Cell counts hold steady as non-antibiotic feed additive stabilises cow diet

A Co. Tipperary dairy farm is improving economic performance by driving down somatic cell counts (SCC) in its Holstein Friesian herd.

Billy Flannery’s spring-calving herd was experiencing very high cell counts especially in late lactation.

“They would start to climb in lactation but I could never put my finger on why,’’ says Billy, who farms with his father, Billy, near Nenagh.

“It seemed to be at a time when their feed was changing, the grass was getting wetter, and that was upsetting them.’’

Billy Flannery and sons Larlaith and Liam

Not climbed over 250,000 cells/ml

Panatec Rumen Proof is a novel feed additive developed and patented in cooperation with the National University of Ireland as a first of class non antibiotic antimicrobial.

“In that autumn the cell counts held steady, they didn’t start to climb,’’ says Billy.

Rumen Proof is mixed into the concentrates. It is top dressed on parlour feed at a rate of 10g/head/day. Cows are fed up to 5kg/day in the spring and 2kg in the summer.

“I don’t overdo the feed at the back end of the year, they get around 3.5kg in late lactation,’’ says Billy.

He calves the herd in an eight-week block from February 1. All beef calves are retained and reared to sell as stores but the beef enterprise is being phased out to increase dairy cow numbers. The farm is dry with free draining soil which suits the heavier Holstein Friesian.

“We can carry a heavier animal,’’ says Billy.

By using Holstein Friesian genetics, the black and white bull calves have a value, he adds. “One year we used Jerseys on the heifers and we couldn’t give away the bull calves.’’

Cows are turned out to graze as they calve and they are at grass until the beginning of December, producing an annual average milk yield of 5,600L/cow at 4.17% butterfat and 3.60% protein. Milk is sold to Arrabawn.

“I run a dry cow management programme with Mayo Healthcare, on recent checks a high pH in cows urine was noticed, we will begin to add a magnesium chloride flake to the cows diet close up to calving to reduce the risk of milk fever”. In addition cows were given trace element boluses in January.

Since incorporating Rumen Proof in the feed, cell counts have not climbed over 250,000 cells/ml.

“It is fantastic to see because we had been missing out on a higher milk price because of the high cell counts,’’ says Billy.

He plans on using Rumen Proof incorporated into his mill feed this year. “The transition was catching me but hopefully this will stabilise everything.”

The herd is performing well. “The cows are healthier, it is good news all round,’’ says Billy.