| Livestock
Slurry revolution
Rumen function priority
Tramspread, the digestate and slurry handling specialists
will be displaying a cross section of their range on stand
number M594 at this year’s Livestock Event, including the
Reck slatted floor mixer which revolutionises the
management of slurry in under floor stores and channels.
Faced with continuing low milk prices, dairy producers
looking to boost margins by maximising milk from forage,
reducing feed costs and minimising the post-turnout drop
in milk quality are being urged to make rumen function a
top priority this spring and summer.
he folding impeller
is simply lowered
by a winch on the
frame to fit through
a floor slat and is
then able to
homogenise the slurry below
without the need to lift out a
concrete section. The mixing
action can be further improved by
specifying the optional ‘swing
device’ which allows the frame to
tilt the impeller to either side,
enlarging the area to be mixed and
so reducing the amount of times
the mixer needs to be moved to
cover an area.
For an almost dry crust the
water supply option is
recommended as water runs
through the mixer sword directly to
the folding propeller and creates a
free-flowing slurry. These mixers
are available for cow sheds and
pig sheds in either electric or
hydraulic options, and in various
sizes to suit any under floor store.
For information on the extensive
range of Reck mixers, and
ptimising the
efficiency with
which forage is
converted into milk
has a massive
impact on dairy
unit profitability, and it starts with
good rumen function,” states Dr
Derek McIlmolye, AB Vista’s
Technical Director for GB and
Ireland.
“The challenge following
turnout is the poor fibre content in
spring grass significantly
increases the risk of low rumen
pH, which compromises
fermentation efficiency. Up to 16
litres of oxygen can also be mixed
in with the feed consumed each
day, which introduces aerobic
conditions that are less than
ideal.”
Any time rumen content drops
below pH 5.8, or oxygen is
introduced, the activity and
numbers of the fibre-digesting
microbes in the rumen are
reduced. Optimising rumen
T
O
Sees us at Livestock Event 2016 Stand No: LE538
anything else in the TRAMSPREAD
range from slurry test kits up to
7000m3 slurry stores, call in to
their stand and speak to their
knowledgeable and experienced
personnel.
conditions to best support these
microbes is therefore critical to
efficient forage fermentation.
“Correctly formulated buffer
feeds are essential to reduce the
risk of SARA at turnout, including
the addition of a live yeast like
Vistacell,” Dr McIlmoyle continues.
“These metabolically active yeasts
not only limit production of the
lactic acid responsible for lowering
rumen pH, but they also help
maintain anaerobic conditions by
absorbing oxygen in the rumen.
“Typical daily yield response
can be as high as 2 litres/cow if
the rumen is under severe
pressure, such as following spring
turnout, coupled with an
improvement in butterfats due to
improved fibre digestion. That’s a
significant gain in feed efficiency
and milk from forage that will
typically provide a return on
investment of between 3:1 and 6:1
based on either a one or two litres
increase in daily milk yield.”
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June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 31