Northland farmers concerned about their animals' nutrition requirements, especially when foraging on poor pasture, in particular kikuyu, had the chance to benefit from hearing the findings of a leading British ruminant nutritionist today.
Cliff Lister was to speak at Dargaville when the Crystalyx roadshow called in at Mahuta West dairy farm,
200 Hilliam Rd.
Dr Lister, who is undertaking his third educational tour of New Zealand his month, has a special local theme in each location.
Dargaville's theme was to be how Crystalyx - a dehydrated molasses block - could help farmers gain benefits from managing their low-quality pastures, such as kikuyu, during autumn.
Crystalyx proved a successful strategy when used on low-ME prairie grass in the US. The product provides a source of highly fermentable sugars on a "drip feed" basis, which is essential for energy for rumen microflora.
The microflora increase in number and activity and digest the pasture more efficiently. It also provides macro and micronutrients essential for rumen and cow health.
Crystalyx has been sold for many years throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the US but was launched in New Zealand only in February this year by Summit Quinphos.
Organic farmers will be the focus of Dr Lister's next public meeting, on Marphona farm, Bell Rd, Mangatawhiri, the Waikato, on Monday, at noon. He will demonstrate how Crystalyx Organyx plugs the gaps in the organic farmer's arsenal.
His final public event will be on Tuesday at Laing's Lewis Rd farm, near Whakatane, starting at noon.
