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by Colman Purcell, Nutritionist, Lombardstown Mill
Dairygold has introduced a suite of grass/fodder extender options for 2018 based on the most suitable and best value raw materials that are available. These extenders are available as individual straights or in coarse and cube form. These raw materials were chosen as they are the best options from an; availability, nutrient density, mineral balance and price per unit energy stand point
Our grass extender is based on gluten and soya hulls. It is a 15.5% crude protein mix. This higher protein level is required to replace summer grass, which generally has a protein level of c.16-20%. It has a UFL of c.1.05 on a dry matter basis. It is non-mineralised but will carried a phosphorus level that exceeds the cows requirement. You will need to feed cal mag and trace elements through your parlour concentrate or through a mineral mix.
Our fodder extender is based on soya hulls and palm kernel. Due to the non-availability of palm kernel this product is not available until early August. Its is a 12% crude protein mix with a UFL of c. 1 on a dry matter basis. It is non-mineralised but will carried a phosphorus level that meets the cows requirement. You will need to feed cal mag and trace elements through your parlour concentrate or through a mineral mix.
| Product | Comment: |
| Grass Extender coarse (Gluten/hulls) | Available tipped and layered from the port and blown from the mill |
| Grass Extender cube (Gluten/hulls) | Available bulk blown from the mill |
| Fodder Extender1 coarse (Hulls/palm kernel) | From early august product will be available tipped and layered from the port and blown from the mill |
| Fodder Extender cube1 (Hulls/palm kernel) | From early august product will be available bulk blown from the mill |
| Soya Hulls Straight | Available tipped and layered from the port and blown from the mill |
| Palm Kernel Exp. Straight1 | From early august product will be available tipped and layered from the port and blown from the mill |
| Animal Type | Forage Intake Kg DM | Comments |
| Lactating cow – Autumn grass + 3 Kg concentrate | 13.4 | |
| Lactating cow – Autumn grass + 3 Kg concentrate + 2 Kg grass extender | 11.7 | Saving of 1.7 Kg grass DM/cow/day or equivalent of 51 bales silage for 100 cows over 2 months |
| Dry cow – silage only | 12 | |
| Dry cow – Silage + 2.5 Kg Extender | 9.8 | Saving of 2.2 Kg silage DM/day or 1.1t fresh weight pit silage/day for 100 cows |
| Weanling 300 Kg – silage + 1.5 Kg concentrate | 4.7 | |
| Weanling 300 Kg – Silage + 1.5 Kg concentrate + 2 Kg Extender | 4.24 | Saving of 1.76 Kg silage DM/day or 0.22t fresh weight pit silage/day for 25 weanlings |
| Calculations above assume that forage is restricted as the Extender mix is fed, otherwise the saving will be smaller. | ||
Click Here to download a Microsoft Excel workbook to calculate the silage saved by feeding Dairygold Quality Feeds Fodder Extender.