Patrick Fortune operates a 160 dairy cow herd in Adamstown, Co. Wexford. The Fortunes’s herd is a mix of British and Holstein Friesian.
“We calve all the cows in spring. We keep some of the calves and plant about 60 acres of tillage. Our milk solids sold to the co-op are 550 kg,” said Patrick.
Since 2020, Patrick has been feeding his herd YEA-SACC® through the Gain range in the parlour nut. YEA-SACC, Alltech’s proven solution, is a live yeast which enhances rumen function through improved fibre digestibility and the stabilization of rumen pH. This allows for increased milk production achieved more efficiently without compromising the body condition and fertility of the dairy cow.
“Mark advised me to include YEA-SACC through the parlour nut, especially during the second rotation grass to help prevent the butterfat dropping,” said Patrick.
Patrick has seen many benefits since using YEA-SACC in the herd’s diet.
“I’ve seen an increase in the yield and milk solids in the herd,” he says. “I have found that YEA-SACC has worked really well for me in the past couple of years, and I intend to continue using it. The difference in milk solids after using it is evident. cows are performing at their optimum when using YEA-SACC. A combination of straw, good grass and YEA-SACC in the parlour nut has helped achieve good production levels.”
InTouch support:
“Working with InTouch over the past 8 years, I have seen a good lift in production, and the service takes any of the guesswork out of it. Animals are getting the same thing every day.”. Mark Moloney is Patrick’s InTouch Feeding Specialist with Alltech.
Patrick says, “Mark and I have a very good working relationship. He advised me to start using YEA-SACC in the herd in 2020 to improve milk yield and solids at the start of my second-round grazing, and it has definitely helped. Butterfat especially, doesn’t drop under 4%. Mark or InTouch is always a phone call away, and we can chat through my figures. From using both the InTouch service and YEA-SACC in the herd, the return on investment was clear almost straight away once production improved.”
Patrick uses a range of Alltech products on his farm along with InTouch support. “I also use Alltech minerals on my farm, which really helps the cows through the dry period to early lactation through to getting them in calf. Obviously, management, nutrition and other factors go into getting cows in calf, but I believe it pays to be on a good mineral too.”
InTouch support:
“Working with InTouch over the past 8 years, I have seen a good lift in production, and the service takes any of the guesswork out of it. Animals are getting the same thing every day.”. Mark Moloney is Patrick’s InTouch Feeding Specialist with Alltech.
Patrick says, “Mark and I have a very good working relationship. He advised me to start using YEA-SACC in the herd in 2020 to improve milk yield and solids at the start of my second-round grazing, and it has definitely helped. Butterfat especially, doesn’t drop under 4%. Mark or InTouch is always a phone call away, and we can chat through my figures. From using both the InTouch service and YEA-SACC in the herd, the return on investment was clear almost straight away once production improved.”
Patrick uses a range of Alltech products on his farm along with InTouch support. “I also use Alltech minerals on my farm, which really helps the cows through the dry period to early lactation through to getting them in calf. Obviously, management, nutrition and other factors go into getting cows in calf, but I believe it pays to be on a good mineral too.”