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 Debra
and Phil Goodwin of Gayton, Staffordshire run a herd of 110 Holstein/Friesians. "We saved an incredible £27/tonne on parlour feed with no
reduction in milk yield, milk quality or fertility. The impartial advice is invaluable."
 Geoff and Stephen Beeston milk 360 Holstein/Friesians at Eccleshall,
Staffordshire. Stephen (pictured here) comments: “We saved £1200 a month on compound feed AND milk went up 2 litres/cow on a lower protein
feed. Joining the group has added £4200 per month to our bottom line. Independent nutritional advice is an added bonus”.
 Pictured here is Herd
Manager Anthony Sluman and owner Jonnie Yewdall of Bideford, Devon with some of their 300 Guernsey cows in the background. “Robert sourced
a dairy cake with higher energy and saved us £18/tonne. Milk increased 2 litres/cow on the new parlour feed. We have also made significant
savings on additive, yeast and minerals”.
 Nigel Robinson manages 350 Holstein/Friesians
at Lodge Farm, Peterborough, for R H Waterworth Ltd. “Joining the group has saved over £20,000 per year on compound feed alone, and we are
buying a better product. Savings are made on other inputs, but the real added value is the advice”.
 Pictured here is David Johnson of PN & DB
Johnson & Son, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, with one of their 300 cows. David says: “We followed Roberts advice and had a massive 4 litres/cow/day
milk lift from a ration change. We then used the group cake and saved over £20/tonne. At this increased yield, blood profiles show cows energy
stable and getting 14 litres from forage”.
The following comments appeared in the sale catalogue when G E Reading and Sons dispersed their herd in June 2006.
“Bernard and Tom Reading pay tribute and warmly thank Robert Cope who has been the herd’s nutritionist for the last 10 years”
NMR rolling averages for 278 cows and heifers are 9,647kg, 4.11F, 3.15P, 415 calving index.
Here are more testimonials from satisfied farmers. Names and addresses are available.
“After tasting the silage and looking at the TMR, Robert felt the mix was wet and acid which was limiting intakes. He dropped the ration
from 40 to 25 litres through the TMR and fed for the other 15 litres through the parlour. No more concentrates or higher protein was fed.
The cows immediately went up a massive 8 litres/day. Some calving months saw a 10 litre increase.”
R Jellard, Devon
“Changing the physical mix of the Pre Calving and milking group TMR by reducing straw and chopping the mix smaller has increased intakes
dramatically. No extra concentrates, just attention to the mix and how it is fed has lifted average peak yields to over 51 litres.”
S. Nott, Crediton, Devon
“Before Robert was involved with our herd, our figures were 7150 litres/cow with a feed rate of 0.43 kg/litre. Our rolling figures are now
8984 litres/cow with a feed rate of 0.36 kg/litre. Calving to conception has fallen by 19 days.”
Mark Barnes, Tharston, Norfolk
“Cows were under performing by 2-3 litres/day. Also, our fertility was getting worse. Robert thought the cows were too lean. He said the
Pre calvers were underfed energy and the parlour cake was poor quality. On his advice we changed how we fed the Pre calvers. He then sourced
a higher energy dairy cake with quality protein sources. Our milk per cow/day is up 3 litres and the fertility is vastly improved, even with
the higher milk yield.”
BH, Sudbury, Derbyshire
“£22/tonne saving and milk up 2 litres/cow/day. Same protein cake fed at the same rate”
HN, Staffordshire.
“Cows were 3 litres under performing. Our advisor was puzzled. On paper, the ration was good, the mix ideal. Robert thought the cows looked
dull and grey, so he advised increasing the DUP even though the computer showed levels were adequate. An immediate 2 litre increase”
RW, Scotland
“We buy fats, minerals, yeast and silage additives through the group. No need to decide which salesman is telling the truth as Robert Cope
evaluates all products. We then buy direct as Robert does not sell so as to keep his independence.”
IW, Northants
“The same calf milk powder at £200/tonne less.”
RV, W Midlands
“Saving over £30/tonne – no difference in milk yield”
JD, Leicestershire
“Flatter lactations, body condition much better and 300 litres more per lactation”
AT, Carmarthen
“Dairy cake over £20/tonne cheaper AND milk went up 1.5 litres/cow!”
AC, Carmarthen
“Robert sorted the retained cleansings, improved cow condition and fertility and increased milk yield”
LT, Carmarthen
“Cows were 2-3 litres off the mark. After several telephone conversations and a change of ration we got an increase of 4 litres. We still
haven’t met!”
MR, Scotland.
“An average of £20/tonne saving on dairy and rearing feeds. Yields steadily improving”
RM, Leicestershire
“1.8 litres a cow increase when changed to the group cake. Same 18% protein level and no other changes – except the £22/tonne saving”
RD, Leicestershire |
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