The increasing and prolonged weather events, higher stocking rate, and a focus on increasing the milk solids output has seen more farms each year turn to diet feeding.

While some might see this as a big step, the majority of farms up and down the country that have taken this decision continue to be very committed to a grass-based system.

Some would have improved their management of grass after switching to diet feeding, while also being more strategic in the use of their silage and concentrate and considerably reducing the amount of wasted feed in the system.

Many farms increased their milk solids output by as much as 10% through efficiency gain. 

There are many factors that affect the efficiency of milk solids production, including rumen function, forage quality, protein levels, transition disease, body weight change, and grazing management, among others.

Keeping the digestibility of the diet high will supply the rumen the fuel it needs.

Work carried out by Mike Hutjens from the University of Illinois shows that a 2% drop in digestibility can drop milk yield by over 1.5kg/day.  

Digestibility does not just come from higher quality silage or grass but also how we process and present feed to animals.

Nutritionists believe that once a diet is formulated to the correct levels of energy and protein etc., there is little more involved.

However, work carried out by Prof. Jim Drackley of the University of Illinois highlighted that the physical presentation of a TMR (total mixed ration) is as critical as the formulation of the diet.

It was noted in the work that even subtle differences from one mix to the next can impact rumen function and digestibility, which can have major effects on milk production and efficiency.

In turn, work carried out by Prof. David Colman in 2011 showed a strong relationship between feed efficiency and margin.

This can be very different on farms, because the diet that is perfectly formulated for the cows is not the one that is presented or eaten by the animal.

That is why over the last number of years KEENAN have set out on a farm and scientific journey to show that KEENAN consistently produces rations with the right particle size distribution, minimising sorting and supporting optimal rumen function by helping to maintain consistent intakes and controlling fermentation in the rumen.

Work carried out between University of Illinois, ADM (global leader in human and animal nutrition), and KEENAN showed that feeding higher levels of maize distillers’ grain - which contains high levels of oil that can compromise rumen health - using a KEENAN gave increased butterfat percentages and feed efficiency and did not compromise rumen health compared to feeding the same diet through a vertical auger machine.

Comparative studies by Boerman in 2020 showed that KEENAN rations were more uniform, less variable from mix to mix, and closely aligned with the formulated ration

Mix quality not only comes into focus for production animals but also dry cows.

Excess intake pre-calving leads to over conditioned cows, resulting in a higher probability of difficult calvings and conditions such as milk fever and retained cleansings.

KEENAN have been instrumental in the development of the controlled energy high fibre (CEHF) diets, with its goal of meeting the cow’s exact energy requirements avoiding over or under feeding.

Work by Douglas in 2006 on these diets showed that these cows were mobilising less fat at calving

This was supported by an on-farm study of over 27,000 cows on 200 farms in France, Ireland (over 100 Irish farms included), Sweden, and the UK, looking at the incidence of metabolic issues like milk fever, retained placenta, ketosis, and displaced abomasum post-calving.

The study showed that metabolic issues were reduced by between 53-85%.

For Irish farmers, these outcomes from KEENAN machines and systems translate to fewer costly calving-related issues, more consistent intakes post-calving, and better early lactation performance - all of which directly reduce costs and improve resilience.

In summary, while 'efficiency' can be a word over-used in farming systems, there is a strong relationship between feed efficiency and margins.

This can be driven through improved rumen function by increasing the digestibility of the feed, not just through increased quality but how this mix is presented to the animal and its ‘physical’ characteristics.

What is in the diet is important, but how we process the diet is just as important.

The KEENAN system has achieved this, backed up with over 40 years of farm and university research, and offers a route to more milk solids from the same feed, healthier herds, and lower costs per litre.

In conclusion, the KEENAN system can help farmers achieve: higher feed efficiency; consistency across feeds; healthier transition cows; and stronger margins.

Join KEENAN and Alltech at the National Ploughing Championships at Stand 81, Block 2, Row 4 from September 16-18.