Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Twitter LinkedIn
    • FREE Email Newsletters
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
    Twitter LinkedIn
    Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    • News
      • Arable & Agronomy
      • Dealership News
      • Environmental Land Management Scheme/Policy
      • Event News
      • Health & Safety
      • Machinery
      • People
      • World News
    • Farm Machinery
      • Amenity & Maintenance
      • Cultivations
      • Drilling
      • Grassland Equipment
      • Harvesting
      • Muck & Slurry
      • Sprayers
      • Telehandlers
      • Tractors
      • Tractor of the Year
      • Tyres & Tracks
      • Whatever happened to?
    • Precision Farming
    • Markets & Policy
    • Profiles
      • National Arable and Grassland Awards
      • Company Profiles
      • Reader Profiles
    • Livestock
      • Beef
      • Dairy
      • Sheep
    • Magazines
      1. September 2025 issue
      2. August 2025 issue
      3. 2025 Drills and Seeds supplement
      4. July 2025 issue
      5. June 2025 issue
      6. Cereals event guide 2025
      7. May 2025 issue
      8. April 2025 issue
      9. March 2025 issue
      10. 2025 Tyre Developments supplement
      11. February 2025 issue
      12. National Arable and Grassland Awards supplement
      13. January 2025 issue
      14. December 2024 issue
      15. November 2024 issue
      16. October 2024 issue
      17. September 2024 issue
      18. August 2024 Issue
      19. 2024 Drills and Seeds supplement
      20. July 2024 Issue
      21. Cereals Supplement
      22. June 2024 Issue
      23. May 2024 Issue
      24. April 2024 Issue
      25. Tyres and Tracks Supplement
      26. March 2024 Issue
      27. National Arable & Grassland Award – Meet the Finalists
      28. February 2024 Issue
      29. January 2024 Issue
      30. December 2023
      31. Agritechnica Preview Supplement
      32. November 2023
      33. October 2023
      Featured

      September 2025 issue available now

      By Matthew TiltSeptember 1, 2025
      Recent

      September 2025 issue available now

      September 1, 2025

      August 2025 issue available now

      August 1, 2025

      2025 Drills and Seeds supplement available now

      August 1, 2025
    • Events
    • Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Dairy

    Dairy producers encouraged to keep up the good nutrition as cows enter summer months ‘in good shape’

    John SwireBy John SwireMay 24, 20183 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    Philip Ingram

    Despite a long and tough winter, cows are in good condition and production levels have held up, according to Cargill’s ruminant technical manager Philip Ingram. He encourages producers to maintain this by keeping a close eye on nutrition and to rise to the challenges of more grass-based diets being fed on many units, particularly in early summer.

    “Now we are safely clear of winter conditions, many dairy producers are focussed on replenishing forage stocks that, in many parts of the country, had reached rock bottom,” says Dr Ingram.

    “It was a long winter. We were eking out limited and variable forages and making sure rations were carefully balanced. However, this close attention to nutritional detail – and good cow care – has meant that cows have been turned out in good condition and production is on target.

    “Producers should keep a close eye on cow nutrition and look to maintain the good cow condition and production levels that many have achieved during winter.

    “But there are challenges,” he adds. “Limited forages are available for buffer feeding, which means that more cows than usual will be relying on grazed grass for a greater proportion of their nutrients.”

    Grazed grass is rich in both protein and energy. In early summer it will typically have a crude protein around 20% compared with a TMR, which may be 16% crude protein.

    “The skill is to cash in on these nutrients and turn them in to milk, and avoid the excess protein being turned into ammonia and the energy required to do this. Research has shown that the energy required for this process can easily be worth two litres of milk.”

    Dr Ingram recommends that producers consider including a protein efficiency product, which can be added to the compound feed or TMR. “Products such as Optitek can ‘build’ this excess protein in the diet into microbial protein in the rumen.

    Microbial protein is the most digestible, nutritious form of protein available to the cow, and it can help to drive production and regain body reserves post calving.”

    He also warns producers to be even more diligent in monitoring rumen health this year, particularly where there is more reliance on grazed grass. “The high digestibility and low dry matter can reduce the cow’s rumen pH and increase her risk of acidosis. And this reduction in structural fibre in the diet compared with the winter ration accounts, in part, for the depressed butterfat levels typically seen when cows go out to grass.

    “Rumen buffers are strongly recommended. This will help to maintain rumen health – and milk yields.”

    Included, typically at a rate of between 100g and 150g/head/day, the rumen buffer Equaliser absorbs the excess acid in the rumen and helps to maintain a pH as close as possible to the optimum of 6.5. It has been shown to improve butterfats by 0.53% in SARA-challenged cows and improve milk yields. This makes it a cost-effective option, particularly where rumen health may be challenged.

     

     

    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    Pin
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    Previous ArticleStaffordshire tractor dealership aims for expansion with McCormick franchise
    Next Article Diagnostic service now available for any aborting ewes
    John Swire

    Read Similar Stories

    September 2025 issue available now

    September 1, 2025

    Lely expands robotic milking range

    August 13, 2025

    August 2025 issue available now

    August 1, 2025
    Most Read Stories

    Pöttinger introduces new silage additive tank

    September 2, 2025

    Samson adds new entry-level TG slurry tanker

    September 2, 2025

    John Deere extends parts solutions

    September 2, 2025
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer

    The UK's leading agricultural machinery journal

    Twitter LinkedIn
    © 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

    Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

    • Farmers Weekly
    • AA Farmer
    • Poultry News
    • Pig World

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.