Keep a close watch on butterfats to avoid lost income this spring
Dairy producers forced to combine high-concentrate buffer feeds with low-fibre spring grass as winter forage stocks run out are being urged to keep a close watch on butterfats this spring.
“It’s also vital that producers check their milk supply contracts carefully, as some have butterfat penalties as high as 6p per % below threshold,” highlights Trident’s Andrew Howie. “Even at a more usual 3p per %, that’s a penalty of 18p/cow/day for being just 0.2% below threshold, equivalent to £1,080/month for a 200 cow herd.
“The quickest way to stop falling butterfats is through strategic use of high-C16 rumen-protected fats. 300g/cow/day of Butterfat Extra, for example, will typically boost butterfat levels by 0.3 percentage points, plus give an extra litre/cow/day that will pay for the cost of the fat.”
Notes to editor:
Calculations based on:
30 litres @ 0.2% below threshold** x 3p/% butterfat = 18p/cow/day x 30 days x 200 cows = £1,080/month
Cost of feeding 300g Butterfat Extra = 31.5p/cow/day
Less 300g of displaced ration @ £150/t = 4.5p/cow/day
Net Cost = 27p/cow/day
30 litres @ 0.2% below butterfat threshold* x 3p/% BF penalty = 18p/cow/day
+1litre of milk = 28p/cow/day
Total Benefit = 46p/cow/day
Net Benefit = 19p/cow/day, equal to £1,140/month for a 200 cow herd.
* 0.3% butterfat response typical, but example based on a herd dipping 0.2% below threshold.
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