Case history
This is a 145 cow Holstein/British Friesian herd with a tight Autumn calving pattern commencing at the beginning of September, with both AI and natural service being used. In 1998 and 1999 out of parlour feed was a 50:50 Grass/Maize Silage balanced with a 29% Protein Blend to provide maintenance plus 22 litres. Screened Maize Gluten was fed in the parlour to cows giving over 22 litres.
The Correct Magnets were installed at the beginning of August 1999 to treat all pasture drinking troughs but the winter housing troughs were not treated until mid October. Therefore major benefits would not be expected until November.
In mid March 2000, silage had to be cut back to last throughout the extended winter period which lasted well into April and Brewers grains and extra concentrates had to be bought. Therefore we considered that a feed comparison for the period November to the end of March was more meaningful. However the milk production comparison is for the period November up to the end of April. Mr Beard won an award for his first cut silage in 1998. The silage analysis for 1998 and 1999 is given in sheet 3 showing that 1998 silage was substantially better quality than in 1999.
Whole herd comparison of Litres/cow/day has been taken from NMR comparing the period November 1999 up to the end of April 2000 when cows had access to treated water, with the same period in the previous year when cows had untreated water.
Purchased feed
Comparisons of Kg/cow and cost/litre were made for the period November 1999 up to the end of March 2000 with the same period in the previous year for reasons shown below. Although feed prices were lower in the second year, for the sake of this comparison they have been priced the same in both years.
Milk Production
| 1999 | 1998 | Incr/decr in 1999/00 | ||
| May-Oct | 15.9 | 15.9 | 0.0 | Magnets installed mid Oct 99 |
| Nov-Apr | 22.3 | 23.3 | +1.0 | |
| February | 23.3 | 25.0 | +1.7 | |
| March | 21.1 | 22.1 | +1.0 | Average extra 1.6 Litres/cow/day |
| April | 18.7 | 20.8 | +2.1 |
This again demonstrates that yields are boosted in mid and second half of lactation.
Diet
| Silage Analysis | DM | ME | CrP | Dvalue | |
| 1998 | 36.2 | 11.1 | 16.6 | 69 | Note the Superior Quality |
| 1999 | 26.1 | 10.4 | 11.3 | 65 |
1st cut silage was fed from the beginning of October throughout the winter period but had to be cut back in mid March 2000 to last further into the extended winter period. A partial complete diet system is fed, 50:50 Grass/Maize silage + 29% Protein Blend. Screened Maize Gluten is fed in the parlour according to yield over M+25 litres. Cows were only able to graze for 8 days (2-3 hours) in April 2000 compared to 18 full days in 1999 so Brewers Grain and extra concentrates had to be purchased. Therefore the following feed and price figures are given for the period Nov-Mar which gives a more realistic comparison.
Savings November 99 - March 00
Purchased feeds
1998/99
1999/00
Blend 29% Pr Kg/cow
557.3
576.1
Cost/litres*
1.76p
1.76p
*for this comparison prices are the same for both years, in fact they were lower in 1999/00.
| Maize Gluten Kg/cow | 606.9 | 471.9 | |
| Cost/litre | 1.45p | 1.11p | |
| Total cost/litre | 3.21p | 2.87p | Saving 0.34p / Litre |
Summary
Between November and March inclusive 1999/00 the herd produced an extra 27,332 litres of milk than in the same period in 1998/99, despite poorer quality silage and feeding 17 tons less maize gluten. The milk cheque income was down by £6,138 during this five month period due to lower milk prices and there was a leasing cost of £3,333 (proportion of £8,000 for the year). However, with the extra yield, lower concentrates fed per litre and the sale of four freshly calved cows to keep with quota, the deficit was reduced by £3,320, a commendable achievement considering the state of the dairy industry. Protein % was slightly up in 1999/00 and butterfat % was marginally down. Mr Beard is very satisfied with his purchase and said "it was noticeable how the cows had maintained their yield during the first four months of 2000, cell counts are continuing a downward trend and drinking troughs are definitely cleaner".