Scottish barley distillers’ feed could lift yields
Replacing 2kg a cow a day of rapemeal with Scottish barley distillers’ feed could increase daily milk production by up to 0.5 litres a cow, and save up to £8/t (€9.40/t).
“Most dairy rations contain an excess of rumen degradable protein (RDP), so the extra 1.2MJ ME/kg of DM supplied by Scottish barley distillers’ feed can potentially lift yields despite its lower protein content,” explains Trident’s Neil Woolf.
“And if the ration is short of RDP, simply adding up to 70g a cow a day of urea to make up any shortfall will cost just 3-4p a cow, against around 15p a cow for the extra half litre of milk. That still leaves a very healthy extra margin.”
Scottish barley distillers’ feed also contains a greater proportion of high quality rumen-bypass protein than rapemeal, plus high levels of digestible fibre and yeast fragments that help improve rumen function and buffer against acidosis.
“The result is a more efficient conversion of feed into milk and growth, better margins and more profit,” Mr Woolf continues. “For farmers in Scotland and the north of England, it’s definitely one of the best value feeds currently available.”
* Prices correct at the time of writing and subject to change, based on Oct-Apr forward contracts for 29t tipped bulk loads delivered on-farm within 50 miles of origin.
Source: FWI
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