Milling News
Alka feed options highlight versatility of alkalisation
M
any UK dairy farmers could boost their use of highly cost-effective home-grown cereals in cow diets by as much as 40 percent thanks to a range of alkalising feed options from FiveF Alka Limited. Speaking to farmers at UK Dairy Day, FiveF Alka Limited director and nutritionist Malcolm Graham said the company was now able to offer every milk producer in the country a bespoke alkalised feed solution designed to help them make the most of what they can grow on their own farm. He remarked, “Many farm users of our alkalising technology are now feeding 20-40 percent more of their home-grown feed materials, cutting feed costs whilst also increasing milk output and improving longer-term profit factors such as cow energy status and fertility.” He added that there was a range of post-harvest options still available to UK dairy farmers, “You can now make Alkagrain right through the winter from stored cereals, or easily alkalise a TMR by using AlkabupHa – even if you don’t have any grain in the barn. The key message is versatility.” To complement the alkalising technology FiveF has
developed over the last 30 years allowing farmers to make their own Alkalage, Alkagrain and Alkastraw, the company is also now helping partner feed companies to make a range of Alka feeds. Mr Graham explained, “A great example of this co-operation is new Alkafibre. This new product is a joint development between HJ Lea Oakes and ourselves, which can be distributed nationally. Alkafibre is made from oatfeed pellets, a feed ingredient perceived to be of low nutritional value. However, the alkalisation process improves the rumen degradability of this fibre, adds valuable protein and makes it highly alkaline, making it a very cost-effective alternative to more conventional ration fibre sources such as beet pulp and soya hulls.” He went on, “The new Alkablend blended feeds incorporate the super concentrated Alkagrain 150 Concentrate premix at 20 percent, allowing blenders to produce a range of bespoke feeds made from the ingredients stocked to balance on-farm feed availability and quality. The high specification Alkanut ranges are manufactured pelleted feeds ready to use straight off the truck. They are also based on the novel Alkagrain 150 Concentrate. This is a powerful alkalising feed option and will be particularly useful for automated feeding systems, such as through milking parlours, robots and out-of-parlour feeders.”
ALL FROM A SINGLE SYSTEM FROM SINKING TO FLOATING
With Extru-Tech’s ADT (Advanced Densification Technology), the possibilities are far reaching. ADT technology gives you the option to produce sinking feeds with excellent consistency and density. That same ADT technology can produce floating feeds with high protein characteristics … all from a single extrusion system. In the aquafeed business, you either sink or swim. Contact Extru-Tech today at 785-284-2153 or visit us online at www.extru-techinc.com
extru-techinc@extru-techinc.com www.extru-techinc.com
34 | February 2018 - Milling and Grain
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P.O. Box 8 100 Airport Road Sabetha, KS 66534, USA Phone: 785-284-2153 Fax: 785-284-3143
1/17/18 10:08 AM