“I have been a Sugar Plus customer for 10 years now,” explains Stefano Oleotti, owner of the Molinetto di Grazioli and Oleotti agricultural company, a high-performing reality in Lodi that today has about 580 lactating cows. “I added liquid feed to the ration to provide additional support to the cows.” Satisfied with the results obtained over the years, I have decided to continue choosing liquid mixtures also to prevent abnormal fermentations of the unified feed once it is unloaded into the manger, which mainly occur during the hottest months. Therefore, it has been two summers already that I have replaced Fibractive (the product I use during the year) with Sugarade. The formula, which is even richer in organic acids, has a stabilizing effect, keeping the feed always fresh throughout the day, thus preserving the nutritional qualities of the raw materials unchanged.

“Sugarade, the summer product, has been added to the feed Sugar Plus at a rate of 2 kg per head, he adds on this subject. Giacomo Vinoni, at the helm of the farm. La Motta at the farm in Arcisate (Va), it allowed me to reduce the operation of preparing the feed wagon to only once a day, precisely because the mix does not heat up,” he explains.

“An important benefit,” Vinoni continues, “considering the time saved, which I can instead dedicate to other aspects such as animal welfare and constant and careful monitoring of the herd.” The software connected to the milking system speaks clearly and demonstrates how milk quality is one of the strengths of La Motta farm. “What made the difference even during the summer – concludes our interlocutor – was the investment in an efficient cooling system, alongside the development of appropriate nutritional plans to support the animals during the most critical months and ensure a peaceful restart in autumn.” Also, the ability to review the rations based on costs by replacing some starch sources with sugar sources. “We have been able to optimize the use of other energy sources, obtaining an economic advantage as well.” The result? The consumption of a greater quantity of unifeed which, among other things, was also less selectable by the animals.”

Because among the properties that liquid feed can boast, the binding action should not be underestimated, which prevents the selection activity of concentrates at the expense of fiber, and the appetizing action, which instead results in a better intake of the ration. To the advantage of ruminal balance and reduced likelihood of metabolic problems, such as acidosis. Andrea Simoncelli, owner of the La Rocca farm, confirms it: “This will be the fourth summer of using the Sugar Plus product, thanks to which I have been able to observe not only a reduction in the incidence of diseases in the barn, but also an improvement in productive and reproductive performance”.

With the data at hand: PR greater than 26, CR over 75%, and age at first calving at 23 months. Not to mention that ‘our cows maintain good production until late July, last year we recorded an average of 40 liters during the summer months. And they are not inferior even in the period immediately following the hottest one’.

Composed of different sources of simple sugars, liquid feed represents an important source of nutrition and development for the microbial populations that colonize the rumen. The same ones that are responsible for the degradation of the fibrous component of the feed and whose good functioning has a direct effect on the health of the cattle and their performance in breeding. “Of course,” concludes Simoncelli, “we work a lot towards genetic improvement, selecting productive and resistant animals, but we also focus on the welfare of cows in the barn and those in pasture.” Without ever neglecting nutritional aspects, because we are aware that providing readily available energy to the rumen is like fueling a Formula 1 car.

Tratto da Allevatori top N 04 – 2023