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A higher balance due to lower feed costs
The margins on dairy farms are under pressure. Besides the fact that costs have risen across the board, the costs for purchasing feed are also rising. These comprise about 20 to 30% of the expenditure on a dairy farm. In order to realize a sufficiently high income from work, it is necessary to pay attention to this.
Due to regional problems with drought and therefore disappointing roughage production, feed prices have risen in recent years. On the other hand, there is also the aim of a higher production per dairy cow - as a strategy in a phosphate rights system - that results in more concentrates per 100 kilos of milk. In addition, due to rising raw material prices, more and more has to be paid for concentrates. This has resulted in a doubling of feed costs per kilo of milk over the past 10 years.
It is therefore now the time to strive for a higher feed profit, through more and better feed from our own soil. This wish is not new, but more important than ever. Good roughage is the basis of a low cost price of milk production and ensures that the critical milk price, which according to various accountants is on average about 37 cents per liter of milk, can be reduced again. An absolute necessity.
Save feed costs. How?
An important first step is to take a critical look at the construction plan. For example, is it always interesting to participate in derogation? This is not a point of discussion on clay farms, but on sand farms where grass yields are disappointing year after year due to drought, this may be a reason to start growing more maize. Scenario studies and practical examples have shown that on a dairy farm with 100 dairy cows the balance improves by 10.000 euros if more maize is chosen in the crop plan. In addition, a higher yield can be achieved through the right cultivation measures, such as timely irrigation.
SEED2FEED for ration and crop optimization
Optimal use of own agricultural land for the cultivation of animal feed is an important link for achieving economic success. In order to do this as well as possible, KWS has now developed SEED2FEED, an all-encompassing concept that takes into account the entire cycle on a dairy farm: from crop to variety choice, from harvesting method to optimizing its use in the feeding program. As a specialist in seed breeding and production, KWS' primary goal is to provide livestock farmers with high-performing and high-yielding varieties that are well adapted to local conditions.
With the digital Farmdesk management program as part of SEED2FEED, farmers can plan the optimal crop rotation themselves and transparently monitor the feed costs and the daily milk yield of the cattle. In addition, the rations can be managed in a practical way. The most suitable composition of the feed for the cattle over a longer period is also calculated. The SEED2FEED concept is supported by the regional SEED2FEED advisors of KWS and is a very nice and practical concept that the dairy farmer can use to optimize his business. The goal of SEED2FEED is to save more money from every liter of milk produced.
Dairy farmer: 'Reliable feed balance can be calculated'
At the Heemskerk family farm in Beilen, they also work with the SEED-2FEED concept. Huub Heemskerk: ''Thanks to a link with the dairy, the delivered liters of milk are also included in the Farmdesk program, so that a reliable feed balance can be calculated. You immediately have current figures about the relationship between milk production and feed intake. This also allows you to make quick adjustments." He explains that the dairy farm's rations are set in real time in euros and alternative rations or adjustments can be calculated fairly easily financially. "In addition, your own roughage is also included in the program." Heemskerk adds: "To produce your own roughage, you also have to incur costs. For a fair comparison, you also have to include that in the calculation."
'Triangle with feed advisor'
He indicates that in addition to the SEED2FEED concept, the relationship with the feed advisor is also cherished. "We are looking for closer cooperation, in which the feed advisor has insight into what the ration does in the cow. A triangle is formed between the farmer, the feed advisor and SEED2FEED." The feed advisor puts together the ration, but as a livestock farmer you do look at how the ration can be improved and, above all, how you can feed competitively in cost price. Heemskerk thinks that extra check is recommended. "The concentrate costs form a large part of the costs on the dairy farm, as a dairy farmer you want to keep a grip on that. You can't just hand over your wallet to the feed advisor, proverbially. He or she also acts with a certain message. So you have to take care of your own business. Know what you are feeding and what it yields." As an example he mentions feeding a less rich protein chunk and supplementing the ration with a protein-rich raw material. Or replacing part of silage maize or purchased maize flour with Maize Cob Silage (MKS). "What happens when fodder beets are added to the crop plan and ration?"
