Rumen by pass Fat
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-84% Fat
--- Megalac
--- Mega Max
99% Fat
---Mega Fat 88
--- Mega Fat - Extra
Mega Energy
Megalac
Megalac is a rumen protected fat, combining natural plant oil (palm fatty acids) with calcium.
Typical Analysis
ME 33.3 MJ/kg DM
The calcium protects the fat from breaking down in the rumen, so unlike many other fats there is no
negative effect on rumen function. The fat is then digested in the acidic lower gut, with near
100% efficiency.The cow then uses the energy in
Megalac for milk production and performance. Megalac has the highest independently measured net energy value of any feedstuff.
A research product of Volac UK, Manufactured in Malaysia, Megalac meets GMP+ B2 standard of GMP+ International.
Product Benefits
• Improved milk yield
• Improved body condition score and health
• Improved fertility
No other feed ingredient provides more energy for milk production than Megalac.
A proportion of the energy from any feed is lost in faeces, urine and as gas (methane). Inefficiencies
in the use of the energy in feeds causes further losses as heat. It’s the energy remaining from total energy
intake after these losses - net energy – that is used for maintenance and production purposes. Different feeds lose different amounts of energy.
Trial work by Drackley (1999) showed Megalac to be highly digestible (96%), while studies at the United States Department of
Agriculture (1991) showed Megalac to have the highest measured net energy of lactation (NEL) value (27.3MJ/kg DM)
of any feed ingredient tested, meaning that very little energy is "lost".
Why Feed Megalac?
Energy Losses
Energy is extremely important post calving when peak milk production coincides with low appetite. This means
there is a fine balance to be found between intake, milk production, weight loss and body condition. Feeding Megalac helps
to fill the energy gap and meet the energy demands of high yielding dairy cows.
Work at Myerscough College showed that cows fed 600g of Megalac per day maintained higher body condition
scores at turnout to spring grass than those fed a lower energy diet (Goodman et al, 2003).
Megalac Increases Milk Yield
Trial work on farms and at universities and research centres over the last twenty-five years has provided
practical evidence to prove that Megalac increases milk yield, with 18 studies showing an average increase of
2.3 litres per cow per day.
Work at the University of Reading with high yielding dairy cows reported an average increase of 4.3 litres/day
over the first 17 weeks of lactation when Megalac was included in the diet.
Megalac Improves Fertility
A cow will on average be in the herd for just over 3 lactations (Milk Development Council, 2000).
Most culling decisions are down to poor fertility or reproductive problems.
With the daily cost of failing to get a cow back in calf estimated at £3 (Beever, 2004), the
impact on performance and profitability is clear.
Cows that do not consume enough energy will lose body weight and may not get back in calf, or may take longer to return to oestrus.
Davies (1992) reported that feeding cows Megalac reduced both the calving to first service interval, and the number of
days from calving to conception.
Features And Benefits
• Increases milk yield
• Improves fertility
• Decreases risk of acidosis
• Useful for manipulating milk quality
Feeding Systems And Rates
Aim to include 0.4 to 0.8kg/cow/day of Megalac in the post-calving ration. Gradually incorporate Megalac
into the ration over a few days to help acclimatise the cow/heifer to the new ingredient.
When feeding Megalac pre-partum, introduce it gradually over the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, while
ensuring the mineral balance is correct as Megalac contains 9% calcium.
Megalac For Sheep
Megalac is also suitable for feeding to ewes where it can play a key role in improving ewe
milk quality, improving lamb performance from twins and triplets, improving reproductive performance and
reducing the risk of twin lamb disease.
Availability
Megalac is available in 25kg, 5kg Bags and 1 kg Box. It can be fed via total mixed rations and home mixes, and is included in many dairy blends and compounds.
Megalac is a registered trademark of Volac International Limited.