The quality of roughage and cost of milk
Vladimir Mirnenko, LLC «Potinher Ukraine»
High yield is not always an indicator of efficiency and high profitability. In Ukraine, the average cost of a liter of milk is 4,10-4,20 UAH., and in some households — 4.50 UAH. However, there are others where it is equal to 3.5 UAH.
Making Corn Paste is an Alternative to Compound Feedstuff and Flaked Corn
Source: Progressive Agrarian Technologies
The word «paste» usually means a mix of grain flour. The use of the extruded paste became very popular after it was explored that net energy value of ground corn is 10-15% higher than of compound feedstuff.
Feeding Liquid Whey to Dairy Cattle
An inquiry of using liquid whey in feeding dairy herds has come to Consulting centre of Ukrainian Dairy Association from the specialists of one of its members — PJSC «Plemzavod ‘Stepnoi’». The consultants in close collaboration with American partners from the University of Wisconsin prepared an answer to a demand. Whereas some enterprises of the company have their own milk processing plants as well as its byproducts, and there are many such enterprises in Ukraine we decided to publish some information about using liquid whey in the magazine «Milk and Farm».
Quality forage conservation: important aspects
Source: CLAAS Ukraine LLC
Forage must be of top quality and none of milk producers will deny this fact. Though, ways to obtain top quality forage often become a matter of argument among specialists of different production lines and an owner of the dairy farm. At first sight it makes sense as agricoltor, engineer or herd manager’s motivation differs. One is more interested in price, the other — in cost of parts and top yield and the amount of forage are of high priority for the last one. However, it doesn’t matter how much you will grow per hectare, milk production depends on the amount fed to cows.
Bovine Viral Diarrhea
Based on the materials of Intervet International B.V.
Bovine Viral Diarrhea in cattle herds is one of the most common diseases on dairy farms in the whole world, including Ukraine. This disease can result in major economic loss. It’s impossible to get rid of the problem completely, but there is a number of measures which help to reduce the incidence of animals and at the same time save money. We offer our readers a systematic approach to solving this problem — from analysis of the causes of the disease to measures to combat the virus.
Cooling Systems on Dairy Farms
Volodymyr Tomov, CJSC Eltron, Bulgaria
Systems which maintain the microclimate in barns is one of the most economically sound investments. Equipment for ventilation and air cooling allows to obtain permanent milk yield not only in summer but in the fall, as heat stress effects milk production during a long period.
The role of bedding in the cattle housing
Maria Yaroshko, MBA Magister
Many dairy farms in Ukraine have turned away from tie-stall housing system or gradually changing to loose housing system. The latter occurs mainly in two forms: keeping cows in deep-bedded units or free stalls. Under these conditions cows are easy to move inside the barn and in a pasture. It improves their health and makes it possible to increase the mechanization of production processes in the barn, such as: milking, cleaning, distribution of feed. Energy costs are reduced significantly together with labor costs, and animals feel better.
What is the difference between grain and silage hybrid?
Dmytro Kovalchuk, Product Consultant, “KWS-Ukraine”
When choosing corn hybrids modern farmers are paying more attention to their purpose: planting for grain or silage etc. How to choose hybrids best suited to a farm operation? What traits of hybrids should be considered? How will our choice affect profitability in general? We will try to answer these questions.
Shredlage: What Does It Go With?
Olga Zarytska
Well-fed cattle give a lot of milk. That’s the reason why dairy producers pay so much attention to cows’ diets and balancing of ration ingredients. Forages take their rightfull place here, especially corn silage. Many trials on how the kernel breakage influences nutrition and digestibility of silage have been conducted for many years. Today no one doubts that we need to do it. Researchers have also observed the stover particle length. As a result, shredlage was invented. Nowadays it is generating a lot of interest among dairy and livestock producers and their nutritionists in Ukraine as well as abroad. Let’s acquaint with a new method closer.
Brewer’s Grain in Cattle Diets
Yurii Sivov, UDA CC Consultant
By-products of the food industry are used for cattle feeding to cut the cost of cattle diets and to increase their nutritional value. Some of these products are the source of non-digestible protein. The others might be used instead of forage. Using them we may increase fiber level in feeds. Considering a unique nutrient content of food industry by-products, especially brewer’s grains, they are used as ingredients for the balanced ration.
