Palm Kernel Testimonial
Palm Kernel:
Ian Bell - Reporoa, New Zealand
We have been using Palm Kernel for the past 3 seasons and have found it a cost effective high ME feed that is easy to use with no ensiling losses. It is an integral part of our dairy ration with rates of up to 2 - 2.5 kgs/cow/day being fed. It is helping us to achieve annual production of 2,000 kgsMS (milksolids = milkfat + protein) per hectare.
Dave Forsythe - Te Awamutu, New Zealand
We have been using Palm Kernel Meal (PKE) for approximately 4 years. We initially introduced it over a period of one week increasing to a feeding rate of 2 kgs per cow per day which we feed on a continual basis.
There have been no problems with the cows accepting the PKE. It is fed mixed with other feeds such as maize and spent brewers' grains.
PKE is an important part of our dairy herds' diet and has helped push our production to a high level and maintain it at that level. Our spring peak was 2.19 kgsMS/cow/day and 12 kgsMS/ha/day, and last season our total milk production was 2,527 kgsMS/ha. Cow condition is also excellent.
Andrew & Nicola Watt - Rotorangi, New Zealand
We have been using Palm Kernel (PKE) for the first time this season on our 250 cow dairy farm. We decided to use PKE as most feeds available (such as pasture silage) were in short supply and too expensive so we decided to give Palm Kernel a go. PKE was used in the spring to fill a feed deficit and to provide extra energy for cow condition and milk production.
We were concerned about how the cows would take to Palm Kernel and wanted to avoid wastage. We decided to feed it in the paddock using a steel trough on wheels that is towed by the tractor or motorbike. The trough is moved with the cows on their grazing rotation. The cows took to PKE reasonably quickly with feeding levels getting up to 2-2.5 kgs/cow/day over 3-4 days.
The cows cycled very well with 92%-95% submission rates and 70%-75% conception rates. The cows have not dropped in production since early October (now near the end of November!) We ran out of PKE for a few days around the end of October and the cows dropped 1.5-2.0 litres/cow/day in production and the test dropped also. Some cows stood at the gateway roaring, expecting the PKE like a freshly calved cow looking for her calf! Within 2-3 days of starting back up again the production was back up to where it was before we ran out.
My calculations based on milk production are that for every dollar we spent on PKE we were getting two dollars back (not counting the benefit of potentially more cows in calf!) The great thing about PKE is the cows can't over eat on it.
