Frequently Asked Questions
What should I feed my lactating cows when grazing pasture?
Maximize®
Maximize® is a high energy, high starch feed, designed to safely increase the energy intake of cows grazing high quality pastures, while maintaining a stable rumen environment. A stable rumen pH encourages high feed conversion efficiency by enabling rumen microflora to maximize the utilisation of dietary energy from high quality pastures and other feed sources. Maximize has a medium protein content as it has been designed to balance high quality pastures. It contains by-pass protein to allow more efficient use of soluble Nitrogen (N), by the rumen microflora, resulting in reduced N excretion. This reduces the metabolic energy load, resulting in more energy being available for milk production.
Click here to learn more about Maximize®
Click here to learn more about Maximize®
What should I feed my lactating cows being fed silage and hay?
MaximizePLUS®
MaximizePlus® is a high energy, high protein feed, designed to safely increase the energy intake of cows being fed medium quality pasture, hay or silage, while maintaining a stable rumen environment. A stable rumen pH encourages high feed conversion efficiency by enabling rumen microflora to maximise the utilisation of dietary energy from pastures, hay and silages.
Click here to learn more about MaximizePLUS®
Click here to learn more about MaximizePLUS®
How much Maximixe® or MaximizePLUS® should I feed my cows?
Cows should be fed according to production and stage of lactation. Cows in early lactation can be fed up to 11 kgs/day with the objective of achieving a high peak production, without the risk of acidosis or the need to add antibiotics to the ration. The maximum quantity fed will depend on the availability and quality of pastures and forage. Unlike grain, freshly calved cows can be introduced to Maximize® and MaximizePLUS® on day 1, with higher early lactation feeding rates being introduced on day 3-4. Cows reach peak production much sooner than on grain diets.
Click here to learn more about Maximize®
Click here to learn more about Maximize®
How do I introduce Maximize® to the herd?
It is recommended that Maximize® be added to a silo while there is still sufficient of the previous feed left, to ensure some blending. Ideally, Maximize should be added to the previous feed in increasing proportions over a 7 day period. Most cows become accustomed to Maximize within 3-4 days.
Click here to learn more about Maximize®
Click here to learn more about Maximize®
Why should I feed Maximize® or MaximizePLUS® instead of grain or other pelleted feed?
Maximize® and MaximizePLUS® have been produced with technology which allows energy and starch to be fed to cows in a way that ensures a stable rumen environment. This can be done without having to add the antibiotics and other additives which are often added to grain rations. A stable rumen environment results in the rumen microflora being able to more efficiently utilise the energy from pasture and other feeds. Grain, particularly if fed in larger amounts, can result in acidosis. Rumen modifiers and antibiotics are difficult to mix with grain which may inhibit their performance.
Click here to learn more about Maximize®
Click here to learn more about MaximizePlus®
Click here to learn more about Maximize®
Can I feed Maximize® to calves?
Maximize® does not contain sufficient protein for young calves so should not be fed. MaximizePLUS is ideal for feeding to young dairy calves.
Click here to learn more about MaximizePLUS®
Click here to learn more about MaximizePLUS®
I am short on hay and silage. Is there a feed I can give to lactating cows?
EasyDairy®
EasyDairy® is a balanced grain and fibre feed that would be suitable for feeding to lactating cows, as part of a total ration. The consistent and known quality of EasyDairy ensures that it can be added to a ration with confidence. The grain component of EasyDairy means that the grain/concentrate amount fed in the dairy can be reduced.
Click here to learn more about EasyDairy®
Click here to learn more about EasyDairy®
What should I feed my dry cows to add some condition before calving?
EasyDairy
EasyDairy is a balanced dairy feed that can be fed to dry cows by trail feeding or by placing in self feeders. If you wish to put on weight in a short period of time, then place the cows on self feeders. If a modest gain is required, then feeding 4-5 kgs/day along with pasture or hay will suffice.
EasyDairy will help to maintain a stable rumen pH, allowing the rumen microflora to better utilise dry feeds.
Click here to learn more about EasyDairy
EasyDairy will help to maintain a stable rumen pH, allowing the rumen microflora to better utilise dry feeds.
Click here to learn more about EasyDairy
What should I feed to avoid milk fever and to prime cows ready for a good lactation?
LeadFeed
Leadfeed is a balanced pelleted feed designed to be fed prior to calving to help prevent milk fever and retained placenta. Leadfeed, in association with Maximize or EasyDairy, will improve rumen adaptation, ensuring efficient conversion of feed and good milk production soon after calving. Leadfeed with Biochlor® is a nutritionally balanced ration, deisgned to reduce metabolic disease, improve body condition and assist with successful adaption to high grain diets. Leadfeed + Biochlor® is ideal for the farmer aiming for high production during the first few weeks of lactation.
Click here to learn more about LeadFeed
Click here to learn more about LeadFeed
What should I feed my dairy heifers to get them to mating weight on time?
EasyDairy
EasyDairy is a complete grain and roughage based feed that can be fed to heifers, either as a complete diet or supplemented, to ensure growth rate targets are achieved. EasyDairy does not need an introductory period, which means that heifers can be placed straight onto feed without an introductory period. EasyDairy gives you flexibility when feeding heifers. If growth rates are not being achieved, EasyDairy can be fed until such time as the heifers are back on target. It can be removed for a period of time and then reintroduced if required.
Click here to learn more about EasyDairy
Click here to learn more about EasyDairy