Recent years have seen both milk volumes and constituent values consistently increase on dairy farms in Northern Ireland.


The availability of better genetics is a key factor in driving this process. But of equal importance is the development of nutrition and cow management programmes that allow this genetic potential to be met in the most complete and effective way possible.


None of this has come about by chance. The improvement in milk output levels that continues to be recorded on local farms is the result of a process that reflects cutting edge nutritional expertise combined with the formulation of diets that fully reflect the range of raw materials that can be sourced to drive cow performance.


United Feeds have been at the very heart of this progression. The company’s team of nutritionists and advisors work closely with farmer customers, delivering the nutritional and management input that make the key difference when it comes to securing optimal performance per cow.


United Feeds has long been recognised as a leader in driving dairy cow performance and enhancing milk quality through innovative products such as the Cream Maker and Advance feed ranges. With deep nutritional expertise, the company formulates rations designed not only to increase milk yield and components but also to support animal health and fertility. The strategic use of C16 fats and exclusive additives like Amaferm and the Herdcare supplement has placed United Feeds at the forefront of the substantial gains seen in dairy performance in recent years.


Underpinning these gains in dairy performance is the need to always focus on maximising the level of overall feed efficiency: through good quality forages complemented with the correct concentrate fed at the required rate to match the animal’s production requirements.


Grass silage now accounts for 72% of the feed inputs used on ruminant farms across Northern Ireland throughout the year. The quality of these forages can vary from season to season but also from cut to cut.


A key driver of the service available from United Feeds to its dairy farming customers is centred on the regular analysis of these forages and then tailoring the use of concentrates to maximise cow performance.


United Feeds look forward to speaking to farmers at the upcoming RUAS Winter Fair about how in partnership we can help them drive dairy performance on their farm through milk yield, milk quality, cow fertility and animal health.


**A farmer’s perspective**
Stephen Simpson with Mark Bruce


Stephen Simpson milks 140 pedigree Holstein cows with his wife Gemma close to the village of Clough in Co Antrim. A dairying enterprise was established by Stephen’s grandfather in the 1970s.


The last fifty years have seen the family transition from Ayrshires through to British Friesians with the commitment to Holsteins made by Stephen’s father in the 1990s.


**He Explained:**
“The herd has an annual rolling average of 8870 litres at 4.29% butterfat and 3.39% protein; milk quality has risen further in recent months and our average bulk milk quality results for November were 4.94% butterfat and 3.50% protein.


“I am extremely happy with the quality of the milk being produced by the cows at the present time.”


Stephen attributes the current level of performance from the cows to a combination of the breeding programmes established for the cows and his-10 year working relationship with the team of nutritionists and advisors at United Feeds.


**He Commented:**
“It’s important to improve the genetics of the cows. But, at the same time, they must be fed and managed to match all of this production potential. And this is why the input made by the team at United Feeds has been so important.”


Stephen is quick to confirm that 2025 has been an excellent grass growing year.


“We have cut more silage this year than would ever have been the case,” he explained.


“Four cuts of silage were made: normally we would have only made three. The first cut is always taken as bales with the others ensiled across the two silos on the farm.


“Taking this approach allows the various silages to be mixed and matched, as required.


“I am very happy with the quality of the silages we made this year. Three of the cuts have been analysed by United Feeds. They all have ME values above 11.0.


“The cows are fed a TMR to deliver 27L of milk. It contains a blend produced by United Feeds. The cows are then individually topped up to yield with nuts in the parlour.


“It’s an approach that is working well and the plan is to deliver a consistent diet to the cows over the coming months.”


An autumn: early winter calving pattern is followed on the Simpson farm. This approach allows Stephen to maximise the value of the winter milk bonuses available from his processer: Dale Farm.


However, it’s an approach to herd management that also allows Stephen to put his cows out to grass in the springtime, once proven to be safely back in calf.


Stephen’s United Feeds Ruminant Nutrition Advisor is Mark Bruce,


**He Commented:**
“Having Stephen’s silages analysed on a regular basis allows us to formulate a compete diet that meets the exact needs of the cows on the farm at all times,” he commented.


“Both the blend and the nuts fed on the farm are formulated to maximise cow performance and optimise rumen health. A high starch blend is complemented by a parlour nut with good levels of digestible fibre, both rations contain targeted levels of C16 protected fats and Yea-sacc yeast. All dairy concentrates being fed are currently 16% protein.


“In previous years, Stephen would have been feeding concentrates at 18% protein. The change reflects the quality of the silage available on the farm this winter.”


**Mark Concluded:**
“Stephen’s cows are performing tremendously well at the present time with the current milk quality results reflecting this”