly recommended to apply a suitable hygiene product such as our Sanitise Bedding Conditioner to the disinfected area.

Vaccinations

A ‘dry’ farm is not an assurance against fluke infection, therefore the herd should be dung sampled to establish if parasites exist. Many of the anti-scour vaccines have a recommended application time of between 12 and 3 weeks before calving, making now an excellent time to vaccinate the early calving portion of the herd. Be careful to adhere to the regulatory guidelines when addressing fluke infections.

Soil Testing

Now is also a great time to carry out the required soil tests on your farm. Ideally, the optimum time to test is 12 + weeks following the application of chemical fertilizer or slurry. When soil testing, it is important to ensure that the test taken is an accurate representation of the area being tested. This is best achieved by using a soil core and walking the area in a ‘W’ formation. 250 grams is an adequate amount of soil to include for each sample.

For further advice on any of the above items discussed, please contact your local distributor. 

Wishing all our customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As we approach Christmas and the days shorten, the majority of stock are now housed for the winter months to allow grass pastures to rest before the growing season of 2019.

To ensure animals remain healthy in these confined shed areas, it is important to consider the following factors:

1. Adequate lying space (Standard Cubicle)
2. Adequate feed space (Min. 600ml/hd)
3. Adequate natural light.
4. Adequate natural ventilation.
5. Adequate fresh water.

These are the basic requirements for an animal to remain healthy and productive. As with all man-made structures, design can limit the likelihood of fulfilling these basic requirements. If any or all of the above are limited and combined with the Irish weather (mild and moist air ventilation), it can create the ideal environment for bacteria and viruses to flourish.

Bedding Conditioner Requirements

To help reduce the risk of disease, most Irish farms are at some level using bedding conditioners.

A good bedding conditioner should satisfy the following:

1. Be highly absorbent as this is the foundation for a successful fight against bacteria growth.
2. Be kind to sensitive skin while neutralising the animal’s lying area.
3. Absorb ammonia odours to help air quality and reduce stress on the animal’s lungs.
4. Be easy to apply in a low volume per square meter. Ideally with a low dust content to help reduce irritation to the eyes and animal nasal passages.
5. Contain highly effective antibacterial properties.

Sanitise Bedding Conditioner

As units have expanded rapidly in the last number of years, this has provided an opportunity for us to develop our specialist product, Sanitise, a housing and bedding conditioning solution which promotes a dry hygienic environment in the bedding of all livestock.

Sanitise contains a high absorbent plant-based material which is highly effective at absorbing moisture from the bedding environment. It includes a blend of essential oils with natural antibacterial properties that gives a refreshing smell and neutralises the effect of ammonia, which in turn, reduces respiratory problems. As an added bonus, Sanitise contains a hoof conditioner to help counteract foot problems associated with standing in slurry and wet areas.

Application

Sanitise is very easy to apply either with a machine or by hand at 50g / cubicle/ square meter. Take a look at our application  video below:

For more information on Sanitise, click here or contact your local Agritech distributor. 

As the days get shorter and grass growth comes to a stop, our attention now turns to forage supply for the coming winter months. With unpredictable grass growth and anticipated fodder shortages earlier in the season, many farmers turned to brassica crops such as Kale and Rape to make up the shortfall. As many of these forages are being used for the first time, farmers must be aware of the challenges and understand how to overcome them effectively.

Management

Although forage brassicas provide farmers with a high yielding, quality forage option, there are many management factors to consider when utilising the crop. When it comes to grazing, introduce strip grazing, additional bales in the fields and lie back areas. It is important that brassicas do not make up more than 60% of the animal’s dry matter intake, with the remaining 40% coming from silage, straw or hay. Access to water is also essential.

Animals must be introduced to the crop gradually to avoid bloat. Therefore, it is crucial to begin with 1–2 hours of grazing per day and then increase to full–time access after 10 days.

Diet

A diet of pure brassicas can cause many health issues for livestock, therefore it is essential that they are balanced correctly. Nutritionally, brassicas are 10-11ME and 16-18% protein, which should be adequate for most animals when fed with an alternative forage.

As brassica crops are extremely low in structural fibre, the inclusion of extra fibre sources such as silage, straw and hay should be provided before and throughout the brassica feeding period. This will help rumen microbes adjust to the feed and help to maintain normal rumen function.

