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KALIBER » pg 5
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THE MECHANICS OF PROFITABLE DAIRYING » pg 2
DO NOT BUY BLINDLY » pg 3
FAREWELL » pg 4
UPCOMING EVENTS » pg 6
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THE MECHANICS OF PROFITABLE DAIRYING Author: August Lingnau Product Manager: Dairy
As published in The Dairy Mail - October 2017 A lot of information is available on everyday roughages such as maize silage. Optimum cutting times and ways of ensuring the best quality have been well researched and documented. However, there are a few roughage sources in South Africa about which much less is known, although they are a vital part of the dairy unit in certain regions. Small grain silage is a roughage source that is readily available and widely used in large parts of the Western Cape. Small grain, mainly include oats and barley, is often key to success in this area. We need to understand that although small grain silage has a lot in common with other silage types, not all rules apply. For the purposes of this article, results of 93 samples of grain silage from the Cape region were
pooled. Samples were analysed using LaboExpert in association with BLGG, a world-renowned roughage research company. Data were not statistically analysed for this purpose, but trends emerged that point to the important issues. Small grain silage has a lot in common with other silage types, but the rules differ.
where the starch content does not usually exceed 8%. In the sample pool used, only 17% of small grain silages analysed had a starch content higher than 8%. Because of the lower starch content, the total energy supplied by small grain silage is much lower. Therefore, unlike in the case of maize silage, starch content should not be one of the main determinants of the correct time to harvest.
The influence of starch content Starch content is important in maize silage. Increasing the starch content has a virtually direct influence on the energy of the total roughage, mainly because of the large quantities involved. Maize silage starch levels can easily exceed of 35%. This does not apply to small grain silage, NEXT PAGE
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indigestible fraction of the plant. The benefits of a more digestible product are higher energy available for milk production, the need less concentrate feed, higher yields and better cow health. An additional benefit to cutting at a less mature state is improved crude protein content of the silage.
Figure 1 The influence of starch content on energy level of small grain silage Figure 1 shows the relationship between starch and energy, and although there is a relationship, it is very small. It should be pointed out that the handful of silages with a starch content above 8% did all have aboveaverage energy levels. Nevertheless, the same level of energy was obtained with lower starch levels as well, owing to various other factors. So, that leads us to ask: What are the other drivers of higher energy small grain silages? Using dry matter content of the crop to determine time to cut could be relevant, but choosing the best cutting time on the basis of silage samples does not work, as the norm is to cut the crop and let it lie for a time period before ensiling it. In maize silage this is not done so using DM content to determine best time to cut is relevant there. This lag period in small grain silages skews any relationship based on dry matter and using this as an indicator here would produce the wrong results. As in the case of maize silage, the digestible organic matter content of the roughage does seem to have a huge impact on the energy available to the animals from small grain silage. The close relationship between the digestible organic matter and the energy available from the roughage as indicated in Figure 2 clearly proves the importance of doing everything possible to improve the digestible organic matter content small grain silage.
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Figure 2 The relationship between Digestible organic matter and energy available from roughage. There are several factors that do result in a higher digestible organic matter content. Of these probably the fibre content of the roughage is one of the biggest role players. The relationship between digestible organic matter and crude fibre content and although not as strong as the relationship between digestible organic matter and energy, there is still a fairly visible inverse correlation. This indicates that by decreasing the crude fibre levels of your small grain silage you will increase the digestible organic matter and thus increase the overall energy content of your silage. One could also argue that increasing starch would increase the digestible organic matter of small grain silage, and this would be true if the starch percentage were much higher. But at the low general levels of starch in these silages, increasing starch has little effect on improving digestible organic matter and energy, as previously pointed out. The best approach So, what is best approach to making small grain silage? Decreasing indigestible fibre would be key. This means cutting the crop at a younger stage and not necessarily waiting for starch levels to increase. Waiting for higher starch levels will increase the maturity of the plants and again lead to lower digestibility after a certain point. Cutting at a younger stage does mean less available starch but significantly decreases the fibre and
The negative aspect of cutting at a younger stage is reduced tonnage. This could however, be turned to good account if done correctly under irrigation, as cutting young enough could stimulate regrowth, leading to increased tonnage. Farmers should take care when cutting younger crops not to ensile when the product is too wet as this can make it difficult to preserve the silage. Good ensiling practice should still be applied and the dry matter target in the final product should be between 30% and 35%.
