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Wholesale Probiotics Australia
Biopro
Case Study #1
Biopro Superstart Case Study #1
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Case Study #1 Background
Northern Victorian Dairy Farm feeding 130 cows with 125 in the vat (5 Fresh cows). The farm supplies UDP
and as of the 19th of March was producing 21 litres with more cows to calve. This farm was using a live yeast
product and a proprietary pre-calving anionic salt supplement prior to changing in August 2013 to Biopro
Superstart and Biopro base in the dairy ration. Current milk components are shown in the table below:
Milk Components
Butterfat %
Protein %
March 2013
4.03 %
3.17 %
March 2014
4.47 %
3.68 %
The difference in the milk price from the previous year based on this change in milk components is a
difference of 6.3c/litre. This equates to an extra $ 4990 per for the month of March at an average of 2555
litres/day.
Cow Health Problems at Calving
Biopro Superstart was introduced to the pre-calving cows prior to the spring calving in August 2013. The
incidence of metabolic disorders was dramatically reduced during the spring calving and at the beginning of
the next autumn calving.
Observations

Three sets of twins this calving and no retained foetal membranes.

All cows calved without any metabolic problems and cleaned up after calving

Cows all had good udders and only heifers with a high body condition score showed some flagging.

Cows maintained better condition after calving due to a higher rumen capacity and good appetite,
which extended the peak production period.
Health Problem or Metabolic
Disorder
Jan 2013 to
% of cows
Aug 2013 to
% of cows
Jul 2013
treated
Mar 2014
treated
Cows Calved during period
90
Milk Fever
12
13.3
0
0
6
6.6
0
0
Metritis (treated)
21
23.3
2
4.4
Mastitis (Treated cows)
30
33.3
0
0
LDAs (possible)
1
1.1
0
0
Calving Paralysis
0
0
0
0
12
13.3
0
0
Retained Foetal Membranes
Salmonella / Scour
Total Treatments
82
45
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Biopro Superstart Case Study #1
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Calf Health
Jan 2013 – Jul 2013
Aug 2013 – Mar 2014
Total Calves born
90
48
Calves Pulled
0
7
Scours or Pneumonia 1st 21
17
0
Mortality
11
0
Calf Vigour
OK
Stronger drinking quickly
days
Medications
Prevention
Dry Off
Calving
Cows
Blanket Dry Cow intra mammary
Vitamin ADE injection
Drench - Fluke
Pour on for worms
Drench - Worms
Springers
7 in 1 vaccination
Vitamin ADE injection
Salmonella Vaccination
Multimin injection
(Bovilis S)
Vitamin B12 Injection
Clovulox Tablet 3 days
VAM injection 15 ml
Calves
Probiotic Gel 20 ml
First Calf & Supercalf in milk
Treatments
Class of stock
Springers
Cows
Cost per
Medication
Treatment
Cost of medication
Calcijet 4 in 1
Milk Fever
$ 6 / Pack (2 packs per cow)
Alamycin
Infections
$ 60 / 200 ml (25 ml per cow)
$7.50
Calcijet 4 in 1
Milk Fever
$ 6 / Pack (2 packs per cow)
$12.00
Alamycin
Infections
$ 60 / 200 ml (25 ml per cow)
$7.50
Trisoprim 480
Salmonella/scours
$ 70 / 250 ml (20 ml per cow)
$5.60
Exenel
Feet & Pneumonia
$180 / 100 ml (10ml x 3 days)
$54.00
Treatment
$ 12.00
A 5 to 6 day milk-withholding period adds to the medication costs, which equates to an additional cost per cow
of $50 to $75 in lost milk income. The average cost to treat a cow in the herd is at least $80 to $100.
Biopro Superstart Case Study #1
Milk Production and Milk Components
Butterfat
When milk production per cow increases, butterfat % usually decreases, but there is an increase in both milk
production and butterfat %, which is reflected by the higher milk solids (Kgs butterfat). This may reflect an
improvement in fibre digestion as cow body condition has been observed to be better after calving.
Milk Protein
The same trend has occurred for milk protein as for butterfat. There is a significant increase in milk protein
post calving relative to the previous 12 months. This can only occur if there is more protein flowing out of the
rumen.
Milk Production
The production per cow began peaked earlier
than last year and the peak persisted longer
until December.
The summer this year was particularly hot and
the March milk production reflects the stage of
lactation of the herd.
Only half the cows had calved by mid March
and the low production average reflects the
lack of fresh cows in full production.
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Biopro Superstart Case Study #1
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Dairy Diet and Feed Costs
The cows on this farm are getting a full TMR ration with limited summer pasture grazing, which they
historically have always been fed. There are fewer ingredients in the TMR this year to keep feed costs
affordable and within the farm cash flow budget. A summary of the feed costs and income are shown in the
table below:
Farm Income and Feed Costs
Performance Indicator
Not on Biopro
Biopro
Biopro
April 2013
March 2014
March 2014 with
April 2013 Raw Costs
140
125
125
Milk Production Litres/cow/day
22.04
20.80
20.80
Farm Milk Prod Litres/day
3086
2600
2600
Cost of feed /cow/day
$4.70
$5.75
$5.07
Income $/cow/day Milk Sales
$9.63
$11.32
$11.32
Income over Feed Cost IOFC
$4.92
$5.58
$6.25
Feed Cost c/Litre
$0.21
$0.28
$0.24
Farm Income $/day
$1348
$1415
$1415
Farm IOFC
$690
$697
$781
