Dry silage cost milk

On 13 November, the dairy magazine ‘Melkvee’ reported: “High dry matter content in harvested maize in Brabant and Achterhoek”. On average in Brabant 40.3ËšC and in the Achterhoek 41ËšC. This includes many silages that easily heat up at the cutting point between feedings due to heating.

Research HAS Den Bosch

In 2016 Kanters gained experience with this through a research project in collaboration with HAS Den Bosch. On a farm with 2 milking robots, we were able to compare 2 groups of cows, randomly divided, as even numbers formed one group and odd numbers formed the other group. For the test group 1.5L Nutripreserve Basic, a formic acid based heat retardant was added to the mixer. The control group did not receive any heat retardant in their rations. The trial period ran from October to the turn of the year, 11 weeks. The average ambient temperature was 8ËšC. Quite cold and not a temperature at which you would want to eat. Quite cold and not a temperature at which you expect results from a hothouse inhibitor.

koeien, kanters, nutripreserve, broei

Results

During the period, the temperature of the cut surface of the silage was measured weekly at 8 points about 15 cm deep. Both the grass silage harvested in the same year and the maize silage harvested in September of that year remained warm during the whole period. The grass silage averaged 25.4ËšC over all points! The maize silage presented a similar picture. Averaging 24ËšC over the entire period. Although more decreasing than the grass silage, in the last measuring week still 19.9ËšC, at an ambient temperature of 5.4ËšC.

Both silages were dry >40% DS. Wetter silage clamps that have come to rest show a temperature of about 13-16ËšC.

koeien, kanters, nutripreserve, broei

Weekly measurements

During the trial period, we did not immediately see a result. Of course not, because old-milk cows become dry cows and cows calve, which enter one of the two groups as new-milked cows. Therefore, we only analysed the production data of the cows that were in one of the two groups for the entire trial period.

The result was surprisingly positive. Production decreases with increasing lactation days, but the experimental group, which received Nutripreserve Basic in its ration, decreased on average by 0.9 kg milk per day with improved contents. While the contents decreased slightly in the control group, they increased in the experimental group, resulting in a difference in favour of the experimental group: Protein +0.13% and Fat +0.24%.

Economic results

Extra milk yield per 100 head (at €34 per 100kg)                                           €30.60/day
Nutripreserve Basic costs per 100 head (4000 kg roughage)               €10,80/day
Positive balance per 100 head                                                                                  €19,80/day

Because of the dry summer with often dry grass silage and the latest news about dry maize silage, these results may very well also apply to your farm.

Share this item

Healthy animals ensure job satisfaction and profitability

Kanters Technics develops and produces sustainable technologies to keep your drinking water clean.

Read more?

Sign up for the newsletter and always be the first to receive
the latest research and tips.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

You may also be interested in:

Blogs/tips
The International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring system

At Kanters, we support animal health and look for alternatives for antimicrobials. The misuse and ...

Lees verder
Optimus Duo-dosing module drinking water dosing pump
Blogs/tips
Greater work convenicence with the Optimus Duo-dosing module

Do you already dose liquid supplements into your livestock’s drinking water, but does lugging around ...

Lees verder
Broiler chickens drinking water
Blogs/tips
Kanters products among the best water disinfectants and acidifiers

Antibiotic reduction is still an important topic in livestock farming. Since the ban on antibiotic ...

Lees verder
Kanters, Thailand, schoon drinkwater, water, kwaliteit, aqua-clean
Product videos
Aqua-clean is the best biofilm remover

Kanters has been working with our partner SCG from Thailand for several years. They are ...

Lees verder