Maximum feed from own land
Because the concentrate costs are a large part of the feed costs on a dairy farm, it is important as a dairy farmer to keep a grip on this and to be at the helm of the company. By being better informed in a positively critical way, with the help of Farmdesk, the feed is quickly sharper and the margin improves! This is the key to reducing feed costs, choosing specific crops and optimizing cultivation. By focusing on cultivation, optimizing the yield and quality potential of your own land and making even better use of the ration, the feed efficiency on your dairy farm is improved with the ultimate challenge of reducing the total feed costs towards 10 cents per liter of milk . This, of course, while preserving production and animal health! The cultivation module in Farmdesk offers the desired help and makes the link between the ration and the crops. The section provides clarity about costs, yields and stocks and examines which construction plan further optimizes feed costs.
The own plots are not only a place for the production of crude fiber. All polls show that dairy farmers value maize as part of the crop plan by indicating that grain yield for starch production is the main reason for growing maize. By making the right choice for maize varieties that ripen in time, starch is produced from our own land very efficiently, thereby reducing the purchase of energy-containing feed materials.
MKS as a concentrate replacement
The harvest of maize such as MKS is the solution on farms with sufficient roughage production to grow 'concentrates' on their own land. MKS is a very tasty product. By harvesting only the cob with bract, energy-rich feed is achieved. At 600-650 grams, the starch value of an average MKS silage is more than 200-250 grams per kilogram of dry matter higher than an average silage maize silage. By offering the maize completely or partially as concentrated feed in the form of MKS, there is automatically more space in the rumen for the expensive, protein-rich grass. In this way, the protein from grass is optimally utilized.
Although difficult to express in monetary terms, after harvesting maize as an MSS, maize straw gives the organic matter balance an enormous boost with a supply of more than 1.000 kg of Effective Organic Matter (EOS) per hectare and has a positive influence on soil fertility that should not be underestimated. .
Fast Spring Rye Limited Protein Purchase
Fast Spring Rye is a product from the hybrid rye breeding of KWS and was specially developed as a fodder crop between 2 maize crops. It combines the properties of a catch crop with those of a protein producer. With Fast Spring Rye, the environmental impact is lower and a livestock farm is less dependent on external protein sources for its necessary protein supply. Fast Spring Rye is able to develop very quickly in early spring due to more tillering and faster length growth compared to traditional cut or leaf rye. At the harvest in April, dry matter yields between 4.000 and 5.000 kg per hectare can be achieved.
Depending on the amount of additional fertilization with nitrogen, the crude protein percentage of the fresh product at harvest is between 15 and 18%. That is comparable to the high quality of grass. This results in a protein yield between 640 and 950 kg protein per hectare and at a market price of 0,60 euros/kg protein and a gross financial yield that can rise to 570 euros per hectare. Fast Spring Rye is very tasty and is very well absorbed by dairy cattle after preservation. It is therefore a very welcome addition to the diet!
Feed bite for 'thicker' milk
Home-grown fodder beets in the form of Feedbeet largely complete the ration. Compared to the old-fashioned fodder beet, Feedbeet has a higher dry matter percentage, of 22 to 25%. This gives Feedbeet higher yields of more than 20 tons of dry matter per hectare. Feedbeet does not crowd out other feed materials in the ration due to its high palatability. Growing Feedbeet and adding it to the ration boosts the energy level. Due to the high energy value, 'thicker' milk with higher protein and fat contents is produced. By mixed feeding with a combination of these own-grown feed materials, serious savings can be made on feed costs with 2 to 5 euro cents per liter of milk.
Take the initiative yourself now by saving on feed costs!
Optimization of the ration, crop selection and cultivation are the most important parts of the SEED2FEED concept, supported by experienced SEED2FEED advisors. Do you also want to save on your feed costs? Ask for more information from these experts without obligation. Their contact details can be found at the website.
