Pasture or Maize Silage Balancers
Ration balancers may be useful where nutrients such as protein or minerals rather than energy are limiting, or as a carrier for feed additives
Autumn Pasture
Limitation: Pasture shortfall, low protein
Requirement: Protein, energy
Pasture Silage
Limitation: Silage fermentation acids unsuitable energy source to rumen microbes
Requirement: Carbohydrates, protein
Maize Silage
Limitation: May be protein limiting, low in minerals
Requirment: Protein and minerals
If Summer/Autumn pasture is supplemented by maize silage or other low protein products, a shortage of protein or minerals may limit milk production. Protein and mineral balancers can be useful in meeting this shortfall.
Maize protein balancers are most profitable when protein rather than energy is limiting. This is generally when maize silage is a significant component of the diet, during Summer and Autumn.
Mineral balancers are typically fed whenever silage is fed out, adding salt and other minerals as required.
Use balancer products strategically to balance protein shortfalls when maize silage is fed, or minerals when pasture or maize silage is fed.