August 22, 2007

 

SCA NuTec's new feed additive to raise milk yields
 

Press release
 

 

UK-based feed company SCA NuTec is launching a new feed additive this autumn that the company said would appeal to producers aiming to increase milk output and take advantage of improved milk prices.

 

When added to TMR rations, Amino Gold can cost-effectively raise milk yields by 2 to 2.5 litres of milk, based on on-farm trial results, the company said.

 

A sugar mineral complex, Amino Gold works by improving rumen efficiency. "A typical dairy cow eats more than 4 kilograms of protein a day, based on an 18 percent protein ration, and produces less than 1 kilogram of protein in the milk. This is only about 25 percent efficient," said SCA NuTec's Dr Sion Richards.

 

Much of the inefficiency in protein is in the rumen. "One prime culprit is the protozoa in the rumen that eats rumen bacteria and creates ammonia that is converted to urea and excreted as urine," added Dr Richards.

 

Dr Richards explained that Amino Gold was designed to increase rumen bacteria through its effect on protozoa, which in turn increases available protein for milk production.

 

Amino Gold can also bind to rumen protein to slow down the rate of release of rumen degradable protein, leaving more protein to pass through the rumen and into the milk production process.

 

Added at a rate of 100 grams a cow a day, Amino Gold provides a combination of extra metabolisable protein, more rumen bacteria and extra methionine. The result is improved diet digestion, better protein utilisation and more energy, leading to increases in milk, fat and protein yields, the company said.

 

According to SCA NuTec, UK trials have shown a yield increase of between 2 and 2.5 litres of milk in cows during their first 200 days of lactation, with more persistent yields observed in mid- and late-lactation cows. Milk proteins have also increased in some cases by up to 0.2 percent.

 

"Amino Gold costs 9.5p a day a cow. These results show a return of at least 36p based on a milk price of 18p/litre - a four to one return on investment," said Dr Richards.

 

Dr Sion Richards, SCA NuTec

 

For more information, contact:

 

Dr Sion Richards                                        Karen Wright 

Tel: +44-07818-004364                              Tel: +44-01780-767222

E-mail: srichards@scanutec.com                  E-mail: karen@karenwrightpr.com