Brassicas are low in trace elements, particularly copper, cobalt, iodine and selenium. Kale and Rape in particular are very low in iodine and contain glucosinolates which interfere with the uptake of iodine by the animal. Brassicas are moderate to low in phosphorus and magnesium and are high in calcium.

Mineral Supplementation

Animal health, weight gain and reproduction will all be compromised if adequate minerals and vitamins are not supplemented accordingly. With this in mind, Agritech have developed the Welmin Mineral Supplements Range, a comprehensive range of premium mineral supplements, which will ensure that your animals are adequately supplemented with all the essential minerals and vitamins this winter. The raw materials used by Agritech to manufacture the Welmin range are chosen for their high bio-availability, therefore ensuring we get to correct the imbalances that are occurring on intensive farms.

For any further advice on feeding brassicas and mineral supplementation, contact your local Agritech distributor or find out more by viewing our brand new Welmin Mineral Supplements Brochure.

With the recent improvement in growth rates, there will be a trend towards zero grazing over the coming weeks. The lush leafy grass that exists on farms at this time is even more pronounced this year due to the rapid uptake of nitrates. This grass is generally of the very highest digestibility and if consumed by the dairy cow in adequate amounts, it will contribute to improved milk yields and milk protein yields.

Despite having numerous benefits, this highly digestible forage is extremely low in structural fibre and low in dry matter content which can leave the cow prone to bouts of Sub-Acute Rumen Acidosis (SARA). SARA significantly reduces rumen pH which thereby negatively affects rumen efficiency and herd performance.This condition also has a significant impact on the yield of milk solids and consequently milk price.

Solutions to alleviate SARA

What measures can be implemented on farms to combat this condition?

The addition of a structural fibre source such as straw to the diet has traditionally been a worthwhile consideration, however due to current straw prices, this is an expensive solution.

Alternative options such as Rumen buffers are recognised worldwide as an excellent remedy for this condition. In Ireland, the use of rumen buffers is highly recognised in the formulation of purchased rations but not as much as an antidote to correcting low pH levels in grazed grass. Here at Agritech, we have been involved in the production of rumen buffers through our Rumicare range.

Rumicare Rumen Buffer

Rumicare was developed to help counteract rumen acidity and promote adequate rumen protozoa populations in intensively fed animals and animals consuming low fibre diets such as highly digestible grazed grass. Rumicare is on the market for almost ten years now and is widely used on Irish farms and also enjoys worldwide reputation as it is exported to countries as far away as Australia.

Rumicare is a totally unique blend of phased released rumen buffering minerals and Rumigest Yeast in the one bag. These minerals have strong alkaline properties which counteract rumen acidity right throughout each 24 hour period. The addition of Rumigest Yeast further contributes to healthy rumen protozoa populations.

The tell-tale signs of SARA are sometimes difficult to detect, however our Agritech technical team have listed some of the most common symptoms which they have witnessed on farms.

• Bubbles on dung.
• Cows swishing their tails (due to passing acidic manure).
• Animals performing 5-10% below capacity.
• Increased lameness levels.
• Less than 80% of animals which are lying down were observed chewing the cud.
• Mildly depressed demeanour.

Note: Using Rumicare at 150 grams per head per day will help counter this underlying condition.

For further assistance or advice do not hesitate to contact your local Agritech distributor or Agritech Technical Advisor.

2018 is proving to be a challenging year for highly stocked farms across the country with many farmers expressing fodder concerns already. In order to improve your farm forage production, Agritech’s Bil Ryan states that it is important to develop a farm plan which focuses on optimum soil fertility, good grazing infrastructure and grass swards which contain high levels of ryegrass varieties and clover.

According to Bil, some useful rules of thumb at this point include:

1. Following a fertilizer program:

For those who have experienced rainfall, apply fertiliser as soon as possible to increase grass growth and build grass supply for autumn grazing or a later cut of silage if possible.

2. Lengthening grazing rotations:

Implementing a 30 day rotation will help improve grass covers and reduce pressure on winter forage stocks.

3. Carrying out reseeding as planned:

To achieve high yields of grass for next year, now is the right time to think about reseeding. Old and damaged paddocks and underperforming swards are the ones that will benefit most and give the biggest return on investment from reseeding.

