Dairy Business Centre
June 2021 Newsletter

In this months Newsletter:

Loose Lick vs Lick Blocks for Winter Minerals
Phosphorous – Importance of winter minerals
Moved Farms?
Product of the Month
Maximize Calf Feed – You Asked, We Listened
What’s Being Seen in the Field
New Product – MILK-Maker Pellet!
Commodity Market Update
Contact Us

Difference between Loose Licks & Lick Blocks

When choosing a source of mineral supplementation for your stock there are a few things that need to be considered.

Type of minerals
Dose rate and what level of minerals each dose rate provides
Qualty and type – is it at the correct ratios
Harvest Cost
Bonus features such as being waterproof

DBC Loose Licks provide the ad-lib availability of minerals for cows that “crave” and require them. The advantage of a Loose-Lick in comparison to a lick block is to give cows the ability to “self-medicate” their mineral requirements without the need of added flavourings such as molasses or excess salt.

Using Loose Licks means harvest cost is significantly less than when using blocks. Due to DBC Loose Licks having a higher mineral concentration per serving, the animal is able to receive their daily recommended dose rate in 1- 2 mouthfuls, unlike blocks, where stock spend a lot of time licking the block to get a small amount of their daily minerals or in most cases licking the block due to its palatability. Excessive licking of blocks have also resulted in stock forming blisters and sores on their tongues which makes eating difficult and can risk oral infections.

All DBC Loose Licks are formulated to have the correct ratio of essential macro and micro minerals for maximum mineral adsorption and are waterproof to prevent wastage. The formulation of a number of lick blocks that we have analysed, do not have the correct ratio of macro minerals for stock to absorb and have significantly lower levels of trace minerals. This means cows will need to consume more of the block to achieve the same result as DBC’s Loose Licks.

Why are Winter Minerals Important?

Do your cows suffer from poor appetite, infertility, poor productivity, stunted growth rates, eating soil or rocks (PICA) or spontaneous broken bones?
This could suggest a Phosphorus deficiency.

For every 1 litre of milk produced 1 gram of Phosphorus leaves the cow – is this Phosphorous being replenished by the cow’s existing diet?

Fodder Beet is very low in mineral concentration – particularly Phosphorous. Typically Fodder Beet has 50-70% less Phosphorous concentration than when compared to kale or pasture. Phosphorous is best utilised by the cow if it is above a 2:1 ratio Calcium to Phosphorous.Build your stock’s mineral reserves through the dry period, this includes young stock from weaning until they calve. Calves can be born deficient in Phosphorus.
This winter all stock grazing on crops such as Kale, Fodder Beet, Rape and Pasture need to have a consistent supply of minerals to prevent future health this coming season.

See the full story of Phosphorous supplementation below or to learn more information on the importance of winter minerals, particularly Phosphorous, then get in touch with our specialists.

Watch the full story on Phosphorous deficiency here!

Moved Farms this June?

Remember to get in touch with the DBC team to update all your details !

office@dairybusiness.co.nz or 03 308 0094

We hope everyone has had a safe start to winter and managed to move to their new property safely. For everyone impacted by the floods, please get in touch with the DBC team to help supply feed, minerals or just a friendly face to lend a hand.

Product of the Month

Get Set Cow Lead Feed Supplementation

Get-Set-Cow is a Lead Feed supplementation pellet specifically formulated to help prepare pre-calving dairy cows for lactation. Containing anionic salts, Calcium, Magnesium, grain, protein, trace minerals and Rumensin for improved energy utilisation. All this in one pellet, which removes the need to dust minerals, removes the slow transitioning period of cows consuming grain and sets cows and staff up for an easier transition and smoother calving.

Benefits of using Get-Set-Cow Lead Feed…

Lifted energy levels
Reduced calving problems
Prepares cows for milking diet
Allows the cow to achieve peak production within 21 days
Minimises metabolic problems at calving and during the colostrum period
Cows are happier and healthier
Reduced vet visits
Allows staff more productive time spent on other tasks

The transition from late pregnancy to lactation is a high risk period due to cows having problems maintaining blood Calcium levels during calving. This can lead to metabolic issues such as milk fever. High Potassium levels in pasture can also limit Calcium and Magnesium absorption, therefore, it is a good idea to restrict grass 14 days pre-calving as this can aid in alleviating these problems.

