Press Release:
Two new alkalising technology options from FiveF will help boost
use of home-grown feed materials in dairy cow rations
Dairy farmers can now boost their use of cost effective home-grown cereals in cow diets by as much as 40% thanks to the launch of two new alkalising feed options from FiveF Alka Limited.
Speaking to farmers at UK Dairy Day [16 September 2015], FiveF Alka Limited director and nutritionist Malcolm Graham said the company was now able to offer every dairy farmer in the country a bespoke alkalised feed solution guaranteed to help them make the most of what they can grow on their own farm.
“Farm users of our alkalising technology are now feeding 20-40% more of their home-grown feed materials, cutting feed costs whilst also increasing milk output and improving longer-term profit factors such as cow energy status and fertility,” he claimed.
Mr Graham said that the availability of rumination monitoring technology associated with robotic milking systems – and the use of pH boluses to measure rumen stability over time – has allowed FiveF to develop new systems to make diet alkalisation as straightforward as possible.
“Data produced from monitoring rumen pH effectively has given us the confidence to greatly increase the starch and energy concentration of lactating cow rations without the risk of acidosis. We’ve also been able to experiment with a number of different ration alkalisation approaches, which means we now have a solution for every dairy farmer.”
To complement the alkalising technology FiveF has developed over the last 30 years allowing farmers to make their own Alkalage, Alkagrain and Alkastraw, the company is now launching the opportunity for feed companies to make two new proprietary blended and pelleted feed ranges, both of which will be available from approvedmanufacturers in the UK and Ireland.
“The new Alkablend®blended feeds incorporate the super concentrated Alkagrain 150 Protein Premix at 20%, allowing approved blenders to produce a range of bespoke feeds made from the ingredients stocked to balance on-farm feed availability and quality,” Mr Graham said.
“The high specification Alkanut®rangesare manufactured pelleted feeds ready to use straight off the truck. This is a powerful alkalising feed option and will be particularly useful for automated feeding systems, such as through milking parlours, robots and out-of-parlour feeders.”
Mr Graham added that with cereal and protein prices continuing to diverge, more and more producers are looking to feed more from their own acres.
“The various alkalisation systems we have developed now allow milk producers to feed up to 8kg of wheat to high performing dairy cows, leaving plenty of scope for typical mixed farms to use more of their high value cereal, rather than selling it whilst current ex-farm market prices are depressed. Alkalising the feed has repeatedly shown in improvements in rumen pH stability, rumination time and feed intake. It really is a basis for making more effective, healthier milking cow diets that better utilise all the feeds fed,” he said.
Farmers interested in the most appropriate alkalising system for their farm cereal growing and cow-rationing situation should contact FiveF Alka Limited for further advice. Additional information is available at:
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Note to editors:
- FiveF Alka Limited promotes systems for maximising the nutritional value of home-grown farm feeds and forages. Alka technology has been used successfully for over 30 years globally to feed animals through the alkaline characteristics of feed crops such as Alkalage, Alkagrain and Alkastraw.
Picture supplied: Malcolm Graham says a number of different ration alkalisation approaches are now available from FiveF, which means the company can offer a solution to every dairy farmer.
Date: 16th September 2015
Further information from:Malcolm Graham of FiveF Alka Limited
Tel: 07989 985937
OR VISIT THE FIVEF ALKA WEBSITE:
Issued byDavid Butler, ABC Ltd. Tel: 07767 386401
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