Profitable dairying is the main consideration and if small grain silage is a large part of your business unit then it should be important to you to take all factors in consideration.
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This is all very well, but later the buyer sometimes gets a very unpleasant surprise in the form of a disease that was not identified at the time of the sale but was brought onto the farm with the animals purchased at the sale. These are the slumbering diseases that are unknowingly introduced into the flock on the farm by apparently healthy animals. No farmer worth his salt will knowingly buy an obviously diseased or infected animal. However, there is a group of diseases that hide in apparently normal animals that can easily catch buyers out. This group of diseases is characterised by the following features: They can occur in apparently healthy animals and can be unnoticed for long periods Only one carrier animal is enough to introduce and establish the disease in a flock of sheep It is expensive, and / or difficult and sometimes even impossible to get rid of some of these diseases
DO NOT BUY BLINDLY!
For most of these diseases, there are legal implications for farmers who are aware of them in their flocks but who fail to make their presence known at sales. In some cases, sales may be illegal while the disease occurs
Which diseases are we talking about?
Author: Gareth Bath, Professor Emeritus, Onderstepoort, Convenor of the Small Stock Health Advisory Body and Chairman: Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee (LWCC) As published in “WOLBOER”, Vol 5, no. 2 - 2017
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Johne’s disease: for good reasons, farmers should fear this disease. It is a state controlled disease
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Sheep foot rot, which must be distinguished from foot abscess
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Jaagsiekte: although rarely seen, it will permanently infect the flock
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Sheep scab, another state controlled disease
5. Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), cheesy gland abscesses, difficult to control and Buying livestock at auctions is usually accompanied by excitement and expectations eradicate of animal improvement. The day is enjoyed, the competition with other buyers is 6. Venereal diseases such as Brucella ovis, Actinobacillus seminis and pizzle stimulating, farmers discuss animals with their peers, inspect the animals to be sold disease (peestersiekte) and hopefully acquire the right animals at the right price. 7. Skin diseases such as Bolo disease and ringworm If farmers truly want to acquire the best breeding animals, they should first study the 8. Resistant roundworms, especially wireworm sale catalogues for breeding information such as microns, clean fleece weight, average daily gain (ADG), twinning, breeding value and more, before looking at the rams and ewes. And even better if the flock performance data of the seller is available and can be evaluated. NEXT PAGE
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Enzootic abortion: If brought onto the farm, the ewe flock will have to be vaccinated for many years or indefinitely
Dip animals with registered products that kill external parasites, keeping in mind that there might be resistance to the active ingredient
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Turning disease (Gid) where sheep develop a brain cyst; the tapeworm is present in dogs and jackals
Dose animals with the best available dewormers and do a faecal egg count 10 days later to be sure that the existing worm burden was removed
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Liver fluke worms where vleis and water sources with the correct intermediate hosts (water snails) present can become permanently infected
Obtain professional advice and recommendations from a local veterinarian who can give more information
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Orf virus, which is very resistant, can be transmitted at kraals or during transport
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Heartwater ticks if infected by the heartwater organism, can infect farms
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Lice, both red and blue, can easily be missed on sheep at shows and auctions
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Other ticks such as the Karoo paralysis tick can unknowingly be spread at sheep and goat auctions
Be sure to obtain a vendor declaration from the prospective seller. It is the buyer’s right and obligation to demand this information before animals are bought. If the seller declines, the buyer should come to his or her own conclusions. An example of an approved declaration for Johne’s disease is attached and should be demanded by all buyers of sheep
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Scrapie was brought into the country inadvertently and all the sheep were culled
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Leukosis is rarely reported but buyers should be aware of it
The most important threats that sheep and goat farmers should take note of are listed above – there are more!
