For farmers
Products, tools, problems: three steps, start wherever you like.
Step 1
Products, in four areas
Pick the area, then the phase or group: each one opens the products with inclusion rates and data sheets.
Biogas
Biomass for biogas and biomethane plants, with the cost per cubic metre of methane.
Pick the group
All 3 biogas solutions
By-products and raw materials
Biscuit meal, wheat distillers’ grains, brewers’ grains, pellets and extruded raw materials.
Pick the group
All 12 by-products and raw materialsStep 2
Run the numbers with your own figures
They use the inclusion rates published by Alpha and the values in the product data sheets. Indicative values: the ration should be checked with Alpha’s technical service.
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THI and summer plan
Heat stress risk and products for the season.
Calculation tool
THI and summer plan for dairy cows
The THI (temperature-humidity index) combines temperature and relative humidity. Enter the values in your barn to see the heat stress band, the daily doses for the herd and the kilograms to prepare for the summer.
THI
Mild to moderate stress
Daily doses for the herd
- Alpha Unifeed Control
- kg/day
- Summer Stress Bovini
- kg/day
Summer plan: hot days
- Alpha Unifeed Control in total
- kg
- Summer Stress Bovini in total
- kg
THI 79.8: mild to moderate stress. For 100 cows: Alpha Unifeed Control 2–10 kg a day, Summer Stress Bovini 20 kg a day. For 30 days of heat: 60–300 kg of Alpha Unifeed Control and 600 kg of Summer Stress Bovini.
Heat stress bands
- No stress below 68
- Threshold of stress 68 to 71.9
- Mild to moderate stress 72 to 79.9
- Moderate to severe stress 80 to 89.9
- Severe stress 90 and above
Working bands: 68 from Zimbelman et al. 2009; 72, 80 and 90 from the Collier/Zimbelman table (University of Arizona). These are not Alpha data: to be validated with Alpha’s technical service. NRC formula (1971): THI = (1.8 × T + 32) − (0.55 − 0.0055 × RH) × (1.8 × T − 26), with T in °C and RH in %.
Checklist: how to manage heat stress
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Recommended doses
Doses of Alpha products for heat stress Product Dose Alpha Unifeed Control 20–100 g per head per day (targeted action on the mixed ration) Summer Stress Bovini 200 g per head per day (direct action on the animals) In hot weather intake can fall by up to 20%: estimate how much with the summer intake drop calculator.
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How much you save with biscuit meal
Monthly and annual savings in place of maize, soya and fats.
Economic analysis
How much you save with biscuit meal
Biscuit meal goes into the ration in place of part of the maize, soya bean meal and fats. Enter how much biscuit meal you use: the calculation compares the cost of the components it replaces with the price of biscuit meal and shows the saving per month and per year. All prices and quantities can be edited.
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How much WWDG you need
Kilograms per day and tonnes per month for cows, heifers and bulls.
Calculation tool
How much distillers’ grains your herd needs
Enter how many animals you have in each category: the requirement for liquid wheat distillers’ grains updates as you type, per day, per week and per month, together with the dry matter it supplies.
Estimated distillers’ grains requirement
- Per day
- kg
- Dry matter supplied (about 40%)
- kg/day
- Per week
- kg
- Per month (30 days)
- t
For 100 head you need about 300 kg of distillers’ grains a day (about 120 kg of dry matter), 9 tonnes a month.
Reference doses
Recommended doses of wheat distillers’ grains Category Recommended dose Dairy cows about 3 kg per head per day Heifers about 4 kg per head per day Beef bulls about 3 kg per head per day Finishing pigs for finishing pigs outside the Parma ham PDO circuit For pigs: only for pigs outside the Parma ham PDO circuit.
Distillers’ grains have about 40% dry matter and a pH of about 3.4: they acidify the ration and keep for longer. To convert other quantities, use the as-fed and dry matter converter.
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Mamy Nova in the farrowing room
Kilograms of Mamy Nova per cycle and expected litter gain.
Calculation tool
Mamy Nova 1% in the farrowing room
Mamy Nova 1% is a supplement for lactating sows, used at 1% of the lactation feed. Enter sows, ration and length of lactation: the calculation gives the kilograms of Mamy Nova per cycle and, if you wish, an estimate of litter weight at weaning with the +4–8% stated on the data sheet.
Mamy Nova required
- Per cycle, all sows
- kg
- Lactation feed per cycle
- t
- Per sow per cycle
- kg
- Per tonne of feed
- kg
Litter weight at weaning: +4–8%
- Extra per litter
- kg
- Estimated litter weight (+4–8% from the data sheet)
- kg
- Extra across all litters in the cycle
- kg
Enter the average litter weight to estimate the increase.
Enter the daily ration and the length of lactation: Mamy Nova is 1% of the lactation feed, 10 kg per tonne.
Reference dose and results
1%
Of the lactation feed
Added to normal farrowing diets: 10 kg per tonne
Source: technical data sheet “Mamy Nova 1%”
+4–8%
Weaning weight
Field trials and studies at experimental stations, with an increase in the number of piglets weaned as well
Source: technical data sheet “Mamy Nova 1%”
Higher feed intake, a well-developed mammary system and reduced oxidative stress lead to higher milk production in the sow.
Mamy Nova 1% technical data sheet (Italian) (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Step 3
Problems on the farm and what we propose
Tap a problem: the answer, the products and where it comes from.
Cattle
7 problemsSummer heat: feed intake falls by up to 20%
The problem
With the high temperature and humidity (THI) typical of the Po Valley, lactating cows run into metabolic difficulties: feed intake, milk yield and fertility fall, colostrum quality worsens and calves are born lighter.