When reseeding, Bil’s advice is to “create a fine, firm seed bed, apply appropriate nutrients, lightly cover the seed and double roll the ground to ensure optimum germination and adequate fuel to sustain the new reseed.”

It is essential to choose a mix of grass seed that will improve animal performance, increase forage yield, be easily managed and have good persistency. “Our Tipperary Grass Seed mixtures have built an excellent reputation with farmers throughout the country for delivering optimal germination, establishment and increased yield in new grass leys” states Bil.

For any further advice on reseeding or to choose a suitable grass mixture from the Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Agritech distributor.

The three weeks before and after calving are the most critical period in the production cycle of the dairy cow. The modern dairy cow is genetically programmed to produce high levels of milk post calving while her capacity to increase her dietary intakes in line with production is a challenge facing all producers at this time.

Key areas to monitor:

Body Condition Scores (BCS): Are your cows holding their pre calving BCS? If your cows are losing condition in the weeks post calving this must be addressed promptly and properly. Seek professional advice.

Dung Consistency: Dung that appears firm indicates that the cow’s diet may be too low in protein and too high in fibre. A loose and thin consistency suggests excess protein/carbohydrates or low fibre which may possibly lead to acidosis.

Milk Fat to Protein Ratio: The ratio of fat:protein is an excellent indicator of cow health and feed efficiency. The ideal butterfat:protein ratio is circa 1.27:1. Where the ratio goes above 1.5:1, strict attention should be paid to cow health as there is a strong possibility of Ketosis in the affected animals. Where the ratio drops below 1.2:1, a possible link to Rumen Acidosis exists.

Key Tips:

1. Maximise dry matter intake (DMI) through a well balanced diet formulation and continuous assessment of the ration fed to cows.
2. Try to ensure that there is a minimum of 600-800 mm feed space per cow along with ample drinking points.
3. Introduce concentrates slowly. Set parlour feeders to slowly build up concentrate levels over a five to ten day period post calving. Adding concentrates too quickly, in an attempt to provide energy is a recipe for Sub Acute Rumen Acidosis. There are some excellent Rumen Buffers on the market which are producing excellent results in countering the threat of this condition. Products such as Rumicare from Agritech along with it’s excellent rumen buffering capacity has the added benefit of providing much needed calcium for the early lactation dairy cow.
4. Continue to analyse you cow’s Body Condition Score on a regular basis. It is vitally important to maintain adequate BCS to ensure that the cow quickly returns to cyclicity in advance of the breeding season.
5. Mineral Supplementation is essential during the post calving period. Supplementation of post calving minerals is a much neglected area, as many dairy farmers assume there are enough minerals in the purchased concentrate. However, unless there are very high levels being fed this is rarely the case.The post calving diet needs to be carefully monitored to ensure that the cow receives adequate levels of macro and trace minerals at this important time.
6. Introduce grazed grass in to the diet. While we all know that grazed grass is an excellent feed, it is important to align the indoor ration to match up with the grazed grass level being fed in order to optimise cow performance and health.

For any further advice contact your local Agritech distributor.

While we are all aware that animals need to be fed adequately while indoors, it has been found that winter feeding programs rarely go beyond nutrition and water. Even though they are both very important, animals have mineral and vitamin requirements which are essential for milk production, growth reproduction and their overall health.

A growing emphasis on higher grassland production through the use of Nitrogen, Sulphur and Potash is reducing the availability of minerals that animals need. Research shows us that more than two-thirds of Irish pastures are low in Selenium, Iodine and Copper and more than one-third are low in Phosphorous, Magnesium and Zinc; all essential for milk production, weight gain, reproduction and general animal health.

During the housing period, availability of vitamins and mineral are also reduced as they oxidise and break down in animal feed. At this stage, animals are very likely to develop deficiencies as a result of a diet which consists of only stored forages and grain.

With this in mind Agritech have developed the Welmin mineral supplements range, a comprehensive range of premium mineral supplements, which will ensure that your animals are adequately supplemented with all the essential minerals and vitamins.The raw materials used by Agritech to manufacture the Welmin range are chosen for their high bio-availability, therefore ensuring we get to correct the imbalances that are occurring on intensive farms.

So to look after your animals’ health and ensure you achieve maximum production this winter, be sure to feed a quality mineral and vitamin supplement.

For any further advice on minerals and vitamins contact your local Agritech distributor or find out more about Agritech’s Welmin mineral supplements range by clicking here.