Physical Nutrition: A breakthrough that delivers performance, health and profit benefits for dairy farmers
It is indisputable that the genetic potential of dairy cows to produce milk has increased dramatically over recent years. Yet in many herds in many countries, a significant number of cows are failing to realize this gain, resulting in lower than expected farm margins. Some of the blame for these issues has focused on the perceived inability of genetically improved cows to cope with current environmental and management factors. Others subscribe to the view that current feeding practices are at fault, having failed to deliver the increased potential. Interestingly this has occurred despite major improvements over the last 20 years or so in forage quality. Whilst the emphasis of cow rationing has focused on chemical aspects of the ration over the last 10 years there has been an increased recognition of the importance of Physically Effective Fibre, to promote optimal rumen function. For several years, our nutritionists have been recommending the inclusion of small amounts of coarse forage (cereal straw or hay) in total mixed rations for all ruminant livestock and have subsequently recorded significant improvements in animal performance and health, seen as an improvement in Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE); the yield of energy corrected milk per kg feed DM consumed. Such improvements in FCE are known to have a major impact on overall margin, with more milk being produced from the same or less feed, reducing total feed costs per litre, an important indicator of profit performance. However, closer examination of these nutritionally enhanced rations to determine the levels of physically effective fibre using the Penn State separator (PSS) method gave inconclusive results, and provided no clear guidelines on how future rations could be suitably formulated. An in depth examination of ration fibre was undertaken and some key factors shown to have a major impact on rumen function were identified. The discovery of these important fibre characteristics, produced exclusively in a Keenan Klassik mixer, with its gentle paddle mixing action and its controlled loading and mixing software, were subsequently patented as Mech FiberTM rations. Research showed Mech Fiber rations significantly improved milk yield, milk protein content and yield, when the same ration ingredients were processed in a Keenan Klassik mixer compared with a vertical auger. Importantly, the Mech Fiber ration significantly improved overall rumen function, with a marked reduction in the time when the rumen pH was below 6.0. Subsequently these studies were extended to an on-farm trial involving 450 cows, where provision of Mech Fiber rations improved total milk yield by 2.8litres/day, reduced feed intake by 2.3kgsDM/d with a concomitant improvement in FCE from 1.25 to 1.52kg/kg.
David E Beever
Richard Keenan & Co., Borris, Co Carlow, IRELAND
国际会议
奶牛营养与牛奶质量国际研讨会(ist International Symposium on Dairy Cow Nutrition and Milk Quality)
北京
英文
71-76
2009-05-04（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）