How can risks be reduced? Every disease has its own control measures but the following general principles should be followed at livestock auctions: Do not buy from unknown sources and limit the number of farms from whence animals are bought. Too often at general auctions we buy more than just new sheep and goats – we also unknowingly buy new diseases! The source should be trustworthy and known Inspect for-sale animals thoroughly – the face, skin, hooves and genital organs should receive special attention Quarantine all newly-purchased animals in isolation on concrete or gravel with no grass for 6 weeks Even if the buyer was told that animals were vaccinated for a certain disease, vaccinating again will give peace of mind
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We have to say goodbye to Sales Manager Bryan Mills & his family. Bryan’s wife, Robyn accepted a
We also have to say good bye to Richard & Charmain Baxter. Richard was Senior Technical Advisor
job offer at a firm in Auckland. They decided to move as a family to New Zealand. We will certainly
in Kwa-Zulu Natal in the Underberg area. De Heus wish them all off the best for the big challenge
miss Bryan and his special management style, energy and positive outlook. We would like to wish
ahead.
Bryan and his family all the best for their new adventure. Words from Richard: “It has been a fantastic ride that started with Nutrex way back on 1 February 2005. Bryan greets with the following: “An adventure like this is very exciting, but it’s always bitter-sweet, because
Now, thirteen years to the day it is time to say goodbye and embark upon a fulltime farming career in the
you leave so many people behind with whom you worked and lived together. Our work enables us to visit
Normandien area outside Newcastle where we run a beef, maize and soya bean operation. It is going to be
many people’s farms, homes and businesses. For this, I am grateful that I could become a part of so
a new challenge that is not without its own set of problems and hopefully triumphs. Many special friendships
many people’s businesses, farms and families. I would like to thank everyone again for the last sixteen to
have been built over the last years with customers and colleagues. This for me is the hardest part of leaving.
seventeen years that I could be involved in the livestock industry in KwaZulu-Natal. I will certainly miss the
I wish you all the very best for the future in your personal lives.”
customers and their families and businesses, but know that everybody who replaces me will place emphasis on customer service and attention to detail will not be compromised. May 2018 bring opportunities that will help everyone improve their businesses! “
FAREWELL! GOOD LUCK
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KaliberÂŽ
Starter Crumble Contact details: Tel.: 031 785 1575 infosa@deheus.com www.deheus.co.za
Kaliber Starter Crumble The new Kaliber Starter Crumble (V22319) combines all the nutritional benefits of De Heus’s long-standing and highly successful Kaliber Starter Meal and Kaliber Starter Pellets. This Crumble combines the best of both worlds! Calves adapt quickly to a crumble thanks to the structure of the ration. Intake of feed is also stimulated by highly palatable raw materials used. Additionally, the crumbling process at the mill improves nutritional aspect of digestion and greatly helps to improve feed conversion efficiencies in calves. Wastage during feeding is also greatly reduced! For further information regarding Kaliber Starter Crumble please contact your nearest Technical Advisor.
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Progress Solutions for our for your customers challenges
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Progress Solutions for our for your customers challenges
PIG INFORMATION DAY
VENTILATION TRAINING WORKSHOP
When: 28 February 2018 Venue: Kleinkaap Boutique Hotel CENTURION Time: 09h00 - 14h00
When: 7 March 2018 Venue: Fern Hill Hotel HOWICK Time: 09h00 - 14h00
Speakers: Dr Lia Hoving - Creep Feed Dr Sean Wisdom - Antibiotic-free Feed Michel Bradford - Sow Condition
Speakers: Animal Environmental Specialist - Henk Rodenboog Poultry Specialist - René Heijnen
Join us for lunch RSVP: 23 February 2018 Annetjie - 031 785 1575 or infosa@deheus.com
Join us for lunch RSVP: 2 March 2018 Annetjie - 031 785 1575 or infosa@deheus.com
Progress Solutions for our for your customers challenges VENTILATION TRAINING WORKSHOP When: 9 March 2018 Venue: Kleinkaap Boutique Hotel CENTURION Time: 09h00 - 14h00 Speakers: Animal Environmental Specialist - Henk Rodenboog Poultry Specialist - René Heijnen
Join us for lunch RSVP: 5 March 2018 Annetjie - 031 785 1575 or infosa@deheus.com