Animal health and feed additive company RCI has installed its Suredose system on 12 farms in the South Island and is collecting data for research into the effectiveness of the Vistacell yeast when delivered using Suredose.
Suredose uses compressed air from a rotary cow shed system to deliver the Vistacell yeast to cows at the optimal dose in their feed as they enter a rotary shed.
The patented technology has been in Beta testing since 2019 and RCI will soon have data from over one million dose given to 16,000 cows in the New Zealand group.
"Live yeasts are well known for improving a cow's rumen function, but we know it needs to be given in specific doses to be effective. There have been no data studies to show the value farmers get from the products which is why we have developed this system," says Brett Ruth, managing director RCI.
Suredose allows farmers to capture data from their milk metres to show how their herds are performing using the Vistacell yeast.
Farmers using the product report significant results, the company claims.
It says John Wyatt, a contract milker for Premier Dairies in Southland, has used the Suredose system since the November 2021 on 1,000 cows.
Since using the Vistacell yeast in his 50-bale rotary shed through the Suredose system his production has increased 6% this year and his six-week in-calf rate has improved by 4%.
"Our cows' body condition scores have improved, we calved earlier, and our milk production is up on last year to date," says Wyatt. His herd had produced 57,812 kgMS by this time last season and has increased to 61,300 kgMS to date this season. He also noticed his effluent pond is not crusting over like it normally would.
"It suggests to me the yeast is getting into the cow's rumen creating a more efficient animal, whether that's more milk, better body condition or gettin in calf quicker," says Wyatt.
"As a contract milker, more days in milk equals better returns and we saw our six-week in-calf rate improve last season after using Vistacell," he says.
 |
|---|
|
Suredose uses compressed air from a rotary cow shed system to deliver the Vistacell yeast to cows at the optimal dose in their feed as they enter a rotary shed. |
Donald Smith has used Vistacell in the Suredose system on his herd of 640 cow in Canterbury and says his empty rate has improved from 12.55 to 10%.
"The herd is in much better condition, and the cows are much more content. I think the yeast is helping them use the feed we're giving them more efficiently," says Smith.
RCI will demonstrate the Suredose system and share research trial results at upcoming South Island Fieldays and at the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek in November.
The Suredose system, which works in rotary sheds, will be installed on their farms but remains owned by RCI.
"With increasing feed costs and environmental regulations, farmers need mitigation solutions, and they want to be sure they're getting the most out of their feed. Our testing shows the Suredose system is delivering both," says Ruth.
"This system has potential to help address many of the challenges coming at dairy farmers and we're keen to work with more New Zealand farmers to help them gain the benefits from this system."
