Buffer feeding diary cows at spring turnout

Spring turnout is a time of optimism – with farmers pleased to have the sheds cleared and dairy cows happy to be back outdoors. Though everyone might be in good spirits, the transition between a controlled winter ration and new spring grass isn’t without its issues.

Early in the season, grass is high in energy but low in fibre, which can compromise production of all-important butterfats. As the profitability of milk relies upon butterfat percentages, any drop-off can be costly. Lots of energy in grass might at first consideration seem like a good thing, but the high-sugar / low-fibre profile of spring grass means it ferments more quickly in the rumen and rapidly passes through the digestive system. This rapid fermentation can upset rumen pH and increase the risk of acidosis. In the longer term, as well as causing a dip in butterfat levels, a diet rich in sugars but lacking fibre can also lead to loss of body condition and suppressed fertility.
At this time of year, buffer feeding dairy cows is the tried-and-tested way of achieving a nutritious ration that supports milk quality alongside animal wellbeing. Duynie’s Balancer Mix is a palatable moist blend that’s high in digestible fibre and low in oil. By introducing bypass protein, it complements the front-end protein found in energy-rich grass, creating a perfectly balanced ration. As well as containing the fibre essential for maintaining butterfats, it has appropriate starches to support milk production, too. This is especially important for early lactation and high-yielding cows.
For bovine digestion to be efficient, RDP (rumen degradable protein, delivered by grass) and DUP (digestible undegraded protein, delivered by feeds such as brewers grains) must work together. Grass alone is unable to deliver the nutritional balance needed to meet the challenges of maintaining body condition, producing milk and sustaining fertility. Introducing Balancer Mix is the key to taking advantage of the energy present in new grass while ensuring dry matter intake (DMI) is optimized.
Introducing Balancer Mix into your ration
As turnout approaches, it’s time to start planning your spring feed strategy. By introducing Balancer Mix gradually over two to three weeks, the transition from winter ration will be less of a shock to a cow’s digestive bacteria.
The blend of co-products in Balancer Mix has a tempting smell and palatable taste and texture, so encouraging uptake isn’t difficult. Feeding from troughs in the field reduces competition and ensures all cows have the chance to get an appropriate ration. Alternatively, the mix can also be fed inside, an hour before milking.
As well as being an excellent choice for buffer feeding, Balancer Mix can also be used to supplement low-quality silage or to eke out grazing. When the seasons move on and the profile of the grass becomes lower in sugars and higher in fibre, it’s easy to move the herd onto Duynie’s Power Mix. With its high-energy starch and oils it resets the balance and transitioning is straightforward.

CategoriesBlockFindTitle

ContactFormBlockTitle

ContactMapTitle

ContactTileTitle

FooterTitleColumn1

FooterTitleColumn2

FooterTitleColumn3

HeroContactTitle

NewsInsightsCasesTitle

NewsInsightsEditorialTitle

NewsInsightsEventTitle

NewsInsightsEventsModalTitle

NewsInsightsNewsTitle

NewsInsightsWhitepaperTitle

NewsLatestNewsTitle

ProductFinderTitle

RequestSampleModalTitle

SearchResultsTitle

SubscribeToNewsletterTitle

compareSubtitle

compareTitle

Hero titel

Page

Product

Product Category

News

Case

No filter

Spring turnout is a time of optimism – with farmers pleased to have the sheds cleared and dairy cows happy to be back outdoors. Though everyone might be in good spirits, the transition between a controlled winter ration and new spring grass isn’t without its issues.

Duynie Feed IE | Buffer feeding diary cows at spring turnout