A deficit in pasture protein levels this summer, combined with a good payout, has seen dairy farmer demand for quality, cost-effective protein-rich supplements soar, according to GrainCorp Feeds General Manager Daniel Calcinai.

“Protein levels in pasture typically decline during summer months, so supplementing a cow’s diet with a quality protein source can provide significant animal health and economic benefits in terms of lifting milk production and maintaining body condition,” he says.

“Recent pasture samples taken by GrainCorp Feeds from across the North Island have confirmed that protein levels have been low, which has driven uptake of all protein-dense supplements across the board.

“In particular, we’ve noticed a trend towards farmers adding canola meal to their feeding regime. Since we started offering it to farmers in October last year, interest has far exceeded our expectations.

“Farmers are really starting to understand the benefits canola meal can provide, particularly the high levels of both crude and bypass protein, its ME and its unique amino acid profile, which is ideally suited to lactating dairy cows.

“It’s also non-GM so it can used on farms where non-GM feeds are required, and trials¹ have proven its ability to increase milk production.”

Daniel says the GrainCorp Feeds team has seen canola meal being used across a number of feeding systems. From bulk on a feed pad to blended with other proteins and fed in bins, or added to in-shed customised blends, farmers are tailoring its use to help meet the nutrient levels required to achieve production targets.

Huntly farmers nail target production

Phil and Sara Bryan have this season been incorporating canola meal into the blends their herds consume every day, either from feed bins or in-shed feeders.

The Bryan’s run two farms at Orini near Huntly, where they live with their three children. The lease block milks 150 cows. It is run by a farm manager and overseen by Phil and Sara. On the couple’s home farm, they 50/50 sharemilk 250 cows.

Average production across both herds has reached 500kg/MS per season. Phil says good feed planning means they have managed to protect their business from seasonal challenges.

“We run a really simple operation at both farms and we have been impressed with how well canola meal has worked for us. We’ve been using it for five years on and off. You can buy in a lot and introduce it to your herd slowly. It’s also really easy to blend it with other products you’re using.”

Phil mixes his canola meal with palm kernel expeller (PKE), tapioca or pellets he is feeding his herd, depending on how grass growth is looking on both farms.

“We work closely with our GrainCorp Feeds rep to look at what’s happening with our pasture growth and milk production and then adjust our feeding regime based on that,” says Phil. “We keep it as simple as we can.”

Phil says canola meal has been an economical addition to his feeding regime at a time when feed costs are rising on the back of high commodity prices.

“In the summer months it gets drier, but we have found the canola keeps the cows ticking along and maintaining their production, so it’s definitely worth the investment. Based on our experience, I think it helps to reduce heat stress too, which is not only good for milk production, but also for the health of our herd.”

Keeping costs and availability in check

Due to global supply and demand, farmers are facing sky-rocketing costs from feed to fertiliser. Compared to other high protein feeds, Daniel says the price of canola meal has not lifted to the same extent.

“Canola meal on one of the lowest cost protein meals, on a cost per unit of protein basis. At the same time, it provides more benefits from the higher levels of bypass protein and favourable amino acid profile.”

Daniel says that because GrainCorp Feeds sources its canola meal from Australia, global events, such as Covid and the war in the Ukraine, haven’t had a serious impact on the availability of the product.

“Our proximity to Australia means the shipping period is quite short, so if we do see delays, we can catch up reasonably quickly. We are also working closely with our New Zealand transport providers to ensure we can continue to deliver canola meal to our customers on time.”

¹ Research was carried out in 2011 by Dr Jean Margerison of Dairy Systems Research at Massey University