What we propose
A five-step management plan, from ventilation to feeding the ration several times a day with more in the evening, plus targeted products for the mixer wagon:
- Alpha Unifeed Control20–100 g/head/day, on the mixed ration
- Summer Stress Bovini200 g/head/day, on the animals
- Biscuit meal2–3 kg/head/day: concentrates energy and improves palatability
Where it comes from
‘Heat stress’ presentation, slides 2–7; Bakery by-products page
The mixed ration heats up in the wagon
The problem
In summer, yeasts and moulds ferment the ration once it is mixed: the feed bunk heats up and the ration loses stability.
What we propose
Alpha Unifeed Control, a blend of organic acids and their salts: reduces heating of the mixed ration by controlling yeast and mould fermentation.
- Inclusion rate20–100 g/head/day; we recommend consulting our technical service
Where it comes from
‘Heat stress’ presentation, slides 5 and 6
Close-up and dry period
The problem
Poor dry-period management is paid for at calving and at the start of the next lactation.
What we propose
Supplements and complementary feeds for a conventional or anionic dry period. As problem-solving products: a strongly anionic supplement to manage the dietary cation-anion balance in the close-up period, and specific vitamins.
Where it comes from
Dry cows page
Calves: growth and weaning
The problem
The first weeks and weaning are the most delicate phase for the growth of the replacement heifer calf.
What we propose
Problem-solving products for the weaning phase: feeds supporting the calf’s digestive physiology and water balance. With a company specialised in milk for young animals, we develop growth and intake curves and offer specific milk replacers and feed.
Where it comes from
Calves page
Heifer fertility and late first calving
The problem
A heifer that calves late for the first time is costly and slows down herd replacement.
What we propose
Review of feeding plans, plus specific feeds and supplements to boost herd fertility and standardise first calving within 2 years of age.
- Distillers’ grains for heifersabout 4 kg/head/day
Where it comes from
Heifers and Distillers’ grains pages
Ration cost and home-grown forage
The problem
Purchased raw materials weigh on the balance sheet: it pays to make the most of home-grown forage and flexible raw materials.
What we propose
Optimisation of feeding plans and great flexibility in raw materials (cottonseed, linseed cake and linseed, maize gluten), with additives chosen to suit the needs of the herd. Technical support on milk recording and milking routine.
- Distillers’ grainsabout 3 kg/head/day for dairy cows
- Biscuit meal2–3 kg/head/day
Where it comes from
Lactating cows, Distillers’ grains and Bakery by-products pages
Beef yield and meat quality
The problem
In beef cattle, what counts is growth during backgrounding and finishing, killing-out percentage and carcass quality.
What we propose
Dry rations and rations based on whole-crop silage to maximise performance during backgrounding and finishing, and targeted measures on killing-out percentage and meat quality.
- Distillers’ grains for beef bullsabout 3 kg/head/day
Where it comes from
Beef cattle and Distillers’ grains pages
Pigs
6 problemsFertility, feet and litter in the sow unit
The problem
From gestation to lactation, the sow unit calls for attention to fertility, feet and litter.
What we propose
Feeds and supplements for gestation, pre-farrowing and lactation, with targeted use of additives, nutraceuticals and raw materials, to support fertility, foot health and litter vitality. For milk production: phytogenics and fermented feeds.
Where it comes from
Sows page
Little milk, light litters at weaning
The problem
Hyperprolific sows often struggle to eat enough feed during lactation, and the litter suffers.
What we propose
Mamy Nova 1%: stimulates appetite and a faster recovery after farrowing, supports udder development and reduces oxidative stress.
- Inclusion rate1% of the lactation feed, added to standard farrowing-room diets
- Result+4–8% weaning weight in field trials and at experimental stations
Where it comes from
Mamy Nova 1% technical data sheet
Nervousness, aggression and tail biting
The problem
Regrouping and stressful conditions lead to excessive nervousness, which sometimes ends in aggression, tail biting and ear biting.
What we propose
Synthetic analogues of the maternal pheromone, which pigs recognise and which calm them, offered with our field experience:
- SecurePig Flashspray between the shoulder blades, fast action
- SecurePig Gel Blockgel block in the areas to be treated
Where it comes from
‘A response to nervousness in pigs’ page
Production costs in finishing
The problem
Ration cost weighs on the finishing budget: to contain it, it pays to use more home-grown raw materials.
What we propose
Premixes, supplements, feeds and agronomic solutions such as corn-cob mix, which can partly or fully replace wheat bran. And by-products such as distillers’ grains and biscuit meal, only for pigs outside the Parma ham PDO circuit.
- Corn-cob mix33% of DM in the reference ration
- Distillers’ grainsfinishing up to slaughter, only for pigs outside the Parma ham PDO circuit
Where it comes from
Finishing pigs page; Rizzi, Suinicoltura 1/2014; Distillers’ grains page
Fewer acidifiers in the ration
The problem
Added acidifiers are a cost in finishing pig and sow diets.
What we propose
Liquid wheat distillers’ grains, with a pH of about 3.4, acidify the ration and make it possible to reduce or eliminate acidifiers in the diets of finishing pigs and of lactating and gestating sows. For pigs: only for pigs outside the Parma ham PDO circuit.
Where it comes from
Distillers’ grains page
Suckling and underweight piglets
The problem
Underweight piglets and the suckling phase need dedicated feeds.
What we propose
With a company specialised in milk for young animals, a complete range for the suckling phase: milk replacer, creep feeds and feeds for underweight piglets.
Where it comes from
Piglets page
Your Technical Partner
A specialist who knows your farm
We help you choose products and inclusion rates based on your animals and your ration.
+39 0371 56213