Rumen Proof Boosts Milk Yield by 10% in 12,800 Litres/Herd for Hugh Miles

Hugh Miles’ 140-cow Witham Hall herd yields an annual average of 12,800 litres of milk in the robot milking system at Witham Friary near Frome, Somerset. That yield has been achieved as a result of years of breeding with superior genetics but diet is important too - high quality grass silage with an ME ranging from 12.1 - 12.6% is fed in a total mixed ration (TMR) with ground maize and protected rapemeal. But the high level of cow performance risks a negative energy balance and associated metabolic issues including acidosis. Hugh, who farms with his daughter, Clare, and wife, Hilary, says in 2019 he noticed that some cows were losing body condition.

“One or two were losing a bit of weight, they weren’t where they should have been.’’

He was advised to include Panatec Rumen Proof in the ration, to act as a rumen enhancer for greater performance and improved energy in the rumen.

“In just two weeks of using Panatec Rumen Proof we noticed a difference’’, says Hugh. “Dung consistency was much better and we even saw milk quality improve slightly. The cows no longer go into negative energy balance, we don’t have any problems with acidosis. They look well, they have nice shiny coats.”

Cracked maize had been included in the herd’s TMR at that time and before using the additive Mr Miles was finding evidence of that in the dung, a sign that the cow’s rumens weren’t functioning as well as they could be.

From the day he introduced Rumen Proof, the cracked maize disappeared from the dung. This indicated that rumen function had improved significantly, hence the increase in milk yields.

There was a rapid uplift in milk yield - the herd was already averaging a very impressive 41 litres a day but soon after introducing Rumen Proof it jumped to 45 litres.

Mr Miles includes Rumen Proof in the daily TMR of 50kg freshweight silage, 3kg ground maize and 3kg of protected rapemeal; this is topped up with an 18% protein concentrate fed to yield in the parlour, up to 12kg. “The cows are aggressive eaters, they have always got good rumen fill,’’ says Hugh.

The Miles’ switched to a robotic milking system in 2019, and saw yields quickly climb from an annual average of 10,100 litres to 12,800 litres in the new system. “The cows got in front of us, we were expecting an increase but not by as much as that,’’ Hugh recalls. “We were not feeding any products for acidosis at that time and that’s when we started to see a few problems. Panatec Rumen Proof was new to the market so we thought we ought to give it a try.’’

Together with the multiple benefits to cow health, Hugh also reports fertility improvements since incorporating it in the ration. “Heats are stronger, we used to get the odd non-bulling cow but not any longer.”

"Rumen Proof is part of our system now, I don’t foresee us stopping using it with the results we are getting from it."

Hugh Miles
Witham Hall, Somerset