Father and son duo, P.J. and Padraig Killeen have achieved increased cow performance within their herd. The pair operate a thriving dairy farm partnership near Roscrea in north Tipperary.
They are running a 150-cow, grass-based spring calving herd with a winning strategy that allows diet feeding to complement grazing, rather than replace it.
Like most farmers, the Killeens are focused on improving their feed efficiency, maximising milk production and of course, increasing cow performance.
As tougher weather conditions are becoming more prevalent, they decided they needed to make their operation more resilient, which led them to engaging with the KEENAN and Alltech InTouch nutrition team.
Their journey with KEENAN started with an upgrade from their existing vertical auger feeder to an approved KEENAN MechFiber360, which they say has made all the difference on their farm, allowing them more flexibility when using different products including maize, straw, beet and barley.
The Killeens have found one of the standout benefits of the KEENAN diet feeder to be the consistency of the feed mix, which has significantly reduced waste.
Padraig is delighted with the consistency of the mix and noted that: “Every mouthful for the cows is the same minimising upsets and maximising performance.”
The InTouch system, has proven to be highly efficient, and the user-friendly controller has proven easy and effective to use, further minimising feed wastage.
The production benefits have been substantial. Over three seasons working with the KEENAN feeder, the Killeens have seen a 65kg increase in milk solids.
In both February 2023 and 2024, they calved 104 cows. With an increased number of heifers in the group in 2024, they might have expected to see a slight decrease in milk output, but with help from KEENAN and InTouch team, they produced an additional 8,500L of milk during February 2024 alone.
P.J. and Padraig attribute this significant rise to improved feeding practices and buffer feeding when grass was in short supply.
This has been a continuing trend; by March of their first year with the new system, they had produced 20,000L more than at the same time the previous year.
“We were able to get better nutrition into the cows with the KEENAN and with cows in better condition for breeding and we managed to bring our calving start date forward by two weeks.
“More early calving cows were able to take advantage of the early spring grass and we maintained a higher average milk production per cow than the previous spring.”
Alltech technical development manager, Cathal Bohane, outlined how a Keenan diet feeder should be seen as complementary to grazing systems – not as competition or replacements.
“Farms looking towards diet feeding will always compare this system to a grass-based system. In reality, every farm that uses a diet feeder will continue to be a grass-based system.
“The focus for the dairy farm is three areas: youngstock, dry cows and milking cows. The target is maximising the amount of grass included in the diet, allocating concentrate when the animal needs it while not overfeeding it, and focusing on the cow’s health, fertility and productivity.
“While the mixer wagon will facilitate this, the nutrition backup service will support the customer in putting a plan in place based on the farm’s objectives,” Bohane said.
Cow performance
Since integrating the KEENAN diet feeder, the Killeens have observed marked improvements in their dry cows.
A vast improvement in body condition score (BCS) has led to fewer calving and nutritional issues during gestation, along with a reduction in lameness.
This improved condition extends throughout the lactation period and has allowed the cows to milk better later in lactation. Increased intakes during the fresh- cow stage have led to fewer stomach issues and more lively calves.
Notably, these calves are larger, yet calving has become easier, enhancing overall efficiency.
The farm has also seen a significant improvement when selling cull cows when, with a better return than in previous years.
InTouch nutritionist on farm, Niall Nolan, said:
“From diet formulation to advice on grazing management, we are in regular contact with P.J. and Padraig. It’s often the smallest solutions that can make a significant difference and remove headaches for farmers.
“For example, the Killeens were struggling with securing a regular supply of soya on farm and didn’t have space to store large quantities of soya for the whole feeding period.
“We solved this problem by substituting soya with Optigen, which is fed at a far lower rate: 100g of Optigen meets the same protein levels as 700g of soya.
“This also allows more space in the diet for other ingredients, which can help to push on cow performance.”
To help make the most out of your fodder this winter, KEENAN and InTouch are here to help.
Get in touch with Alltech and KEENAN today to help make the most out of your fodder this winter, on 059-9101320.
Check out the full KEENAN range online at KEENAN Diet Feeders, Mixer Wagons | Alltech or get in touch with KEENAN Irish sales manager, Adam Hanratty, on 086 0105451 for more information.
With an average lead time of three months from the KEENAN factory in Borris, there is still time to secure a machine for this winter’s feeding if you act now.
