- Vitalac Nutrition animale
- Ruminants
Testimonial | GAEC des 2 Rivières
The relationship between GAEC des 2 Rivières, based in Ploudaniel in Finistère, and VITALAC has been going strong for nearly 9 years. We visited the farm with Nicolas and Christian Abiven, two of the farm's three partners. Just a few weeks before the installation of a third milking robot, they explain their project: increasing the number of cows without buying in animals, while paying particular attention to replacement heifers.
Increasing the number of cows and installing a 3rd robot
Nicolas Abiven, his father Christian and Dominique Bourhis are partner at GAEC des 2 Rivières in Ploudaniel, Finistère. They employ two members of staff. The farm has 123 cows, including 41 primiparous cows and 82 multiparous cows, production rights of 2 million litres (soon to be 2.5 million) one feeding robot and two milking robots. A third robot will soon be installed and will be used only for primiparous cows, with 50 aimals using it. The two existing robots will be used by a maximum of 100 multiparous cows. This strategy aims to reach production of more thank 46 kg of milk per cow day by maximising the number of milkings.
In the coming months, their goal is to increase the number of cows through their own heifers, without purchasing animals from outside the farm. They know that ensuring good growth is essential in order to achieve peaks of up to 45kg in first lactation. The farmer's objective is to reach a calving age of 24 months with a live weight of 670kg.
A precise nutritional programme
During the milk-feeding phase, calves receive GENILAC GOLIATH milk powder, up to 8 litres per day in 2 meals. The farmer prepares a stater mash made with GENIMASH, very finely chopped straw and molasses. This is fed ad libitum to calves up to 4 months of age.
For the 4 to 8 month period, the farmer prepares another mash with XL GRAIN barley, soybean meal, VITACARTE 401, very finely chopped straw molasses.
After that, the heifers receive a total mixed ration based on grass silage, maize silage, straw and VITACARTE 401, until they enter the first dry cow group.
"Heifers are fed ad libitum from birth throughout the entire rearing phase. Growth is much better. There is no meal effect and the heifers are calmer," explains Christophe Conq, the VITALAC technical sales representative who supports the farmers with nutrition and herd management. Philippe Arzul, VITALAC Ruminant Technical Manager, also joins him when needed.
"It is regular monitoring that help us keep making progress. Christophe was already there when the milking robots were started up, and Philippe also supports us with more specific issues," explains Nicolas Abiven.
Several control points
At the GAEC in Ploudaniel, VITALAC's support is base on measurement and monitoring. This includes analyses of all forages, urinary pH, blood tests, ration calculations for all cows regardless of their physiological stage and needs, economic calculations, calf weighing and average daily gain calculations.
"On silage days, I visit the farm to carry out the kernel processing test and check that the forages will later be properly utilised by the cattle", explains Christophe Conq.
By mutual agreement, the objective set at the beginning of the year is to move to a monthly visit by Christophe in order to monitor the farm's technical and economic results as closely as possible.
Zoom on dry cows
At the GAEC, dry cows receive special attention and are divided into two groups: cows at the beginning of the dry period and cows in calving preparation.
They have a common ration up to a certain point, then 3 weeks before calving, the relevant cows receive TARIFORCE, a complete mineralised feed specially designed for dry cows, "which enables negative DCAD management, stimulates intake and immunity, and helps prevent postpartum diseases," explains Christophe.
To promote a homogeneous ration and limit sorting, the farmer uses very finely chopped straw and adds water to both rations. Heifers approaching calving join the first dry cow group three months before calving.
