Lucerne Hay for Dairy Cattle

Use Fodder King High Quality Lucerne Hay


In AUSTRALIA (1994/5) the average milk production per cow for the year was 4481 litres***

in stark contrast the USA average in 1994 was 7101 litres**
and
Japan was 6541 litres** of milk per cow for the year..... Why?

One thing that stands out is that the American and Japanese herds consume a lot more lucerne hay.

High quality lucerne hay is a simple way to achieve higher milk yields.

Feed Value Variation

Variations in the nutritional value of feeds result in unpredictable milk yields and milk quality.
Fodder King produces and sells to a strict product grading system so that dairy farmers can reliably order the level of nutrition they need.

Variation in Feed Value

Feed Type

Protein Variability

Energy ME Variability

Grain

Very High

Low

Silage

Very High

Very High

Pasture

High

Medium

Fodder King Lucerne Hay

Low

Low

Nutritional Density
To achieve high milk production use a feed which is low in moisture content and high in nutritional value. That is what we mean by "nutritional density".
Cows can only eat a limited volume of feed. If most of that feed is water, milk production will never reach the very high levels achieved by the very best dairy farmers.
Diets comprising of at least 50% high quality lucerne hay provide the launching pad to achieve milk yields of 7000 - 10 000 litres per cow per annum.

Cash Flow and Risk

Running a large dairy herd isn't just about production efficiency. You also have to manage your cash flow and risk.
When you buy your hay from Fodder King you know exactly what you are getting, unlike other unbranded hay.
Using our forward purchasing deals you can lock in the quality level you want for the quantity you need for the whole year! You can even fix the price, if you wish.
The best part about it is that you only have to pay when you have received your hay. This avoids the unnecessary sunk cost and risk associated with producing silage or pasture - which only have low nutritional density anyway.

Cost Characteristics

Feed Type

Purchase/Production Costs

 Storage Costs

Grain

Evenly Distributed

High

Silage

Concentrated 1-2 months

High
(pits)

Pasture Hay

Concentrated 1-2 months

Medium

Fodder King Lucerne hay

Evenly Distributed.

Medium


  Consider the following table where the nutritional density is calculated for a tonne of each type of feed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NUTRITIONAL 

DENSITY

Feed Type

Quantity

 

Moisture Content %

Water
Content
kg/t

Dry Matter 
kg/t

% Protein
Average*

Energy
MJ/kg
Average*

kg of Protein/
tonne of feed.

Energy
MJ * 103 of ME/
tonne of feed.

Feed Grains 

1 tonne

10

100

900

10.2

12.2

92

11.0

Haylage

1 tonne

45

450

550

9.3

8.5

51

4.7 

Silages

1 tonne

60

600

400

9.3

8.5

37

3.4

Clover Pastures

1 tonne

80

800

200

21.2

10.6

43

2.2

Fodder King Lucerne Hay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choice Grade

1 tonne

15

150

850

20

10.5

170

8.9

Prime Grade

1 tonne

15

150

850

17.5 

9.5

148

8.1

Medium Grade

1 tonne

15

150

850

14

8.5

119

7.2

 

Quality Makes A Difference To Your Income

Nutritional Information

 

Meeting a Friesians Daily Nutritional requirements using  High Quality "Choice" Grade Lucerne Hay

Choice Lucerne hay
15 % moisture content

Mature Friesian Cow

Weight 600 kg not pregnant, moderate activity, producing 3.5% butterfat,
305 milking days per cow

Growing Friesian Heifer

Growth rate 0.7 kg/day
Birth Weight 40 kg

 

Production

Age

Volume Of Milk Produced

Litres

Litres

Litres

7.5
months

17
months

Per year

4880

7625

10,675

Body Weight

Daily

16

25

35

200kg

400 kg

Feed Required

kg / day

kg / day

kg / day

kg / day

kg / day

Hay - Dry Matter

15.2

18.5

21.7

4.8

7.6

Hay -15% mc

17.9

21.8

25.5

5.6

8.9

Nutritional Content
of Hay
Approximate

Percentage of Daily Nutrient Requirements Provided
%

Dry matter

85%

          

Metabolisable Energy 

10.5 MJ/kg

105%

93%

87%

100%

108%

Crude Protein 

20%

137%

129%

121%

151%

162%

Calcium 

1.25%

251%

228%

204%

286%

157%

Phosphorus 

0.30%

98%

85%

77%

103%

109%

Potassium

2.08%

231%

231%

208%

260%

260%

Sodium

0.22%

122%

122%

122%

220%

220%

Magnesium

0.26%

130%

130%

120%

130%

130%

Iron

200 ppm

400%

400%

400%

400%

400%

Manganese

39 ppm

98%

98%

98%

98%

98%

Zinc

17 ppm

42%

42%

42%

42%

42%

Copper

13 ppm

130%

130%

130%

130%

130%

High quality lucerne hay is a rich source of vitamins A, E, K, B and D

High quality hay, the simple, safe, sure way to higher productivity

The information provided in this page has been compiled from public information sources and prepared using the best skills of the authors. To that extent the authors believe the information to be a true representation of the facts.

As the performance of any animal or animals depends on a wide variety inputs and influences, Fodder King cannot, and will not accept any responsibility, nor pay any compensation, for the use of the information contained herein. Fodder King does not give any warranties or guarantees in regard to the information contained herein. If you have any concerns you should consult with the relevant authority, professional adviser or discuss the matter with one of the Fodder King team.
 

Fodder king

The High Quality Alternative

We're not the cheapest but we are the best, and the best value.

Be it lucerne, clover, cereal or any other type of hay or fodder product, Fodder King chooses only the finest quality crops from selected Australian fodder production properties.
Fodder King uses a special harvesting process which enables it to produce hay and other fodder products under optimum conditions. 
That's why when you use Fodder King brand hay or processed products you can be sure of its quality and ability to produce superior results from your cows. 

Not all hay is the same.

As shown on the graphs, tests carried out by the NSW Department of Agriculture show that hay produced using Fodder King's modern processing technology has, on average, 25% better protein levels and 20% better energy levels than the average quality of hay produced using traditional techniques. 

No chemicals are used in the Fodder King hay making process. 

Nutritional information, protein and energy levels, for Fodder King hay will always be provided free of charge to Fodder King customers. 

The testing is done, by independent laboratories, to ensure that the hay meets our customer quality specifications. Test results are available upon request.


 

Bale Replacement

Fodder King will replace, when notified at time of delivery, Fodder King products that carry the Fodder King label that do not meet the specified Fodder King standards.

SOURCES
 *VIC/NSW DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE **AUSTRALIAN DAIRY CORPORATION ***NSW DAIRY CORPORATION