Feeding accounts for the vast bulk of the input costs incurred by dairy farmers, so the need to make best use of forages and concentrates has never been more pressing.
This is especially so when farmers are committed to year-round milk production.
Brothers Gareth and Andrew Porter know the importance of this for their herds. While they run separate farms, they are unified by a commitment to a unique total mixed ration (TMR) feeding system on-farm, to get the most out of their animals.
“We both use KEENAN diet feeders — a MechFiber 370 and an older version of the same machine,” Gareth explained.
“Both are in constant communication with Alltech’s InTouch service, which drives the feeding strategies for all our animals: cows in milk, dry cows, beef cattle and young stock,” the Donegal farmer added.
Feeding
Gareth continued: “We have used a KEENAN diet feeder on the farm for nearly 30 years. My father bought the first one when I was a child, because of the advanced technologies it provided, and this has remained the case.
“The reliability of a KEENAN wagon is second to none. This is of absolute importance, as the machines are working every day of the year. If there ever is a breakdown, KEENAN is quick to react, to ensure we never miss a feed.
“InTouch has also revolutionised the feeding standards that we can achieve, by delivering real-time changes in ration specifications based on cow performance levels.
“This is critically important if we identify changes in forage quality or if we have to change any of the raw materials in a diet.
“The changes appear automatically on the InTouch controller, which minimises human error in mixing feed. It also provides a totally smooth transition if someone new is preparing the diets.”
While the InTouch controller can be used with any diet feeder, and while InTouch can be helpful even without a KEENAN, Andrew pointed out the value of both to the Porters’ farms.
“We wouldn’t want to be without InTouch, and we wouldn’t ever want to be without a KEENAN, which has been incredibly important to our herds’ health and performance.
“Especially as liquid milk suppliers to Aurivo – this year-round commitment means we need to be able to change the TMR as needed for fresh and stale cows” he said.
The brothers value input from their InTouch advisors, both at their InTouch hub and on-farm. InTouch specialist Aislinn Campbell is a regular visitor to both Porter farms.
During our visit, she outlined how InTouch combines feed-management software, mixer wagon controller technology, and an expert team of nutritionists to ensure the best feeding accuracy and animal performance for more than 300,000 animals on 2,000 farms around the globe.
In fact, it is one of the world’s largest feed efficiency databases.
InTouch, she emphasised, quickly measures and communicates key performance indicators (KPIs) for the KEENAN feeder.
These include loading and mixing accuracy, feed efficiency, dry matter (DM) intakes, margin per cow, feed cost per litre, and kilogram of daily live-weight gain.
If a KPI falls outside of set tolerances, InTouch will raise an immediate alert for both the farmer and feeding specialist, so that issues can be addressed in time.
“InTouch specifically provides easy tracking of costs and usage, with accurate feed-inventory management. It even keeps track of the number of animals in various groups.
“The end result is the delivery of a more consistent milk output, with proven improvements in yield, solids and overall herd health,” Aislinn said.
Gareth and Andrew Porter have truly benefitted from these services and solutions over the years, and each mentioned the flexibility that InTouch and KEENAN provide.
For instance, in addition to the three cuts of silage taken every year, the brothers grow as much feed on-farm as they can, from grass silage to cereals such as barley, wheat and oats.
They also produce their own concentrate blends, which are fed in-parlour to the milking cow groups. The only purchased ingredients are soya and rapeseed meal, plus required vitamin and mineral supplements.
Andrew adds that this year, the brothers will be producing whole-crop wheat, a value-added forage source.
“We aim to produce as much of the feed that we need here on the farm, this is our way of improving the overall sustainability the business. Making all this happen requires an ongoing KEENAN/InTouch input,” he said.
On the day we visited the Porters’ farms, we got to meet three generations of the family, and we learned that providing for the next generation is important to both brothers.
“I hope to leave this farm to my children in as good a condition as I received it in from my dad, if not better. I rely on KEENAN and InTouch to help me do that, and I see that continuing into the next generation,” Gareth said.
You can also get in touch with the team today on 0599101320 to take the next step with your feeding management.
