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| Kingshay's Feed Evaluation Unit allows us to accurately monitor intakes of individual cows and demonstrate the effect of different diets on cow performance. This helps Members optimise output and control costs. Feeding projects to date include:
Maize Starch Levels Moist Grain treatments Transition Cow Management |
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Kingshay thanks Bridgwater Agricultural Society
for their sponsorship of the Feed Unit
Transition Cow Project
The source of many cow health problems can be traced back to their management in the transition period. Kingshay compared two transition management systems and monitored cow health and productivity. A summary of the results is given below.
| What is the Transition Period?
Early Dry Period - Drying off until 3 weeks before calving Close to Calving Dry Period - Last 3 weeks before calving Just Fresh Period - First 5 to 20 days of lactation |
|
Standard Dry Cow Group |
Enhanced Transition Group |
|
| Trial Design |
Two dry cow groups Grazed Grass, grass & maize silage and dry cow rolls during close to calving period Fed main milking ration after calving |
Two dry cow groups and a Just Fresh group Limited grass and maize silage, bi-pass protein, glucose precursors fed during Close to Calving period After calving fed a diet lower in protein than the main milking ration Moved to main milking ration after 2 weeks in milk |
| Milk Yield & Quality |
8549 lt, 4.29% Fat, |
8891 lt, 4.30% Fat, |
| Calving Interval |
376 days |
364 days |
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Better Transition Management gave a return of over £6,500 per 100 cows |