“I’ve really seen a difference in the cows since introducing RuFO”

“I started feeding RuFO on the 1st May 2021, after the first two weeks adapting to it the transformation on the cows feet in unbelievable, their feet just totally changed, from a claw health point of view. We had been foot bathing 3 times a week to try and get it under control – we still are as we came off RuFO and I can start to see it creeping back in,” according to dairy farmer Bill Donavan.

“We would have to pull 20 cows out to a paddock with sore feet – after starting to feed RuFO this dropped to 4. After going back on it again, in 2022, I’ve found that this has reduced to zero cows out of the main milking group.”

Our cows are in excellent condition

“During my breeding season in 2021, (May & June) I noticed a big difference in my jumps per cow in comparison to other years, and the activity on my heat detection system was just crazy, so much so I had to turn it off for a few days. Standing heats are lasting a lot longer. I started feeding RuFO from the 21st March this year and from 2 weeks after that I could clearly see the standing heats being stronger and coming earlier. Conception rates have improved in line with an improvement in my 4 week submission rate, which was 55% in 2020, 62% in 2021 and is 76% this year. Cows are in excellent condition, with a super shine off them.”

Better feed utilisation

“I’ve also found that through better feed utilisation, and with us feeding our home-mixed ration through a buffer, we were able to reduce the crude protein percentage in my ration from 15% to 12%, resulting in a good cost saving here also. I’ve really seen a difference in the cows since introducing RuFO and I’m definitely happy to keep going with it.”