LOGO: Insert Synchronized® Nutrition logo from p. 42 of the Seed Guide with the following copy.>
There is no magic formula when it comes to developing healthier cows, more milk and increased profit potential in your dairy herd. However, a combination of science and hands-on experience can help you decrease variability to improve all three of these areas. Winfield Solutions, LLC and Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, LLC recognize this fact and have developed Synchronized® Nutrition, a program to assist dairy producers in evaluating their corn, grain and silage feeding program from the time their seed is planted to when the results are seen in the bulk tank.
Synchronized® Nutrition starts by looking at the heart of a cow’s production—what you put in its rumen. “Endosperm type between corn hybrids is variable,” says David Weakley, Ph.D., director of dairy research for Land O’Lakes Purina Feed. “This inherent variation can cause inconsistency in ruminal starch digestion, leading to sub-optimum digestion and metabolism. Producers who don’t account for this variability when balancing rations may see a decrease in cow health and a corresponding decrease in milk production.”
Synchronized® Nutrition helps dairy farmers plan for success by minimizing this source of variability in feed rations, which can cause an imbalance in the rumen and result in losses. Conversely, a healthier, more consistent rumen can equal greater productivity.
“Too high or too low ruminal starch digestibility can cause losses in performance. Farmers can avoid variability and resulting losses by balancing for ruminal starch digestibility,” says Dr. Weakley, who has spent 24 years in dairy nutrition research. “Rather than just reacting to feed variation, Synchronized® Nutrition allows you to control your feed inputs upfront.”
CHART: Insert chart titled “Optimum Ruminal Starch Degradability” from p. 42 of the Seed Guide (see “Optimum_Ruminal_Starch_Degradability” image from FTP site) near the copy above.
With the cow’s ruminal digestion managed better, Synchronized® Nutrition gives dairy producers more control over their milk yields and milk components. Commercial field trial herds increased their fat-corrected milk production by 3.9 pounds of fat-corrected milk per cow per day on the Synchronized® Nutrition program from a combination of more milk per day and a higher milk fat test.
Improved health and increased milk yields can lead to increased profit potential for the dairy operation and increased value for corn growers who can meet farmers’ demands.
“By planning ahead, Synchronized® Nutrition benefits those farmers who grow their own inputs and growers who work with a dairy producer to grow the right corn for their cows’ nutritional needs,” says Keith Newhouse, Ph.D., director of business development for Winfield Solutions, a Land O’Lakes company. “The key is to look at the right corn hybrids for the grower’s fields as well as the right hybrid choices for the dairy producer’s rations, and match the two needs up for added profit potential and a higher ROI potential for both parties.”
Synchronized® Nutrition uses proprietary testing methods developed by Land O’Lakes Purina Feed to analyze the ruminal starch degradability of corn silage and corn grain inputs. The testing procedure uses ruminal fluid in a tightly controlled process to provide accurate numbers for nutritionists to balance rations.
The Synchronized® Nutrition laboratory is testing an expanding number of grain samples from growers and analyzing an extensive set of corn silage and grain samples from plots across the United States. This data provides the information needed to more accurately predict the starch degradability of different hybrids under different growing and harvesting conditions, and helps the local agronomist make the best agronomic and nutritional hybrid recommendation for the producer and grower.
Synchronized® Nutrition producers submit multiple tests of their corn silage and corn grain inputs during the year to assure that their nutritionist can accurately balance their ration for optimum ruminal starch degradability and animal performance.
Synchronized® Nutrition is currently available to dairy producers and corn growers in the Upper Midwest, Northeast and Mid-South. For more information, see your local Land O’Lakes Purina Feed consultant or CROPLAN GENETICS® seed local agronomist.
For more information on the Synchronized® Nutrition Corn Procurement Program please contact your CROPLAN GENETICS® seed local agronomist.