For many years United Feeds have been to the forefront of bringing world class nutritional solutions to farmers here in Ireland. And, when it comes to maximising cow performance on farm there is a clear market leading range of dairy feeds on offer.

CreamMaker encapsulates a wide range of the scientific breakthroughs that have characterised the field of dairy cow research over recent years. It is not a traditional concentrate feed:  rather its formulation is based on science with every ingredient chosen for a purpose.

United Feeds’ nutritionist Jenny Hamilton takes up the story: “The ration has been designed to enhance milk quality without compromising yield, while supporting fertility and health and it has been achieving the desired results on farm for many years.

CreamMaker is a rumen friendly feed, ideal for topping up high yielding cows, or for those relying on high feed rates twice a day through the parlour. Aside from the specific formulation it contains a number of additives to assist with high performance targets. Although there is an ever-growing portfolio of products available on the market, promising to improve performance, United Feeds only uses those that are backed by both extensive peer-reviewed research and on farm experience locally.”

So what makes CreamMaker different?

There are huge variations in protected fats available on the market, not least because of different fatty acid compositions, but also due to rumen stability and digestibility, both of which are vital to consider in dairy diets. Bergafat uses a fluid bed technology coating to ensure high rumen stability and optimal intestinal digestibility.

Bergafat is an energy source high in C16 fatty acids.  Trials have shown Bergafat can lead to both yield and butterfat improvements. Furthermore, it can help counteract losses in body condition, supporting fertility along with high quality milk production.

Yea-Sacc^®yeast has a wealth of research clarifying its performance responses. It differs from other yeasts in that it stimulates both fibre degrading and lactic acid utilising ruminal bacteria, where others just target one. As a result it helps the cow convert more feed into energy, proven to improve feed efficiency by at least 5%.

It also reduces fluctuation in pH and keeps rumen microbes steadily active, increasing feed digestion and rumen turnover, allowing greater intakes. Yea-Sacc^® has been demonstrated extensively to support high quality milk production while maintaining body condition. 

Amaferm^® is a pre-biotic with over 100 studies and trails proving efficacy of increased fibre digestibility, microbial protein, and energy production. It has a fascinating mode of action that boosts fungal growth and microbial enzyme activity, which increases both fibre and protein digestibility.

This releases over 30% more microbial protein and over 15% more energy that is absorbed and utilised by the cow. This leads to a 5% increase in efficiency, and on average 3.8% more milk across all lactation phases. 

HerdCare is the superior vitamin and mineral supplement included in CreamMaker. Unique in Northern Ireland as it provides Selenium, Copper, Zinc and Manganese in a wholly organic form. As a result, these trace elements are absorbed more efficiently by the cow and are more available at relevant target tissues compared to inorganic minerals. Also included is Proviox antioxidant and Biotin.

Jenny Hamilton again: “Altogether these ingredients play a crucial role in boosting the immune system and hoof health, improving the cow’s ability to fight infection, get back in calf and produce quality milk.

“If I had to summarise CreamMaker, it’s a ration that’s formulated for feed efficiency. It provides the cow with all the nutritional tools she needs to extract as much as she can from the diet we’re providing. CreamMaker delivers cost-effective returns through greater performance.”

What farmers are saying

Father and son team, Raymond and Ryan Adams, are recent new entrants to dairying. They farm in the townland of Closkelt, close to Rathfriland in Co Down. Potatoes and cereals have been a traditional enterprise on the farm but after deciding to introduce a dairy herd three years ago the first cow was put through the milking parlour on 15 October 2022.

“There are currently 40 cows in the herd with the father and son intending to increase this to maximise the newly built facilities.within the new shed. The Adams’ do not offer a TMR to the cows, but feed silage all year round and feed concentrates through the parlour.

“We have fed CreamMaker nuts consistently from the get-go, and we’re impressed with how the cows are performing on it” Ryan commented, “Not just milk wise, but from a fertility point too. The figures speak for themselves: the Adams’ milk quality figures for July 2023 were 5.19% fat, 3.78% protein. The herd rolling average since they started into milk is 4.80 % fat and 3.60% protein.

David Parke milks 320 Holstein cows with a herd average of 8500 litres, near Ballyward in Co Down. Again, the focus of the business is to offer the cows the best possible grazed grass and silage with all concentrates fed in parlour on a twice daily basis. Autumn/winter calving is a big driver for the business: by the end of September 140 cows will have calved down.

David commented: “The opportunities to develop higher income levels through an improvement in milk quality are obvious. I also wanted to put that little bit more condition on the cows.

Given last year’s silage quality, we wanted to get as much from the forage as we could. John Blakley our United Feeds representative advised on how CreamMaker could help us achieve this.  The decision to switch to CreamMaker was made at the end of October 2022 and we quickly saw the benefit. Our monthly butterfat average rose 15 points from October to November, at a time when milk is rising with plenty of fresh cows. Our November average was 4.65% fat, 3.33% protein. During the summer the herd is grazed by day, and our July average was 4.61% fat, 3.44% protein. The average since moving onto CreamMaker nuts last winter is 4.53% fat and 3.37% protein.”

The Drumlee herd’s milk quality figures speak for themselves, but David was also satisfied with fertility results while feeding CreamMaker throughout the winter and summer months. John Blakley commented: CreamMaker is a very safe ration for high feed levels twice a day, so it lends itself to the setup of the Adams and Parke farms, both achieving high levels of performance from simple feeding systems.