Key Nutrition

14/05/2024

Improve milk butterfat % at grass with Alkacid 🥛🐄🌱

*Customer Testimonial*

Alkacid has proven to be a great asset on many farms- one of these is Matthew Irvine outside Magheralin. Matthew farms alongside his father Jackie. They are milking 200 Holstein cows which are currently averaging 10,200L (2x day milking) with 3,900L from forage using 0.31kg concentrate/L.

When Alkacid was added to the diet he noticed an improvement in butterfat % in the grazing months. From 2021 to 2023 Matthew has increased his butterfat % by an average of 0.23% from May through to August, with the use of Alkacid and the advice from Key Nutrition & his Hutchinsons Feeds technical advisor.



📸 Matthew Irvine, Amy Hamilton (Key Nutrition) + Harold Stevenson (Hutchinsons Feeds)

17/04/2024

Thanks to John and his entire team for a great day at Grovedairy Holsteins lely open day. Great to be involved with the nutrition in this fine herd, in association with Clonleigh Co-Op 🐄🐮

09/02/2024

Correct ewe nutrition is critical 6-8 weeks before lambing– 75% of lamb growth occurs at this time as well as udder development and colostrum production. These are 4 of our essentials for pre-lambing ewe rations 🐑🐑

28/01/2024

🌟 Job Opportunities 🌟

🐮 Ruminant Nutritionists
🐮 Technical Sales Advisor

For any more information please follow the link below

https://www.cv-library.co.uk/list-jobs/395285/Hutchinson-Feeds

See the latest Hutchinson Feeds jobs on CV-Library. Browse Full and Part Time roles from Hutchinson Feeds, upload your CV and apply in minutes - CV-Library

03/12/2023

Our tree is up and the countdown to Christmas begins 🎄🎅🏼
As the season of giving is upon us we here at Hutchinsons Feeds /Key Nutrition have decided to keep our gifts modest and make an extra donation to our charity partner Air Ambulance NI.

22/09/2023

Improve transition & fresh cow management with Reashure XC Rumen Protected Choline.
Pictured is Millar Farms , Coleraine with nutritionist David Mawhinney.
Martin Millar has noticed a vast improvement in transition cows since starting to feed ExtraCal PreCalver blend to dry cows and Reashure XC to Close Up dry Cows and Fresh Calvers. Milk production and cow health is better after calving and the overall transition into the milking herd is much smoother. He wouldn’t be without Reashure XC now in his close up and fresh cow diets.
**Key Benefits**
• Reashure XC has the highest choline concentration in the industry
• Improves Liver Function – reduced risk of ketosis and fatty liver post calving
• Reduced risk of other common metabolic diseases around and after calving
• Boosts milk production
• Improves calf growth & survivability
For more information on Reashure XC and transition cows contact Key Nutrition on 028 8673 7209.

15/08/2023

Improving management and nutrition of the close up and transition cows should be a priority for all farms. Doing this will reduce risk of metabolic disorders around calving & improve performance and fertility in the following lactation.

Pictured is Michael Donnelly, Donmac Farms Coagh with nutritionist Amy Hamilton. Michael runs a far off and close up group of dry cows, mixing his own blend along with grass silage, wholecrop rye and straw for the close-up group. With a large herd of milking cows Michael wanted to reduce milk fever incidence and improve the transition period, when he moved onto Key Nutrition ExtraCal Transition 350 minerals he noticed a reduction in milk fever cases and as a result a reduced need for treatment with calcium post calving 🐄🥛

*Benefits of KN ExtraCal Transition 350 Minerals*
• Optimum levels of minerals and trace elements
• 3 sources of anionic salts to aid smooth transition into the milking herd
o Reduces the DCAD score
o Prevent milk fever, retained cleanings + displaced abomasum
• Anionic source of Calcium- needed for smooth muscle function, immune function, colostrum + milk production, as well as ensuring that anionic salts work effectively

For more information on pre calving diets and minerals contact Key Nutrition on 028 8673 7209.

30/06/2023

For many autumn calvers it’s almost time to start drying off again. For stress-free calving, smooth transition & successful lactation it is vital to correctly manage the dry cow period 🐄🐮🥛
Far off dry cow management:
• Ensure energy density of the diet is not exceeding cows’ requirements- use late cut, high fibre silage, straw or whole crop silage
• Maintain body condition score 3
• Housing is key: ensure comfort, adequate space, water & feed trough provision
• Using KN Pre Calver minerals will replenish mineral stores lost during lactation
• If the far-off group is grazing use ImmuBoost Pre Calver lick buckets

Keep an eye out for our next posts on close up dry cow management!

25/06/2023

We are delighted to be 1 of the sponsors this year for the Summer Sizzler SALE taking place this Saturday 1st July @ 5pm
120 Straid Road, Ballymena,Co.Antrim

Check out the link below to see the quality and breeding of the top class stock for sale!
Hope to see you all there 😃

https://issuu.com/taaffeauctions/docs/3rd_summer_sizzler_01_july_2023_web?fbclid=IwAR2bx5HaRRKoIn34tp5cWaGWBy0WJkDMLeSfJueXtk9ubM6GZiwHwoLPPFo_aem_AScG6zRHGrsdUIgyS2eVeu-8WnKPU20ROPLANHyChg7SpP54_qsKi8dePqQ3Q6s0Vvw

13/06/2023

*Heat Stress*
Temperatures are set to remain high for another week, these temperatures coupled with high humidity result in cows experiencing a moderate level of heat stress 🐮☀️

Common signs of heat stress
• Drooling/ panting
• Decreased milk production + feed intake
• Reduced lying times

Managing heat stress
• Drinking water- ensure access to clean drinking water in the house and paddocks
• Shade- try to graze paddocks with access to shade
• Ventilation- opening doors/providing fans for fully housed cows
• Avoid crowding cows in gathering pens
• Provide extra concentrates through parlour- compensate for energy lost trying to reduce body temperature
• Include Actisaf Live Yeast + Alkacid Rumen Buffer in the ration, these will improve digestion, feed efficiency and reduce risk of acidosis which will minimise negative effects of heat stress

For more information contact Key Nutrition on 028 8673 7209

01/06/2023

Grazing is a cost-effective way of producing milk, which is increasingly important with the falling milk price. For efficient milk production, it is important that grazing systems are well managed, here are our top tips:
• Monitor grazing paddocks- aim to turn cows into paddocks 8-10cm (~3000kg DM/ha). If paddocks are getting ahead of cows consider taking them out for silage.
• Be realistic with milk from forage- not every paddock will be the same distance from the yard or the same quality- both of which affect energy output/input 🥛
• Flexibility- buffer feeding with silage/blend when weather takes a turn for the worse or in drought conditions when growth slows up.
• Ensure rations are balanced to complement spring grass 🌾🌱
• Select cows for grazing – if possible, turn staler cows out to grass day and night / keep fresh calved cows in full time or in at night 🐄🐮

For more grazing advice contact Key Nutrition on 028 8673 7309 🌱🐄

08/05/2023

11/02/2023

Our new Bag Store is now open & located at the side of the offices!
We have a wide range of feed and nutritional products in store with more to come 😄

29/01/2023

Great opportunity please like and share 😊