About PDS
A New Concept In Whole-Crop Nutrition
The key to our approach is very simple, but has a host of benefits resulting in a virtual circle of higher milk yields, better animal health, improved fertility and reduced reliance on expensive bulk concentrates. Our experience has shown that better results are achieved when animals are fed high-quality, natural forages that promote high dry matter intakes. In order to achieve increased animal intakes, forages need to be of high digestibility enabling the dairy cow to utilise feed more efficiently. Maximizing dry matter intake permits feeding higher-forage, lower-concentrate rations which produce the same level of milk yield.
Business Benefits
We advocate that the best way to produce the highest quality forages is for farmers to grow their own high-protein forage. This frees dairy herd farmers from the reliance on expensive purchased concentrates. By using home-grown protein forage crops along with other forage types, farmers benefit from lower unit costs and higher margins.
High Protein Whole Crop Mixes versus Bulk Concentrate
PDS specialises in all aspects of developing High Protein Forages (whole-crop mixes) and their uses within the dairy industry. In 2004, PDS became involved in the first large scale acreage of whole-crop mixes in the U.K. The subsequent results over the winter of 2004 were encouraging - with animal intakes at unprecedented levels of 26-28kg/day and concentrates comprising only 32% of the diet dry matter. The continued use of protein crops has now lead to more crop variety’s becomoing available to the livestock producer.
PDS offers full support on all aspects of Lupins, Whole-crop Mixes and Triticale
Independent Seed Sourcing , Agronomy and Nutrition
Products and Services
Practical Dairy Solutions is a practical business service whose sole aim is helping farmers to improve their business. We aim to achieve this by :
- Promoting the use of home-grown crops as dairy herd feed to reduce overhead costs, improve forage quality and reduce reliance on expensive, mass-produced, bulk concentrate.
- Promoting the use of alternative arable crops, such as lupins (grain legumes) and triticale. These are widely used as animal feed in other countries, but are almost unknown in the UK.
- Promoting increased dairy herd efficiency through improved animal nutrition.
- We also provide a herd management service ( tailored as required), and all aspects of crop management including seed purchases
- Prove that dairy farming can be a successful and profitable business, even in these challenging times.