Publications

Balancing diets is not just about ensuring you provide the correct energy, protein, starch, etc. Minerals are essential for health, fertility and production. With forage contributing a major proportion of the diet, its mineral status will have considerable impact. This dairy insight publication explores the importance of analysing forage minerals, when and how to take a sample, and how to interpret your analysis results.

Begin the Year How you Want to Continue! – We all have good intentions to change what we do but setting a new pattern of behaviour can be a challenge. Once established, however, the task will become second nature. Take time this new year to set new objectives for you and your business. This DAIRY insight explores how you can make the most of taking time to reflect on your business and how a change of perspective can result in business progression. We also explore what two ex-employees of Kingshay are now accomplishing and discover their business strategies and plans for the year ahead.

Knowing and understanding mineral nutrition for your dairy cows, is vital to overall cow performance. An adequate dietary mineral supply and balance is a prerequisite to ensuring optimal production, health, and fertility in your cattle. Without the appropriate balance of minerals, cows will not perform as well as they could or may develop health issues. This dairy insight explores the role of trace minerals for dairy cattle and highlights the value in analysing the mineral levels in your stock as well as your grass, forage, and water to determine if there is an over or under supply.

Vaccines have been available from the 1930's, since then they have made a major contribution to improving cattle health and welfare. They are vital components in preventing, managing and eradicating diseases on farm and ultimately improving productivity and profitability. This DAIRY insight looks at improving animal health outcomes by getting the most from your vaccines on farm.

There is no treatment or vaccination for Neospora, good biosecurity policies which aim to reduce the risk of introducing Neospora to the herd is essential, as is routine screening to identify infected animals and having a plan as how to manage them. This DAIRY insight will explore how Neospora can infect your herd, how to identify it and how it may affect individual livestock.

Parasites, both ectoparasites (external parasites) and endoparasites (internal parasites) can be a major cause of disease in dairy cattle. They will not only contribute to poor animal health and welfare, but ultimately they will impact productivity; through reduced appetite and feed intake. Gut worms in particular will impact nutrient utilisation leading to poor feed efficiency, affecting liveweight gains, and milk production in lactating stock. Historically, control of parasites has largely been through the use of chemicals, such as anthelmintics, flukicides, and ectoparasiticides. This DAIRY insight is the first in a two part series exploring the control of parasites without using chemicals for a more sustainable farming business

For a heifer or cow to reach their full production potential, a good calving is essential. They are less likely to suffer from problems post calving such as metritis, ketosis and displaced abomasum, as well as returning to heat and getting back in calf more quickly. For staff, a good calving is a positive experience and impacts less on precious time, as there are fewer consequences such as weak calves and sick cows to deal with. This DAIRY insight explores difficult calvings and when and how to assist.

One of the most difficult times for dairy cattle is the transition period around calving. The cow has to cope with many changes – physiological, environmental and management related. These stresses, which include various pen and diet changes, all contribute to this being a high-risk period for disease. Therefore fine tuning your management practices at this time can pay dividends. This RESEARCH insight explores two recent studies and asks if their findings can positively impact your cow management at calving.

Getting water supply at grass right is a must for optimal cow welfare and to avoid potential dips in production. Water supply is a common pinch point on dairy farms, particularly when herd expansion has taken place and water infrastructure has not been addressed accordingly. Take the time to assess whether herd demands are being met and ensure the system is set up to cope with peak demands when ambient temperatures are at their highest. See Water Supply for Housed Cows dairy insight for advice at housing.

Gases such as methane and carbon dioxide are produced as part of the normal process of digestion in cattle. These gases are usually discharged by eructation (belching). If the animal is unable to remove the excess gas it builds up causing bloat, a distention of the ruminoreticulum. This DAIRY insight explores the causes of bloat, and how it can be treated – and first and foremost, how to prevent bloat from being an issue for your stock.

As bought-in feed costs show no sign of abatement, choosing to feed home-grown cereals rather than sell them could be a wise decision. The variety of treatment options available also creates flexibility to either produce a concentrate or forage replacer, depending on requirements. However, before making decisions, it's important to sit down, weigh up the options and calculate what's best for an individual farm. This DAIRY insight explores the options for you to consider.

Fresh grass analysis is essential for formulating a balanced ration when livestock are at grass, to predict silage quality before cutting and to inform decisions on when to cut. This insight is designed to help you read the analysis results quickly. There are several further insights available covering related management aspects.