Cows in the Vat
I have provided a comparison comparing diets at a similar time of the year before and after the use of Biopro
in the pre-calving diet and lactating cow diet. The raw material costs last year were substantially cheaper than
this year.
To try to get a comparison in terms of improved profitability due to the Biopro product, I have shown the
current diet with last years lucerne hay price and Dairy meal price in the third column.
The difference in milk production between mid March and mid April reflects the larger number of freshly
calved cows in April compared to mid March. I did not have last years March diet, but I had formulated the
April diet at the beginning of the month.
The higher milk income in the Biopro period reflects the higher milk price this year coming from higher milk
components. The income and income over feed costs are higher in the herd fed Biopro Superstart and Biopro
base even though the production per cow is 1.2 litres less than the herd produced in April 2013.
Biopro Superstart Case Study #1
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Discussion and Conclusions
The farm income and income over feed costs are very similar to last year, despite lower cow numbers and
milk production in March, which is why many farmers find it hard to evaluate a product on farm. They can only
look at figures comparing one year to the next when many things change and the bottom line looks similar.
The clear benefit in feeding the Biopro Superstart pre-calving is the absence of any health problems. All cows
that calve without problems have a good appetite and milk well. Feeding the Biopro Base post calving shows
clear benefits in the higher milk production figures and higher milk components. Nocek et al, 2003 showed a
similar response to milk production, butterfat & protein in cows fed a DFM pre and post calving compared to
feeding no DFM or adding it just to the pre-calving cows only or the post calving cows only.
Financial savings on improved herd health
Calf Health Problems
Pneumonia or scours
Treatment
17 calves treated @ $10.00
Cow Treatment cost
Treatment
Total Cost
$170.00
Total Cost
Milk Fever
12 x Calcijet 4 in 1 @ $6.00 x2
$144.00
Metritis
21 x Metricure @ $30.00
$630.00
4 x Vet call out @ $100.00
$400.00
30 x Alamycin @ $7.50 x 3
$675.00
30 x intramammary x 4 @$1
$120.00
12 x Alamycin @ $7.50 x 2 or
$180.00 or
Mastitis
Salmonella / Scours
12 x Trisoprim @ $5.60 x 2
$134.40
Total Drug Costs
$2319
Milk losses for 75 cows treated prior to Aug 2013 @ Av $0.43 / litre = 6 days worth of milk per treatment cow
using an average of 24 litres/cow/day.
75 cows X 24 litres x 6 days x $0.43 per litre = $ 4644 in milk losses from Sept 2012 to July 2013 from cows
being treated for health problems on this farm.
Milk losses
Treatment costs
Total Health costs
=
=
=
$4644
$2319 approximately
$ 6963
Cost of Biopro base @ 16c / cow / day for an average of 158 cows = $ 5308.80
Cost of Biopro Superstart @ $1.00/cow/day for 21 days for 45 cows = $ 945.00
Biopro Superstart Case Study #1
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Comparison against cows treated after Aug 2013
Total cost of Biopro program from August 2013 = $6253.80
Milk losses for 2 cows treated after Aug 2013 @ Av $0.43 / litre = 6 days worth of milk per treatment cow
using an average of 24 litres/cow/day
= $124 in milk losses
Treatment Costs
= $ 100 vet fee + $60 for Metricure
Total Health Costs
= $284
Health Cost savings after Aug 2013
= $6963 (previous period) - $284 (Current period) = $6679
Extra Income
Reference from Table 1 for the difference in milk price due to the higher components of 6.3c/litre for the month
of March 2014 = 2555 litres x 31 days x 6.3c/litre = $4991 extra income for March 2014.
The variance in milk components and price change each month but there is consistently higher milk protein
and butterfat levels since the Biopro was introduced in August 2013.
The cost of the Biopro program ($6253.80)
Animal health related cost difference is ($6679) relative to the product being introduced.
A positive cost benefit is achieved in improved animal health alone ($6679 - $6253) = $426
Higher milk components and milk production per cow are being produced on this farm every month relative to
the previous 12-month period. Eg Extra income in March 2014 of $4990 is due to a 6.3c/Litre higher milk
price per day from higher milk components. Higher milk prices were achieved in most other months as shown
in the graphs.
Care must be taken in interpreting the milk production information as the diet will be different from one year to
the next, the climate, stage of lactation of the herd, number of cows contributing milk being sent to the
processor can also change. The milk production and components on this particular farm are higher than they
have ever been before.
It is however, difficult to ignore the improvement in herd health since it has been so dramatic. This farm has
had virtually no health problems in 7 months.
The introduction of Biopro pre and post calving has made a significant difference to dairy herd health and
performance on this farm.
References
J. E. Nocek, W. P. Kautz, J. A. Z. Leedle, and E. Block, 2003. Direct-Fed Microbial Supplementation on the Performance
of
Dairy Cattle During the Transition Period. J. Dairy Sci. 86:331–335