Less is more in new approach to animal rearing

Restricted feeding strategies for dairy heifers offer UK dairy farmers opportunities to increase the overall efficiency of their businesses, according to US researcher Dr Jud Heinrichs.

Speaking at a series of farmer meetings across Britain in April, Dr Heinrichs, from the Department of Dairy and Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, said that a focus on improved rumen function within feed-limited systems would mean lower costs and less waste with no compromise on growth rates.

Dr Heinrich presented new research from Penn State University where significant improvement in feed digestibility was found by improving rumen function through the inclusion of the live yeast culture Yea-Sacc in heifer diets. The combination of the live yeast culture and reduced feeding volumes was, he said, the key to improving the efficiency of heifer rearing systems.

"All too often we see heifers being offered unlimited access to low quality feeds and yet this is not an efficient way to rear these youngstock," he said. "Growing heifers require about half as much feed on a percentage of bodyweight basis as lactating cows, so they certainly do not need constant access to feed.

"Their rumen volume in relation to their dry matter intakes is far greater than for a lactating cow, so the passage of feed can and should be significantly slower. Hence, the effects of including a live yeast culture - that will stimulate rumen bacteria and improve the feed utilisation efficiency – are very significant. The improvement in ration digestibility recorded was substantial in any context, and translates to better utilisation of nitrogen and reduced waste – so the benefits are environmental as well as economic."

Dr Heinrichs accepted that the UK farmer faced difficulties restricting feeding levels during the peak grass-growing season, but stressed that even during the grazing period it is possible to increase stocking rates or reduce paddock sizes to limit intakes. During housing periods, he urged farmers to avoid 24-hour access to feed.

"If rumen function is stimulated with the inclusion of an effective live yeast culture, periods during the day without feed are not a problem as there should be no reduction in nutrient availability or growth rates," he concluded.

Dr Jud Heinrichs spoke at meetings during the week 20 – 25 April during a tour of Great Britain that was organised by Alltech UK.