Introducing Get-Set-Cow lead feed enables farmers to reduce the feeding of grass in the pre-calving/springer period. This prepares the cow and rumen for the change into a milking cow diet, resulting in increased feed intake, leading to increased milk production and reduced early lactation weight loss.
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Maximize is Making a Change

Have you heard the news?This season DBC will be making the transition to phase out our plastic bags to paper bags!

Many of our farmers are concerned about the volume of plastic bags they go through each season from using calf feed. We listened and wanted to help farmers achieve their environmental goals by reducing plastic waste on farm.

After strenuous research, trialing the paper bags on a range of different farms we have found a successful greener alternative to our traditional plastic bags.

DBC’s chosen paper bags are Environmentally Certified, HACCP Certified and Quality Certified. Meaning they strong, durable, moisture resistant bags.These bags are compostable meaning when buried, the paper bags completely break down within 84 days!

The transition will start this spring!

Use Maximize Calf Pellets for optimal growth and development of calves without hurting the environment!

Haven’t contracted your calf feed yet?

Get in touch with the DBC team to make the most of our Early Bird Special.
This special will not last long so get in quick!
Price includes delivery and a wooden pallet refund!

What’s Being Seen in the Field

Winter Feed – We have noticed some shortages of feed around this winter, with many farmers diving into their saved spring feed. The cost of commodities and silage has gone up due to supply and demand. If crops have fallen behind on budget, fully feeding cows will become expensive if you are not prepared. Do check feed budgets to ensure cows are able to be fully fed this winter.
Floods and Feed – For those impacted by the floods, do get in touch with your nutritionist/consultant about feeding flood damaged feed. For commodities and coordination of feed please get in touch with your DBC rep.
Winter Milking – Make the most of the higher payout this season and keep an eye on diet changes with pasture and other feeds to ensure peak production is being met and maintained.
Winter Minerals – Provide your stock with DBC Loose Lick minerals through the winter! DBC’s mineral range is designed for all stock feed Fodder Beet, Kale, Pasture and other crops! A water proof, cost effective method of efficient mineral supplementation for your herd.
Calves and Heifers – Keep feeding quality nutrition to keep young stock growing. Calves and Heifers should be supplemented loose lick minerals to continue supporting their growth and development.

New Product – MILK-Maker High Energy Feed Pellets

INTRODUCING MILK-Maker!

MILK-Maker is a high energy feed pellet containing grain and a full range of macro and trace minerals designed to optimise milk production and meet your profit targets.

MILK-Maker is a range of grain based, energy dense (high ME) feed designed to maximize production through lactation. MILK-Maker has been specially formulated to be used in conjunction with high quality pasture and other on farm supplementation in order to increase appetite and enhance milk production. MILK-Maker is an “all-in-one” high energy pellet and also contains a full range of macro and trace minerals to support the cow through lactation, mating and pregnancy, improving animal health.
Get in touch with your DBC rep to learn more about MILK-Maker!

Market Update

The DBC arrow traffic light system is a good indication on the direction the market price is moving and when the time is right to buy.

PKE
The PKE price is still higher than ideal, despite pricing easing slightly over the past week. However, international pricing has firmed, which puts pressure on local pricing. PKE pricing is also impacted by international freight prices which is higher than 18 months ago which influences local prices.

Protein
Soya Meal spot price has fallen back over recent weeks. It is assumed that this is due to the reliable rainfall establishing crops over in the U.S. However, traders are still nervous that this seasons crop will be lower in yield due to less over all land area planted in Soya Bean.

Because Soya Meal is the main driver of protein prices globally, this has influenced the price of Canola and Maize DDG price. The maize DDG price is also influenced by the high corn prices in the U.S.

Grains
Due to the predicted increase in milk pay out, grain prices have risen. It has also been implied that there was not the volume of quality grain harvested this season, suggesting the price will only increase coming into the season due to shorter supplies. If grains such as wheat and/or barley are a part of your business then it is strongly advised to contract your required tonnages sooner rather than later.

For more information on the market or to contract commodities please get in touch with your DBC rep about feed options we can provide to help you through these times.