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Dry cows are all too often a neglected part of the dairy herd. Effective Dry Cow and Transition management is absolutely essential to achieving optimum animal welfare, high milk yields, good herd health and fertility. Consequently we have developed a range of products to suit a wide range of situations. We aim to calve cows down in a condition to reach their yield potential in the subsequent lactation. |
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Our Range of Pre-Calver and Transition Feeds includes:
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Making best use of the wide range of feeds available is an area where our nutritional expertise is of particular benefit to our customers. |
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Metabolic problems which may result from incorrect nutrition at this time often result in reduction in total dry matter intake of up to 5kg per cow per day in early lactation. Problems such as milk fever, retained placenta, fatty liver syndrome, ketosis, displaced abomasums, high cell counts and mastitis, which may relate directly to management during the dry and transition periods can easily result in costs of several hundred pounds per cow. On the other hand good management and improved supplementation during this period costing less than £20 per cow can improve milk yields by up to 1000 litres per cow. At the same time as putting less pressure on staff, improving animal welfare, herd health and longevity. |
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The first 5 - 6 weeks of the Dry Period Objectives in the early dry period are simply to provide a diet which will maintain body condition score at around 2.5 to 3.0 by controlling access to forage and by providing ad lib straw and minerals. Forages should be low in both potassium and calcium. Mineral supplementation should aim to correct any deficiencies left over from the previous lactation as well as minimize the incidence of milk fever at calving. Rather than adopting a traditional approach of "feeding minerals to prevent clinical deficiency", we aim to "provide all the tools for optimum milk production, fertility and health". It should not be forgotten that minerals are a key influencer of immunity and disease resistance, and that up to half of mastitis infections are picked up during the dry period. |
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The Transition Period (last 3 weeks before calving)
The changeover period from the dry cow diet to the full lactating diet is a critical time for the dairy cow. During this time the cow is faced with massive physiological changes, a 300% plus rise in energy requirements and all the trauma of calving and introduction to a fresh group of cows. The change should be as gradual as possible running from at least 3 weeks before calving and ideally continuing for several weeks post-calving. The transition cow pre-calving will need around 125 MJ from 13kg - 15kg dry matter intake per day. Providing adequate supplementation will ensure that the cow calves with minimal problems, with good rumen function, in good health and well placed to get back in calf and to produce high yields of good quality milk. Supplementation should address the following areas: amount and type of energy and protein sources, fibre, glucose precursors / propylene glycol, Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium and other mineral and trace nutrients both inorganic and protected, vitamins. The Dietary Cation Anion Difference / Balance (DCAD / DCAB) is also very important in both the control of milk fever and optimum performance post calving. The addition of a live Yeast Supplement to the diet from 3 weeks prior to calving, continuing on into and through the lactation has proven extremely beneficial both in terms of general health and animal welfare as well as in terms of improved performance. |
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Trans Omega F the effective solution to feeding the Transition Cow The importance of good nutritional management during the transition period which takes the cow from the dry cow diet to the high yielding lactating cow diet cannot be over stressed. RWN has along with other members of FIAM been at the fore front of the development of Trans Omega F the most effective solution to feeding the transition cow that we have seen to date. Trans Omega F is a state of the art, supplement designed to be fed for 21 days prior to calving, and has proven extremely successful at controlling milk fever and metabolic problems at calving. Farmers using the product have found that cows calve down with minimal problems and go on into lactation with good dry matter intakes and few metabolic problems. For more advice on designing an effective dry cow and transition feeding programme, contact Richard Webster. |
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The Fresh Calver The hours immediately post calving are a critical time which can have massive implications for performance during the ensuing lactation. It is vital to get new calvers fully re-hydrated, up and back on to feed as soon as possible. Many of our clients now use Maxcare Reviva as routine on all new calved cows. |
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| Maxcare Reviva was developed to achieve rapid post-calving intake of energy, calcium, probiotics, vitamins, trace elements, electrolytes and water in order to achieve effective re-hydration. 1kg is dissolved into 20 - 30 litres of hot water. Fed immediately post calving most cows drain the bucket before going to lick the calf and then go and feed. | |
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Farmers using Maxcare Reviva report fewer milk fevers, reduced incidence of retained placenta, less metabolic disorders during early lactation, as well as improved performance with fewer health problems in the subsequent lactation.
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Richard Webster Nutrition Ltd offers a full nutritional support package free of charge to our customers along with the most extensive range of high quality feed inputs available. |
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Working together for a more profitable future |
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