Gippsland - How Now Gippy Cow
February 2011 Edition
GippsDairy Focus Farms
Feed Lotto - the quality of feeds on Focus Farms
Weather conditions during last spring and this summer have been challenging for dairy farm families, contractors and feed suppliers. Despite the very best intentions of everyone involved to maximise the quality, avoid 'feed lotto guessing' this year, the best way to understand feed quality is to have it tested.
Understanding a FEEDTEST Report
Dry matter (DM) refers to the amount of feed remaining after the water has been removed. Because the water content of feeds can vary considerably, all analyses are expressed on a dry matter basis.
Crude Protein (CP) is the amount of true protein (composed of amino acids) and non-protein nitrogen in the feed. Whilst it is desirable to have a high CP, it can be misleading to use as the sole measure of feed quality.
Digestible Drymatter (DDM) is the percentage of the feed dry matter actually digested by animals estimated using a laboratory method which is standardised against DDM values from feeding trials. High quality feeds have a DDM of over 65 per cent, whilst feeds below 55 per cent DDM are of poor quality and will not maintain liveweight even if stock have free access to it.
Metabolisable Energy (ME) is the feed energy used by the animal, calculated from DDM and expressed as megajoules per kilogram of dry matter (MJ/kg DM). ME is the most important figure on the report. It is used to calculate whether stock are receiving adequate energy for maintenance or production.
Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) estimates the cellulose and lignin content of a feed. The lower the ADF, the higher the DDM (and ME).
Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) estimates the total cell wall content in a feed, and is the most useful measure of fibre content currently available.
Converting FEEDTEST results from a 'dry matter' to an 'As Fed' basis. All FEEDTEST analyses are expressed on a dry matter basis. However in the paddock you will need to calculate the amount of feed supplement to use on an 'as fed' basis.
For example, if a sample of wheat has an ME of 13.5 MJ/kg DM, a CP of 12.6% (on a DM basis) and a DM content of 88%, the 'as fed' values will be:
ME = 13.5 x 88% = 11.9 MJ/kg feed.
CP = 12.6 x 88% = 11% CP in feed.
There is a range of laboratories carrying out feed testing. Agrifood Technology at Werribee (Formerly FeedTest at Hamilton) conducted these tests. Cost per sample was $50+GST.
Phone 1300 655 474 for sample kits.
The results of testing samples of a range of feed types on the six GippsDairy Focus Farms are shown below:
| Pasture Silage (made on the farm for milkers or dry cows) | ||||||
| Willowgrove | Tarwin | Tarwin (Dry cows) |
Denison | Foster Early cut |
Foster Late cut |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Matter % | 45.5 | 37.9 | 65.1 | 44.6 | 31.5 | 63.8 |
| Protein (% of dry matter) | 14.0 | 16.7 | 9.2 | 14.0 | 15.3 | 15.1 |
| NDF (% of dry matter) | 62.6 | 56.8 | 63.8 | 48.0 | 55.2 | 59.4 |
| Digestibility (DMD) | 67.8 | 70. | 65.9 | 77.7 | 71.7 | 67.9 |
| M E (MJ/kg DM) | 10.3 | 10.7 | 10.0 | 11.6 | 10.8 | 10.3 |
| Fresh Pasture (grazed by milkers) | Fodder Crop (grazed by milkers) Millet* |
|||||
| Tarwin | Denison (Irrigated) |
Maffra (Irrigated) |
Nar Nar Goon | Foster | Maffra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Matter % | 21.0 | 21.8 | 22.0 | 23.4 | 20.3 | 16.9 |
| Protein (% of dry matter) | 17.1 | 22.5 | 23.7 | 15.8 | 19.31 | 19.7 |
| NDF (% of dry matter) | 42.5 | 44.1 | 40.5 | 46.8 | 48.4 | 51.3 |
| Digestibility (DMD) | 82.0 | 80.2 | 80.3 | 76.5 | 78.4 | 74.1 |
| M E (MJ/kg DM) | 12.5 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 11.1 |
| *Dense leafy crop 45cm high | ||||||
| Hay (made on the farm for dry cow feeding) | |||||||
| Nar Nar Goon Pasture |
Nar Nar Goon Oaten |
Tarwin Pasture |
Denison Pasture |
Maffra Pasture |
Foster Pasture |
Willowgrove Pasture |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Matter % | 90.6 | 66.3 | 84.1 | 86.1 | 85.7 | 83.0 | 83.8 |
| Protein (% of dry matter) | 6.0 | 12.9 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 10.1 |
| NDF (% of dry matter) | 67.7 | 59.3 | 59.9 | 59.3 | 67.5 | 63.8 | 58.1 |
| Digestibility (DMD) | 53.5 | 62.7 | 61.3 | 65.1 | 59.4 | 61.8 | 69.9 |
| M E (MJ/kg DM) | 7.6 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 9.6 | 8.6 | 9.0 | 10.4 |
| Grain (fed to milkers) | ||||||
| Nar Nar Goon Wheat |
Willowgrove Wheat |
Tarwin Wheat |
Denison Wheat |
Maffra Barley |
Foster Wheat |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk Density (kg/hl) | 84.4 | -- | 82.9 | 68.1 | -- | 74.8 |
| Dry Matter % | 88.3 | 87.0 | 88.2 | 86.5 | 88.1 | 88.2 |
| Protein (% of dry matter) | 16.3 | 12.6 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 16.5 | 12.6 |
| ADF (% of dry matter) | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 8.4 | 3.0 |
| Digestibility (DMD) | 89.6 | 89.1 | 88.7 | 88.4 | 80.1 | 89.4 |
| M E (MJ/kg DM) | 13. | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.4 | 12.3 | 13.5 |
More progress with mastitis at Willowgrove Focus Farm
Readers will recall the report in the May 2010 issue about work done by Mick and Paula Hughes to control mastitis. Vet Rod Dyson, and milking machine technician Rob Moyle have been helping.
Mastitis control is much more than just what happens in the dairy! It takes in five key areas, lactation, environment, drying off, calving and culling.
Mick and Paula's milk cultures show Strep uberis is the most common bacteria causing mastitis in their herd. Strep uberis lives in the bowel, survives well in mud and faeces, and can spread during the milking process.
Mick identified a problem in the dairy - the vacuum changes, creeping up on occasions without him noticing it. Part of the issue is difficulty easily reading the vacuum gauge, they are now trialing a digital gauge with a large clear readout making it easier to monitor. Apparently the problem is occurring in many dairies. (The digital gauge cost approximately $380).
Calving is a 'high risk' time especially in their heifers. This year they are considering a strategy of using teat seal in the heifers prior to calving. Heifers don't have a teat plug and are prone to having strep uberis enter.
An area often overlooked is condition of tracks including drainage where the cows leave the dairy, some people re-route the cows onto a different track as they leave. Holding the herd after milking on a track near the dairy is another 'high risk' factor for mastitis spread.
The Hughes have good herd culling protocols. Using herd test results decreases the chance that the wrong cows remain in the herd. Since they have stopped herd testing a couple of 'spot tests' will help.
The Focus Farm Project is an initiative of GippsDairy and is funded by the Geoffrey Gardiner Foundation, Dairy Australia and GippsDairy. For more information about the Focus Farm project, copies of the feed tests or notes from field days contact: John Gallienne Mob 0407 863 493.
